In response to the Oct. 24 article, "Many violating meningitis law," I have to say I was shocked to read some of the responses that fellow Penn State students had to say about getting the meningitis shots. I would highly encourage every student who lives on campus to get the shot. You might ask, "Well, why should I pay $85 for a vaccine that doesn't cover all forms of meningitis and who are you to tell me whether or not to get the shot?" You're right, you can take the chance of not getting the shot and still live, but I think I have something to say that may change some of your minds. Meningitis is more common than you think it is. You never know when it will hit and you have to prepare yourself for it. My sister, Michelle Bahn, was a Penn State student majoring in English and was going to attend law school. She died last summer, June 25, 2001, from meningococcal meningitis. Meningitis closely mimics the flu, so it's hard for doctors to diagnose whether if it's the flu or meningitis. Often, doctors can mis-diagnose meningitis, like when my sister went into Ritenour on June 25, 2001. It's horrifying reading about other people who died from meningitis. That's why I want to encourage all of you out there to get the shot and perhaps save your own life by doing so.