<p>Posted this on the Susquehanna forum, but for anyone who would like to follow this up for themselves or for their children...If my D was considering
Susquehanna I'd probably want more information. Environmental issues for campus or surrounding area is not something we even thought of. Until now.<a href="http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/03/06/susquehanna%5B/url%5D">http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/03/06/susquehanna</a></p>
<p>Interesting. I would be concerned, too, or at least cautious.
I went to college in the late 70's, around the time Beth Steel was winding down. I lived on lower campus, and would often wake up with a sore throat to a terrible sulphur smell. Sometimes I could even see a fine pale yellow or orange-ish dust on the clear plastic cover of my desktop stereo player. The students who lived higher up, in the fraternities or in housing on the other side of the mountain/hill experienced this much less. I'm pretty smell-sensitive, and it really bothered me a lot. As much as I loved my school, if I'd known beforehand that such an olfactory environmental "quality" existed, I would NOT have attended. Period.</p>
<p>My roomate and best friend, who was diagnosed with non-hodgkin's lymphoma several years back, says she wouldn't be surprised if something in the air or water there might not have contributed, although it was quite a few years removed. She ran into a couple other alumni who had also dealt with unusual cancers. I don't know if the cancer rates in that area are higher than average or not.</p>
<p>I posted this for a few reasons:
1. In case anyone finds that the info is applicable to them or someone they know. Perhaps there is a place to follow up or add info to the existing data.
2. In case anyone is considering Susquehanna and is unaware, or would like to research further and evaluate info for themselves
3. Because despite the fact that we've researched everything from class size to crime statistics, we've not even considered environmental issues, water source quality etc. on or around campuses.
Previous link problem, repost:<a href="http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/03/06/susquehanna%5B/url%5D">http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/03/06/susquehanna</a></p>
<p>Thank you for posting. My son was considering Susquehanna last year, and we had no idea about this. It is such a shame. The school seems truly wonderful.</p>
<p>Thank you for posting. Susquehanna is on my daughter's short list.</p>
<p>Converting old industrial building to multi-family residential uses is fraught with danger of exposure to latent contaminants in the ppb range. While scientists need to establish carcinogenic exposure standards for environmental health rules/regulations, the methods used can be considered crude at best. Many in the public health field believe that any exposure to carcinogens may be a health threat for a susceptible individual. Of course a zero standard would be impossible and unpractical.</p>
<p>I would hesitate allowing my son to reside in a residence called "The Warehouse".</p>
<p>Important information-- thanks for posting this where it will be seen by more people.</p>
<p>mama has a very good point-- we research every little thing about colleges. Why shouldn't environmental factors be included?
I did not mean to sound alarmist in my previous post. Obviously, we don't know for sure if the pollution we experienced had lasting effects or not. At the same time, though, my friend can't help but wonder.</p>
<p>So glad I looked at this site - this school is one we're waiting to hear from and has promise in many ways. Something to consider. I recently heard some news item about ground water around Ursinus's Collegeville area, as well. Another one worth looking into!</p>
<p>Thanks mama,</p>
<p>DD did an interview there two weeks ago and enjoyed the school, so this will be important to find out about.</p>
<p>Not taking sides but the college has posted their response to the recent article on their website. Our daughter really liked the school and their fin aid package was very generous so we have some serious investigating and thinking to do.</p>
<p>It is not a matter of "taking sides" but of separating the hype from the science in this situation. It sounds like the Pennsylvania Department of Health has done a pretty thorough job of investigating this situation.</p>
<p>To all concerned- google Susquehana University Cancer, and you will get some ongoing articles and news releases.
The State Department, and College are responding to these articles. It is ongoing and quite enlightening. </p>
<p>From one article</p>
<p>" The Pennsylvania Department of Health, which last year told Kadel her information was insufficient to launch a formal inquiry, said it had been unaware of the proximity of student housing, which still is in use, to a contaminated site. </p>
<p>The Department of Environmental Protection, which has been monitoring cleanup at the site, said it was unaware of the cancer cluster. </p>
<p>Both departments, to their credit, responded quickly to Turner's report. We hope their findings also will come quickly, providing present and former Selinsgrove residents with information that may be important to their health. </p>
<p>For its part, Susquehanna University should not permit students to continue to live in a building adjacent to what was -- and may still be -- a toxic-waste site."</p>
<p>From Today's Harrisburg's Patriot News--- scary </p>
<p>n March 2006, the existence of a possible cancer cluster at the nearby student housing was brought to the attention of the state Department of Health by the mother of a 28-year-old Susquehanna alumnus who had died of a rare cancer. The department subsequently decided there was too little information to launch an investigation.</p>
<p>The Health Department didn't know DEP had found high levels of contaminants at the mill, and DEP knew nothing about the nearby cancers.</p>
<p>That shouldn't happen. State agencies should be sharing data that has the potential to reveal associations and connections that might otherwise escape recognition, detection or analysis.</p>
<p>Scary is right. I hate to say this, but if my kid were accepted this year, I would not send them to Selinsgrove. I really feel badly saying that b/c I think the school is truly wonderful, but I don't care what spin/comments and articles come out. It simply is not worth the possible risk. I would much rather my kid attend a cc before taking possible health risks. There are so many college options that one does not need to gamble with their health. Even if the place were safe, and my kid got sick later in life, or had offspring that were not healthy, I would blame myself for sending them to this area b/c I would never really know what caused the illness.</p>
<p>from the blog at Patriot News- For concerned parents and students</p>
<p>n an email yesterday to the students ...Just a portion ...</p>
<p>How We Are Prepared to Help You</p>
<p>We will provide on-campus accommodations for the remainder of the semester for any student currently living at the "Warehouse."</p>
<p>Any students who have signed leases for the "Warehouse" for the 2007-2008 academic year may request on-campus housing.</p>
<p>On Sunday evening, March 11 (time TBD), we will hold an open forum for students, parents, faculty, and staff to provide information and answer questions about this situation. We hope to have medical experts and representatives of the Department of Health available. Information shared during this forum will be available at <a href="http://info.susqu.edu%5B/url%5D">http://info.susqu.edu</a>.</p>
<p>We will keep you informed through additional Enewsletter communications and postings to the <a href="http://info.susqu.edu%5B/url%5D">http://info.susqu.edu</a> website.</p>
<p>If you or your parents have any questions, you may email them to us <a href="mailto:atinfo@susqu.edu">atinfo@susqu.edu</a> or you may contact Dean of Student Life Philip Winger at (570) 372-4134.</p>
<p>From Insidehighered.com today:</p>
<p>"In a joint statement, two Pennsylvania lawmakers said that the Pennsylvania Department of Health stands by earlier findings that environmental conditions are not contributing to cancer cases at Susquehanna University. But, in the aftermath of a Sunday investigation in the local Patriot-News into a possible cancer cluster among young graduates, they announced that the Department of Heath had agreed to conduct a study of cancer cases among Susquehanna University alumni who attended between 1995 and 2005"</p>
<p>I am the mother mentioned in the patriot News articles. Might I suggest in researching colleges for your children that you access the EPA site (apologies I do not have it handy at the moment) that lists superfund sites, hazardous waste spills, etc. It allows you to enter the zip code of your intended choices. The EPA site will show you the reported contamination sites. I am doing this for grandchildren as we speak. We will not allow them to attend colleges that are surrounded by these toxic sites.</p>
<p>I can be reached at <a href="mailto:lindakadel55@hotmail.com">lindakadel55@hotmail.com</a> if you have trouble accessing it or if you have questions.</p>
<p>my condolences on the loss of your son. :(</p>
<p>Thank you for the info. I am entering zip codes now. I am very sorry for the loss of your son.</p>