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Atwood Center to become latex free
Starting this week, hallways and staircases in Atwood Memorial Center will be latex free, meaning no more latex balloons for groups using those areas for decoration or celebration.
Ed Bouffard, interim director of Atwood, made the decision last week, after it was brought to his attention that people suffering from latex allergies can be affected by airborne particles of latex. A student who complained about this issue wanted Bouffard to make the entire building a latex free zone, but Bouffard decided to limit the restrictions to public hallways and staircases.
"It's a balance between protecting the privileges of everybody, versus making sure people can go through the public spaces without getting sick," Bouffard said. "We wanted to make the issue manageable."
Under the new restrictions, groups renting tables or kiosks in Atwood, or displaying posters and decorations in the halls and on the stairs, will have to come up with alternative ideas. Single event and meeting rooms are not affected by this restriction, and it will be up to the organizers of a given event whether or not to use latex.
"We are advising that if people do have a latex allergy and plan to go to an event in the ballroom, or any other meeting room, that they consult the event organizers," Bouffard added. "Also, when these groups have come to us to buy latex balloons, we have given them info on the allergy, and advised them about other options."
One group that will be affected by this new restriction is the Excellence in Leadership Committee, which was planning to decorate the Atwood stairs for its ceremonies this Sunday. The committee has had to find new alternatives.
"For the past few years, we have been using latex balloons to decorate the stairs," said Cindy Hayne, graduate assistant, and chair of the Excellence in Leadership Committee. "Now we are going to have to make some changes."
Hayne said the group will use Mylar balloons instead.
"Balloons don't make the event happen," Hayne said. "We would rather make the changes than have someone get sick."
Latex allergies are cumulative, and can become increasingly worse with repeated exposure, causing light headedness and shortness of breath. While only one person with the allergy contacted Bouffard, he felt that the changes needed to be made because, as he put it, "It might be affecting others, and they have a right to public walkways."
The St. Cloud Hospital, and many of the surrounding school districts have recently gone latex free, and Bouffard said that these factors contributed to his decision. He also noted that Atwood has already done away with latex gloves, which previously were used in first aid kits.
Bouffard said he was a bit worried people might view the restriction as an overreaction, but he said even though he may be catering to a minority of students, it was the right thing to do.
"We have made it safer for those affected, and it is not a major imposition on everyone else," he said. "People will just have to get a little creative when they rent space in Atwood."
Jake Zisla can be reached at: [email protected]
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