Brandon Watson
News Editor

As NIACC students embark on the voyage of satisfying their general education requirements, the Gateway exam, which students enrolled in the Math for Decision Making course must pass, serves as a roadblock for some.

The Gateway exam, instituted in the Fall of 2002, "Is a computation skills test consisting of whole numbers, fractions, decimals and percentages," Adriana Attleson, NIACC Mathematics Division chairperson, said.

Attleson also said that one of the reasons for the exam's use resulted from NIACC alumni informing their former instructors about the mathematical exams they were receiving from employers upon graduation.

In addition, the NIACC Mathematics Division "wanted students to be mathematically literate," Attleson said. Initially some students had problems with the exam.

"At the beginning of the course, quite a majority of students struggle with the (Gateway) exam," Al Alcock, NIACC math instructor, said. "Depending on how they study, most students will pass the exam on the first or second attempt."

According to Alcock, in order to pass the 20-problem exam, students must score a minimum of a 90% proficiency without using a calculator.

He also said that students are permitted up to the tenth week of the course to pass the exam.

"If students have not passed the Gateway by the tenth week, the highest grade they can receive in the course is a D," Alcock said.

Kevis Hamilton, who took the test last year, was impacted by this 10-week restriction.

"The test is very tricky," Hamilton said about the difficulty of the exam. "I have not done these kinds of problems since middle school."

There are some common mistakes students make when taking the test.

"The most common mistakes students make are reducing to lowest terms, placing the decimal point correctly, and careless mistakes when multiplying," Alcock said.

Alcock links students' failure of the exam to a dependency on calculators.

"I think a lot of students learned basic operations, but they began to use calculators and the practicing declined," Alcock said.

Although the Math Division does not have percentages of students who pass and fail the Gateway exam, NIACC math instructor, Caroline Goodman said, "I have seen students take the Gateway more than 15 times in order to pass."

Travis Green
Photo Editor

Meningitis represents a problem all colleges and students face, and many students are unaware of the problems meningitis can cause.

However, NIACC hasn't encountered any problems with meningitis to date.

"It's becoming a bigger worry," Dr. Karen Pierson, vice president for Student Services, said.

Even though no cases have been reported at NIACC, the University of Northern Iowa and other colleges have experienced meningitis problems.

According to the Des Moines Register, in 2003 two UNI students died from meningitis shortly after being hospitalized. "We very well could experience problems because it's so contagious," Pierson said.

Pierson said one time the Department of Public Health called to say they were investigating a case at NIACC.

"They obtain a contact list of the individual and contact the people on the list," Pierson said. "We came close to a situation."

Currently, NIACC doesn't recommend students get the shot, and the Department of Public Health hasn't recommended NIACC to issue a statement.

"We recommend students consult with their health care provider," Pierson said.

However, for the first time last year NIACC provided information on meningitis in student orientation packets.

State law requires every college to provide information on meningitis, and that each student sign a waiver on whether or not the student received the shot.

"We've complied with the law's spirit, which is to inform students about meningitis," Pierson said. "We haven't gone as far as requiring the waiver."

Many rules for the law are still in the works.

"We're still waiting to see if we're required to do more," Pierson said about the college.

Samantha Donisi
Assistant Editor

The latest trend in computer technology is a small device that packs a lot of punch.

The thumbnail drive, or flash drive, is a portable memory chip that stores information in much the same way that traditional floppy disk drives do.

The drive is a small, plastic-encased computer chip that plugs right into a computer's USB port.

They come in many shapes and sizes, and some can even be worn on a key chain or on a lanyard.

The flash drives were introduced about two years ago, and were only compatible with Microsoft Windows 98 and the Millennium Edition.

Now the drives are available for almost any program made in the last few years.

According to Harold Kobriger, Office Machine Specialist for Staples in Mason City, the flash drives are replacing the traditional floppy disk.

"They took a while to catch on, but now most new computers don't have floppy disk drives, only CD drives," Kobriger said. "If you don't want to burn everything onto a CD, you have to use the flash in your USB port."

The flash drives are quicker and easier to use than floppy disks or CD's.

They use flash memory, which is instantly downloaded onto the computer when plugged in to the USB port.

Unlike a CD, which takes minutes to download pictures from burned memory, the flash drive takes only a few seconds. The user has only to click and drag the image from the drive to the appropriate place.

The cost of a flash drive can range anywhere from $20 to $150, depending on the amount of memory it can hold. The average drive costs $20-$30, and holds about 128 megabytes.

The most expensive drives can hold up to four gigabytes.

Some flash drives are made to plug into music devices like MP3 players, so more music information can be stored.

"The biggest benefit from these flash drives is that they are universal," Kobriger said. "They will fit into almost all computers now, and you can go from computer A to B very easily."

Katie Dahl
Advertising Manager

Throughout the long school year ahead, students are bound to get sick and one service that NIACC provides is prepared for that.

The Health Center provides a cheaper alternative offering consultations for $10 and exams for $20 rather than having a student go to a doctor or emergency center for $50 to $80.

"The Health Center is a starting point," Linda Schluter, MSN, ARNP-C nurse practitioner, said.

Schluter said she is able to provide counseling, recommendations and diagnose illnesses. She is also able to prescribe medicine.

The Health Center is open twice a week, Mondays 8:30 – 10 a.m. and Thursdays 2:30 – 4 p.m.

The Health Center does not take insurance although the cost may be reimbursed through insurance a student may have.

According to Schluter, the Health Center does not accept insurance because it would drive up the cost.

The cost of an exam or a consultation is added on to the NIACC tuition bill.

"Having been a student, I am cost sensitive," Schluter said.

According to Schluter, there are generic medication brands out there that are just as effective as the name brand, but are more affordable.

Schluter has been NIACC's nurse practitioner for four years at NIACC.

"My favorite part about my job is overwhelmingly the students," Schluter said. "I would like to see more students come in." To contact the Health Center call 422-4207 to make an appointment.