TL20071105-01 "Krysten Appelbaum Senior Editor Finally reaching the end of their morn-ing classes, hungry students pour out of the academic buildings and parade toward the University Union for some much needed sustenance. The going is smooth at first; an easy rhythm of even footsteps keeps conversations about last weekend�s party and this week�s midterm on beat. Left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot, left foot, left foot, left foot� Most students are all too familiar with the set of stairs leading down to the sec-ond floor University Union entrance from Smith Hall. Students are also familiar with the irritation they cause. �You can�t step once to get to the next step. You either have to take two small steps or one really long step,� sopho-more Katie Connor said last week before attempting the trek up the stairs. Other students have similar sentiments. �The way they�re spaced out is really annoying. Some of them are longer and some of them are shorter than the oth-ers. It�s just an awkward amount of steps to walk down,� freshman Nate Gonzalez said. Freshman Jami Colonna also said she Nov. 5, 2007 www.thetowerlight.com The Towerlight Published by and for the students of Towson and Baltimore -- twice-weekly Monday Now on TheTowerlight.com: Check out the full basketball preview online, or turn to page 13 for the print edition... Photo by Patrick Smith/The Towerlight Illustration by Matt Laumann/The Towerlight On Friday, students make long strides up the �awkward steps,� which lead to the second floor main entrance of the University Union. According to www.beactiveforlife.org, the average female and male walking strides are approximately 26.4 inches and 30 inches, respectively. The steps, which are split into two sets, measure about 54 inches and 38.5 inches in length. They do not allow walkers to step to the next stair in one stride. One rumor about the steps� design suggests females are able to run up the steps faster than males. However, women are able to clear only one step at a time while men can clear two when running. Female Walking Stride = 26.4� Male Walking Stride = 30� Female Running Stride = 58� Male Running Stride = 74� Bottom 10 Steps Each step = 7� H x 54� L Top 10 Steps Each Step = 7� H x 38.5� L Total Elevation of all 20 steps = 140� (over 11.5 ft.) NOTE: Diagram not to scale A staggering slope Irritation, clumsiness, mystery surround �awkward� Union steps Athletes subject to drug testing See STEPS, page 21 Random tests focus on detection of street drugs Kiel McLaughlin Sports Editor Towson athletes will now be subject to random drug tests that screen for street drugs and perfor-mance enhancing supplements. The decision was finalized at an Oct. 29 meeting that included the head coaches of all the teams in the athletics department. According to associate athletic director of student services Margie Tversky, Towson was previously one of just 11 percent of NCAA Division I programs not to have in-house drug testing. After years of committee work and a commitment of $5,000 from the depart-ment, there is now a policy in place. �We�ve talked about it for years. It�s a positive thing for our student-athletes because they can use it as a deterrent,� Tversky said. �There were three [Colonial Athletic Association] schools that weren�t testing, so we decided to put a program together.� The NCAA randomly tests for drugs year round, so Towson student-athletes are now subject to testing by both the athletic department and that national program. The NCAA visited Towson several weeks ago and See DRUGS, page 29 "
