THE DAILY COLLEGIAN Alumnus showcases technology By Sarah Peters COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER A Penn State alumnus and blind chemist recently demonstrated products at the White House to help blind and low-vision students learn science with a more hands on approach. Cary Supalo, Class of 2010, met with Kareem Dale, associate director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and special assistant to the president for dis ability policy, Sept. 27. Supalo said the Obama adminis tration is currently making a push for Americans to enter the fields of science, technology engineering and mathematics ' TEM) because America is falling behuiu in those fields. "People with disabilities have to problem solve to overcome their disability challenges," Supalo said. "You look at what STEM profes sionals do, and it would be foolish not to tap their abilities or take Walk to raise awareness, support By Alyssa Sweeney COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Penn State Office of Donor Services employee Bob Cross said during the darkest days of his depression, he barely knew his own children. The disease Cross battled for more than a decade ended his marriage of 17 years, alienated him from his kids and put him on suicide watch for months. Now, three years later, he is walking hundreds of miles across the country spreading awareness and offering encouragement to those with depressive disorders. The Walk to Washington is a 50- day, 835-mile walk from St. Louis, Mo., to Washington, D.C. to spread depression awareness. The walk ers departed from a mental health 5K walk in St. Louis on Aug. 14, 2010, and will arrive in the nation's capital today on National Depression Screening Day, after having ;rallies in more than 20 towns alorit the way. Despite the long days, Cross said the purpose of the walk keeps him energized. ASSISTANCE is DIABETES ThL AU'isi ca to Cary Supalo, left, Class of 2010, met with Kareem Dale, right, associ ate director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and special assistant to the president for disability policy, to demonstrate products that will help blind and low vision students learn science. advantage of their expertise." Dale, who is also blind, tested technology developed at Penn State's Independent Laboratory Access for the Blind (ILAB) and the Talking Lab Quest. The Talking Lab Quest collects tem perature and pH information and stores it and then uses speech software to read the data aloud. "He indicated that it's a valu able tool, and he's looking forward to when it comes out," Supalo said. Supalo said Dale said he would send information about the prod ucts to the Department of "I'm not tired. I go to bed wish ing I could walk more every day," he said. "We talk to these people and they can vent to someone who understands [...1 For someone in their condition, that means more than most realize." Cross joined up with the team of three in Washington, Pa., two weeks ago. They are led, Cross said, by a man who failed at a sui cide attempt years back, before getting treatment. Organization director Steve Curran said the team was small because they had to raise upwards of $lO,OOO dollars to participate. However, the organization also has "virtual walkers" who donate and get daily updates on the walkers' progress. Walk to Washington has also started a petition to send to gov ernment officials to gain greater access, research and treatment for dealing with depression, which has over 8,000 signatures so far. This could be helpful, Cross said, because not many insurance com panies completely cover the treat ment for depression. The walk was recognized by Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley Many great candidates are applying to medical school every year ; and the numbers are rising. In this competitive field, Pre Med Assistance can help you stand out among the candidates applying to the schools that are the best fit for you. From school selection and application reviews, to mock interviews and analysis Pre Med Assistance is the complete resource for the pre med student. appointment online (all 814.863.0461 or a one-on-one onsultation with a nutritionist itial consult is $25 followups are $l5 fthServices Irs.peu.edu/heatth LOCAL Education and make them aware of the technology. Supalo's work involved modifying the Talking Lab Quest, sold by Vernier Software & Technology, to elimi nate the need for a computer and special software, he said. Supalo said he hopes to have the applica tion ready for sale in the spring of 2011. Alyssa Bates (senior-meteor ology) said in science classes the blind person is usually the note taker, who writes down data their partner collects. To e-mail reporter: svpso7l@psu.edu with a proclamation, making Oct. 5 the statewide Walk to Washington Day in Maryland. Cross said he is thrilled with the positive attention the walk is get ting. "It's a real disease, it's just that people don't know about it," Cross said. "People don't know what's wrong with them or are embar rassed to seek help." He attributed his improvement to his faith and the counseling and medication he receives. Cross said one of the most important ele ments of recovery is the support of family and friends. Office of Donor Services Director Lori Baney said Cross maintains a similar attitude in the workplace. "He is very much a team play er," Baney said. Cross will speak at the arrival ceremony in Washington D.C. at the National Mall. He said his per sonal reasons for participating were for his children's sake, and to propel the movement for depres sion awareness. To e-mail reporter: arss474@psu.edu Huge Diamon `.. el.' .4 isi k * "1 N t . , .. - 1 . , Diamond Engagement Rings, Stud Earrings, Diamond Pendants ALL DIAMOND JEWELRY IS MARKED DOWN FOR THIS SALE! liranichi Downtown State College 234.4481 Next To The Tavern Restaurant Nittany Mall 234.0637 J EWE LERS - kranichs.com Students abroad warned of attacks By Eddie Lau COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Despite a travel alert, Penn State student Ariel Chow said she and her classmates have not felt uneasy studying abroad in Paris. The latest "travel alert" was issued by the U.S. Department of State on Sunday, cautioning American travelers of potential dangers in Europe after officials said they received intelligence indicating that al-Qaida may be plotting attacks on cities there. "Current information sug gests that al-Qaida and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks," the State Department statement reads. "U.S. citizens are reminded of the potential for terrorists to attack public transportation sys tems and other tourist infra structure." Penn State's University Office of Global Programs sent an e mail to all study abroad students Monday, one day after the alert was issued. The e-mail provided six major pieces of advice, including avoid ing crowded tourist areas like the Eiffel Tower and the London Eye. It also cautioned against students frequenting - typically" American locations like McDonald's, Starbucks and Hard Rock Cafe. The e-mail also reminded stu dents to keep their cells phones fully charged, turned on and with them at all times. "This is an alert rather than a warning. We have no intention of closing any programs in Europe," said Barbara Rowe, executive director of Education Abroad. "It is important, howev er, that [students overseas] exercise caution during [their] ,~~.~. ~ ~~ ~ ~~ +i"s. : g t * . THURSDAY, OCT. 7, 2010 I daily activities and especially when traveling on weekends or semester breaks." Chow (senior-media studies), who is studying in a Paris lan guage school with four other Penn State students, said she didn't know about the travel alert until she received the e-mail from Penn State. "I wasn't too nervous about it, but it definitely caught my atten tion," she said. "The French media is talking about it. You can find many articles online and in the newspapers." While personal safety was mentioned during the study abroad orientation, Chow said, students were warned more so about the pickpockets in Paris rather than terrorist threats. "My feeling is that the French are not particularly concerned about the issue," she said. "None of my French teachers or my host family mentioned the Chow, who has been in Paris for a month, said she hasn't felt the security has been particular ly strict at major tourist attrac tions during her stay thus far "They usually just take a quick look into your bag and that's all," she said. In August, the State Department renewed a "world wide alert," saying counterter rorist officials remained "con cerned about the continued threat of terrorist attacks" against Americans overseas. The current - travel alert" is one notch below an official U.S. "travel warning," which would advise American citizens against certain foreign travel, according to the State Department. To e-mail reporter: tolslos@psu.edu THURSDAYS 11/2 3-108 m pRICE STEAK BURGERS BEST F . 670' I c i o g Eß in Tcnrnt ROOM Corner of Colle:e & Allen St. , " , FINANCING AVAILABLE For Those Who Qualify ~,„. ... ~. et) .... ..„:
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