Dems use pizza to represent candidates in caucus simulation

Tuesday, October 30th, 2007

The smell of free pizza wafted through the Jot Travis Student Union Auditorium Thursday night as groups of students and community members vied to represent the best pizza.

The University of Nevada, Reno Young Democrats hosted the “mockus” and used pizza to show students and the public how the Jan. 19 Democratic caucus will work.

“Nevada will have extraordinary power in choosing the next presidential candidate,” Jill Derby, the Nevada Democratic Party chair, said.

Derby said the vote of every single caucus participant “counts big time.”

“(The caucus) is democracy in the raw,” she said.

Carole Anderson took over the proceedings, said people can register to vote at the caucus and need to be registered Democrats to participate come Jan. 19.

Anderson explained the math behind the proceedings, helped with a head count and then asked the crowd to form into groups based on favorite pizza types. The mockus organizers used the pizza toppings to represent Democratic presidential candidates.

Jack Homeyer, one of the event organizers, said anyone can submit a “plank” for the Democratic party’s platform. The platform is a statement of beliefs and the plank comprises a part of the statements of beliefs in the platform.

After head counts of each group, those with too few members were asked to join other groups or recruit to make their group “viable.”

Each group broke into a deafening roar when someone joined them. The people in the defunct pizza groups joined the remaining groups.

Three of the four delegates from the “Pepperoni” group gave heartfelt speeches as to their lifelong allegiance to pepperoni pizza and the pizza’s dominance over all other varieties.

Mike Wiwchar, a 23-year-old pharmacology major, said he thinks the caucus is a pretty simple process and that the mockus went smoothly.

Joseph Kay, a 59-year-old political science major, said the Democrats put on a good mockus.

“I came here because I want to be a temporary chair at my precinct caucus,” Kay said. “I also wanted a T-shirt.”

Rachel Miller, the UNR Young Democrats president, said she thought the mockus had a very good turnout.

“It’s really important to educate yourself about the caucus,” Miller, 20, said.

Miller said if Nevada’s Democratic caucus does not have a good turnout the state will lose its early caucus Democratic position.

http://nevadasagebrush.com/blog/2007/10/30/dems-use-
pizza-to-represent-candidates-in-caucus-simulation/

Nevada plays host to both the and Democratic early caucuses this year

Tuesday, October 30th, 2007

Nevada holds the caucus to send delegates, or people from the state representing a candidate, to the respective party’s national conventions. The most supported candidate at the convention becomes that party’s presidential candidate. A presidential caucus groups registered voters of the same party by their geographic precinct.

The first step’s the same but the parties split soon after:

Step 1: Getting to the caucus

Call or visit the Web site for the Washoe County headquarters for the party you want to caucus for. Both caucuses are Jan. 19. Republicans start at 9 a.m. and Democrats start at 11 a.m.
Democratic process
Step 2: Sign in

You must be a registered Democrat to sign in. You will then check a box for a candidate you lean toward, or check uncommitted.
Step 3: Electing a chair

The caucus members elect a permanent chair to lead the caucus.
Step 4: Delegates

The chair announces the number of delegates, or people who go to the county convention representing their candidate. The number of delegates is determined before the caucus and is based on the number of registered Democrats in the county.
Step 5: Viability

The chair does a head count of the participants and tries to match the number with the number of caucus members signed in. The number of people who attend the caucus help determine the viability number, or the number of caucus members a presidential candidate needs for at least one delegate.

If the precinct has one delegate, then the candidate must be elected by the whole precinct.

If the precinct has two delegates, viable candidate groups must have 25 percent of the attendees.

If the precinct has three delegates, viable groups must have 20 percent of the attendees.

If the precinct has four or more delegates, viable groups must have 15 percent of the attendees.
Step 6: Alignment

The chair announces the number of participants needed for a candidate or group to be viable.

The chair gives the participants 15 minutes to get into groups based on noncommitment or presidential candidate.

The chair announces which groups have enough members and which do not.
Step 7: Realignment

Groups with not enough members are given time to try to recruit more members to make the group viable. Already viable groups are allowed to try to convince members of nonviable groups to join their viable group.
Step 8: Giving Out Delegates

After the groups have settled and nonviable groups have disbanded, the chair allots delegates to each remaining group based on size.

The group then elects a delegate for the county convention.
Step 9: Results

The chair calls the state party and reports the caucus results. The caucus repeats on county and state levels before delegates are sent the Democratic National Convention.

http://nevadasagebrush.com/blog/2007/10/30/
nevada-plays-host-to-both-the-and-democratic-early-caucuses-this-year/

Achoo? Flee from the flu

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007

Sniffles, heavy breathing and non-stop coughing ring through lecture halls as colder temperatures slam the university. Students stay in bed with high fevers and feel horrible.

“Feeling like you want to die” marks the flu, Carol Scott, director of Sports Medicine Fellowship, said.

The flu can be a crippling blow to grades, but with proper hand washing, free flu shots, exercise and enough sleep students can ward off the flu blues and trade in their slippers for some running shoes.

When to get flu shots

Must present a valid student ID when getting a flu shot.

All flu shots are free, Carol Scott said. The flu shot does not immunize against all forms of the flu, and proper hand washing is the best way to avoid getting sick.

Flue shots are available anytime during the week at the Student Health Center from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays.
Flu shots will also be provided on campus during the following days in these locations

Wednesday, Oct. 24, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m

Fitzgerald Student Services building
Thursday Nov. 8, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Fitzgerald Student Services building
Thursday Nov. 29, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Crowley Student Union, Grad Student Lounge
If anyone has a severe allergy to eggs then he or she one cannot have the flu vaccination
How to avoid getting sick

Wash hands after using the restroom, coughing, sneezing or being in a crowded area.

Avoid touching nose, mouth or eyes with hands.

“Regular hand washing is the best way to keep from getting sick,” Scott said.

Exercise regularly – Exercise helps relieve stress and keeps the immune system healthy, Scott said.

Sleep regularly – The immune system needs rest to function properly. Not getting enough sleep equates to a weakened immune system.

Eat healthy – eat less fast food, more fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean meat.

Things that weaken the immune system

Stress suppresses the immune system. Stress can be reduced by relaxation and exercise.

Smoking suppresses the immune system. Scott said smokers should either decrease the amount they smoke or quit.

Urban Myth

No credible study says vitamin C helps in preventing the cold or the flu, Scott said.

http://nevadasagebrush.com/blog/2007/10/23/achoo-flee-from-the-flu/