I’ve always been intrigued by the Spanish Flu outbreak of 1918. Of those who contracted the flu, 20% died. 50-100 million died worldwide — about 5% of the entire world’s population, over the course of a year.

This happened during WWI, and the massive troop movements likely led to the spread and hastening of the pandemic.

There are some excellent resources available about the Spanish Flu. Probably the best I’ve read is John M. Barry’s The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History.

There have also been some great articles in the Spokesman Review’s “100 Years Ago Today” series that discusses the effect of the Spanish Flu on the Palouse.

• The ban on public dances – the last vestige of the Spanish flu quarantine – was finally lifted.

  There would no longer be, in the words of the Spokane Daily Chronicle, “regulations to mar the beauty of the dreamy waltz or to deaden the sensations of the bunny hug.”

  However, Dr. J.B. Anderson, the city’s health officer, advised Spokane residents to use caution.

  “Young people and others who attend dances should be exceedingly careful in selection of proper clothing to fit weather conditions,” he said. “After dancing, keep out of drafts and have coats or wraps handy to wear after becoming heated.”

  The Spanish flu was not totally vanquished – there were still a few new cases and some deaths – but the worst was long past. Anderson said the current situation was “satisfactory” but the flu would probably linger until summer.

• Tens of thousands of shipyard workers in Seattle and Tacoma announced their intention to go on strike the next day.
  They were demanding higher wages. This labor dispute would soon mushroom into one of the biggest labor crises in state history.

• The doctor and the pandemic: Spokane’s 1918 fight against the Spanish influenza

• The Spanish flu epidemic was by no means over. Three more people died, bringing the flu death total to 16 for the week, and 457 altogether.
  One of the victims was a 10-year-old, who became the third in his family to die.
  Despite this, the city health office said the increase was “not sufficient to cause alarm.”

• Mayor says Spokane residents can’t hold dances in his city to avoid flu restrictions
• Pandemic petering out, emergency hospital at last closes doors
• Two more Spokane residents died of the flu, but the statistics continued to show the epidemic waning.
  The ban on public dances would continue indefinitely, said the city health officer.
• Father McAleer of the Sacred Heart Church was arrested for holding meetings in Harrington, in violation of that town’s flu quarantine.
  He was released on his own recognizance to appear for trial in Davenport.
  Meanwhile, the flu epidemic continued to wane in Spokane, but authorities were nervous about a recent recurrence in West Coast cities and in some of the Inland Northwest’s small towns.
  The flu death toll in Spokane stood at 439.
• The flu situation still was improving, but people were not exactly dancing with joy.
  In fact, the ban on public dances remained in effect. City health officer Dr. J.B. Anderson said he would not lift the dance ban until he could make further study of local conditions.
  Anderson was nervous about an uptick in the Spanish flu in Seattle and other cities, and he wanted to remain cautious. In general, however, he said he was “well satisfied with conditions in Spokane at present.”
• The flu epidemic continued to wane, but plenty of people were still suffering.
  The city’s Social Service Bureau asked for donations of mattresses, because “in some instances an entire family is sick and there are not enough beds in the home for all.”
  Meanwhile, health officials announced plans to close the city’s emergency flu hospital on Jan. 15.
• The Spanish flu epidemic was waning in Spokane, but not in surrounding towns.
  A dangerous recurrence was reported in Wallace. Theaters, schools, churches and all public gatherings were once again banned there.
  Wallace schools reported 150 children absent.
• The Spokane Daily Chronicle’s editorial page noted that some critics had complained about Spokane’s flu quarantine by saying, “New York City didn’t close the churches, schools and theaters because of the flu. And look at New York.”
  Those people weren’t saying that any more.
  The annual death statistics were out, and they told a grim story for New York. That city’s death rate jumped in one year from 15.2 per thousand to 18.8, an increase of 3.6 in 1918.
  Spokane’s death rate went from 8.09 to 10.23, an increase of 2.14.
  “To make it a little plainer: If Spokane had followed New York’s plan with New York’s results, among 120,000 people there would be 175 more graves in the city’s cemeteries than there are today,” said the editorial.
• The city’s social services nurses were among the unsung heroes of the Spanish flu epidemic.
  Statistics showed that they worked tirelessly throughout the previous year. One nurse alone made 1,102 visits in 12 months.
  They were able to shoulder this prodigious – and often dangerous – workload with help from the city’s “automobile chamber of commerce,” which supplied the nurses with autos.
• The Spanish flu epidemic was waning in Spokane, but not in surrounding towns.
  A dangerous recurrence was reported in Wallace. Theaters, schools, churches and all public gatherings were once again banned there.
  Wallace schools reported 150 children absent.
• Spanish influenza pushes death rate to record high
• Spokane’s Sunday school classes were allowed to resume after being banned for months due to the flu epidemic. This was part of a larger lifting of the ban, announced the day before.
• End of flu quarantine announced for New Year’s
• Spanish flu, in the wane, claims former Spokane mayor
• City Heath Officer Dr. J.B. Anderson said that the epidemic is “practically under control.” Yet he was not willing to take any chances. He was still banning holiday gatherings through New Year’s Day. Three new deaths from flu were reported, bringing the total to at least 407.
• The Spanish flu epidemic was waning, but it continued to take a toll. Lois Major, 20, a mother of three small children, died at the city’s emergency influenza hospital.
• The Spokane School Board anticipated the reopening of schools in the new year, and approved a new calendar that called for school to run from January 6 to June 13.To make up for dozens of lost school days because of the flu closure, every school day would be a half-hour longer. Also, there would be only three vacation days during that period.
• For the first time in many weeks, not a single flu death was recorded in Spokane. In addition, the number of patients in the city’s emergency flu hospital dropped to 23, far below its peak. The official death toll stood at 402.
• Dr. J. B. Anderson continued to stand up against Spokane’s theater owners who wanted to lift the modified flu quarantine.
• Theater owners fight back against health officer’s attempt to stop flu
• City health officer Dr. J.B. Anderson reiterated his pledge to keep the partial ban on public gatherings in place until at least January.
• Businesses petition to lift on public gatherings ban; health officer unmoved
• Flu deaths continue to drop
• Flu deaths down, influenza pandemic appears finally to be on the wane
• As schools remain closed, teachers hire out as tutors
• As city begins distributing whiskey to treat flu, demand is high [you think?]
• Public holiday celebrations banned as flu deaths mount
• The Empress Theater was allowed to reopen after being closed for 24 hours for violating the rules of the flu quarantine.
• Authorities crack down on violators as flu death toll reaches nearly 300
• Conflicting messages as flu death toll continues
• Public gathering ban drives rift through citizenry as flu cases grow
• Flu cases – and deaths – spike
• As flu cases climb, city health officer hardens line on public gatherings
• 9-year-old boy holds out as flu ravages family
• Dances and other gatherings banned as city tries to stop spread of flu
• Schools closed as flu spreads to the young
• Spiting flu warnings, thousands take to the streets for fair and dance
• City proposes sweeping vaccination program for local youngsters
• Spanish flu comes roaring back
• Spokane residents were no longer restricted by the seven-week-long ban on public gatherings and were ready to join together in song and dance. Everyone assumed that Spokane had weathered the worst of the Spanish flu epidemic. They were wrong.
• Leo Wenzloff was serving a 90-day sentence on bootlegging charges – but he was released early, in recognition of his service as a jail “flu nurse.”
• Schools reopen after flu closure
• Prayer inadequate medicine for local faith healer — note: the wife blamed it on the lack of faith of people present, not on the lack of faith of her healer-husband. 
• Governor clears Washington State in probe into treatment of students with Spanish flu
• Optimism abounded that the flu “epidemic crest” had passed, said a headline. However, the death toll rose to 203 and 145 new cases were reported.
• Fewer than 50 new Spanish flu cases were reported, and this was considered good news since the number continued to decline every day.
• Flu prudence urged as public life comes roaring back
• City takes deep breath of relief as quarantine lifts
• Girl dies day after mother’s funeral as city’s death toll from flu rises to 181
• Spokane was certainly not alone in suffering from the Spanish influenza epidemic.
• City health board continues ban on public gatherings as flu deaths rise
• Nurses battling flu lauded
• Flu death toll rises, but theaters hope for end to ban on public gatherings
• Heady celebration as armistice arrives, but flu fears churn underneath
• The flu epidemic, which seemed to be waning, would come roaring back soon after Armistice Day, possibly because of these gatherings (for Armistice Day).
• Anti-influenza health measures prove challenging to enforce
• The local flu situation took another turn for the worse with 10 more deaths reported in one day.
• The local Red Cross started selling flu masks in the corridor of Spokane City Hall
• Nurse suggests onion poultice to ward off flu
• City health officer says  “the situation is grave … really serious, more serious than the general public seems to realize.”
• After a brief lull, the Spanish flu death toll spiked.
• The city health officer said the flu situation in Spokane “looks better than it has at any other time since the epidemic started.”
• Flu claims Spokane County treasurer; crowds banned at campaign rallies as flu death toll rises
• Flu claims Spokane County treasurer; crowds banned at campaign rallies as flu death toll rises
• The Spanish flu death rate spiked to 69, including 18 deaths in four days.
• Spanish flu fears spread, and facade of confidence begins to crack
• Concerned son writes home with flu fears; found dead when parents arrive
• Editorial declares ‘fresh air’ the best treatment for Spanish flu
• Mixed messages on Spanish flu’s progress, but signs remain troubling
• Flu hospital overwhelmed as nurses get ill
• 300 Washington State students sick with Spanish flu
• Glimmer of hope a thin cover on city’s fear as Spanish flu continues to spread
• Growing influenza crisis creates demand for able nurses
• City health official puts his foot down on influenza crisis
• Flu death toll rises to 15 as city takes more action to limit crowds
• Hotel owners object to city’s takeover over of building as flu hospital
• Public calm wavers as death toll from Spanish flu continues to rise
• Flu cases continue to rise, but only two dead
• Spanish flu sweeping through Northeast
• Reports of Spanish flu on East Coast reach Spokane
• Flu epidemic getting worse on East Coast and spreading west
• Sash company turns production to war work
• Local action called for as Spanish Influenza spreads
• Spanish influenza arrives in a rush
• Spanish influenza rears its ugly head
• First local deaths in 1918 flu pandemic reported as hospitals hit capacity
• Frenzy of countermeasures as Spanish flu takes hold
• Health ordinance puts strict ban on public congregation
• Spanish flu spikes at Gonzaga, Hillyard neighborhood
• City shuts down as Spanish flu hits Spokane

Barry believes that the virus actually originated in Kansas.

“The history of American education is a chronicle of fads.”

–W.W. Charters (1922), Professor and director of the Bureau of Educational Research at Ohio State University.

UPDATE #1: Moscow Police confirm that there is no direct threat to campus. Acting Chief Tyson Barrett says that officers informed the university about a police report from November. The report shows that Bennett allegedly admitted to using meth and having access to firearms. The report is from a call that officers responded to regarding a domestic situation. Barrett says that Bennett is not wanted by police. Officers are trying to make contact with Bennett to serve her with formal trespassing papers banning her from campus.

UPDATE #2: UI Spokeswoman Jodi Walker says there is no direct threat to campus. The alert was issued after administrators received information from the Moscow PD. Walker says the UI issued the alert out of an abundance of caution and wanted to release the information prior to a student demonstration scheduled for this afternoon. Students will conduct a silent sit-in protest to support Bennett at Noon in the UI Administration Building.

The University of Idaho issued a Vandal Alert this morning indicating journalism professor Denise Bennett has been barred from the Moscow campus.

The full alert reads: “Denise Bennett has been barred from Moscow Campus. Recent admittance to police of meth use and access to firearms. If seen on campus, call 911.”

Bennett was placed on administrative leave effective Thursday. The tenured mass media professor has worked at the university since 2006.

UI Director of Communications Jodi Walker told the Moscow-Pullman Daily News today that Bennett’s alleged meth use only recently came to light and did not factor into the school’s decision to place her on leave last week. Walker said the decision to issue the alert was made by UI President Chuck Staben.

When asked whether the allegation of meth use in the alert exposes the university to a potential lawsuit, Walker said she “couldn’t even begin to speculate.”

“That’s not a concern at this point – safety of our students, our faculty and staff is first and foremost our priority at this point,” Walker said. 

https://lmtribune.com/ui-issues-campus-alert-professor-barred-from-campus/article_918df9c4-24c2-11e9-9068-bbb88a0ff015.html

She sounds like a real piece of work.

I have a low view of any “academician” who needs to swear to get a point across. It’s a sign of dishonesty and low intelligence. 

Bennett’s email to university administrators came after she was informed Tuesday of $451.22 in unspent grant money she was unaware of and unable to use.

Here’s a UI faculty member making $65,192 per year, and she’s complaining about $451?

Shortly after speaking out about the handling of University of Idaho grant funding, UI associate professor Denise Bennett was placed on administrative leave effective immediately Thursday evening.

The tenured mass media professor has worked at the university since 2006.

Jodi Walker, UI communications director, confirmed Bennett’s leave Friday morning but could not comment further.

Bennett told the Daily News the placement is most likely a result of an email sent to the university’s administration expressing her disappointment with the handling of grant funds as well as the underfunding and lack of maintenance at the Radio-TV Center on the UI campus.

http://dnews.com/local/ui-tenured-professor-placed-on-leave/article_3a4b13f4-1703-5d9e-a2f0-24be3a184405.html