Tulane University - Jambalaya Yearbook (New Orleans, LA)

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Imposing Ethics On the Media I ' d rip out my mother ' s heart if it were for a story, said Mike Lyons, setting the tone for Direction program Media Ethics , held on Thursday, March 3, 1988. One of six paneUsts of the forum, Lyons is the chief investigator for the Better Govern- ment Association and has participated in and directed projects with 60 Minutes , 20 20 and NBC Nightly News. Other panelists included Pete Lance, formerly on the staff of ABC World News Tonight and 20 20 ; Van Gordon Sauter, former head of CBS News; Jim McGee, the journalist who covered the Hart-Rice affair for the Miami Herald; Charles Ferguson, editor of the New Orleans Times-Picayune; and Lynn Gansar, WDSU New Orleans anchor person. Charles Nesson, a professor at Harvard Law School, moderated the program. The format of the program consisted of several hypothetical situations set up by Nesson. One such scenario suggested that Lyons was close friends with a senator whose 11 -year old daughter told him of an argu- ment between the Senator and his wife con- cerning the possibility of the senator run- ning for the presidency. I think that any reporter who deludes himself or herself into thinking that a public official really wants them to be their friend is a fool. For the most part, people in power use the media as best they can, and some- times call you by your first name, said Lance. When Nesson set forth a scenario of re- markable similarity to the Gary Hart-Donna Rice tryst, the participants were in general agreement. They would do the story on the Van Gordon Sauter and Lynn Gansar take a mo- ment before speaking about Media Ethics to fine tune their microphones. Both added valuable in- sight to a successful symposium. hypothetical Debbie Spice. McGee stressed the importance of having a reason to pursue the story, specificially if it relates to statements or image. Lyons said he would jump at the chance to get a story of this sort. He ' s a declared presidential candidate, married and the in- formation is that he ' s going to have an affair. I ' ve got the place blanketed, I ' ve got under- cover people as busboys, he said. • — Laura Johnson Direction 59

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Candidly speaking on his nomination and subsequent Senate rejection to the Su- preme Court, Judge Robert Bork appeared in McAlister Auditorium on March 6 as Di- rection 88 ' s final speaker. Bork dismantled the wall of misconcep- tions that had just this fall proven an impen- etrable barrier between him and confirma- tion as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Bork asserted that something more was and is at stake than his confirmation. This was the first national election campaign with respect of a judicial nominee in our coun- try ' s history. This experience is going to have long term effects on the judicial nomination process of the future, the substance of law, particularly our Constitutional law and on our intellectual life and ultimately, upon our culture, he said. Bork said he fears that a dangerous prece- dent may have been established. If it is left unchecked it could threaten the indepen- dence of the judiciary from legislative en- croachments. Independence is crucial of the operation of our repbulic under the consti- tutional prinicples upon which it was found- ed. Bork also discussed his style of adjudica- tion, according to original intent of the framers of the Constitution. Judicial power is legitimate only where the Constitution is law, he said. Judges should not govern, said Bork. • — Rick Ostermayer Senator Bob Livingston introduces Judge Bork to a sold out crowd in McAlister Auditorium. Bork was, by far, the most popular speaker brought to campus for this year ' s Direction. Judges should not govern, Bork said in a state- ment which reflects his opinions on his nomina- tion and subsequent Senate rejection. 58 One Man ' s Opinion Photos by: V. Farinas

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The AIDS Scare Grows There is definitely no oth- er four letter word that in- stills more fear or carries greater social stigma than AIDS. This fear is justified, for AIDS kills; and as of this time there is no drug to cure it or a vaccine to prevent it. c ;?rs Acquired ■ on Immune Deficiency Syndrome AIDS is an acronym for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. This means it is a non- inherited breakdown of the body ' s defense system. The virus that causes AIDS and its related complex, ARC, is the Human Im- munodeficiency Virus (HIV). It is a retro- virus that must live and reproduce itself in- side the human cells because it is very fragile and will not survive outside the body. HIV is located in body fluids (blood, semen) and can be spread in four main ways: sex with an infected partner; sharing drug needles and syringes; exposure to contaminated blood; and natal transfer from an infected pregnant woman. This eliminates many of the terrify- ing myths that surround AIDS. There is no substantial evidence that AIDS can be spread by saliva or tears, by casual contact in schools or swimming pools, or by hugging. No one has ever been infected by an insect bite and the virus cannot be contracted from a toilet seat. AIDS does not Discrimate!! It has infected an estimated ten million people and threat- ens tens of millions more. Approximately two-thirds of the victims of full blown AIDS are homosexual men. Intravenous drug users represent 17%, 8% are in both categories and about 4% acquire the virus through het- erosexual contact. The last statistic is actual- ly misleading as the number of such cases is steadily increasing. This is due to the long incubation period and the fact the HIV has very recently entered the heterosexual pop- ulation. Other groups at risk are hemophi- liacs and patient that receive blood transfu- 60 sions. The availability of the antibody test and the new blood processing methods have reduced the chance of acquiring AIDS in this manner to about 1 in 100,000. There is extensive and constant research world round in the hopes of defeating the century ' s most deadly epidemic. During the past two years, scientists have collected more data on AIDS than in the 40 years of polio research. Scientists are now concen- trating on developing a vaccine with the goal of stimulating the production of antibodies that can fight invading viruses. Although dramatic new therapies and vac- cines are being worked on, public health ex- perts continue to emphasize that preventa- tion is a major factor in halting the spread of the virus. Prevention should be undertaken by everyone, whether considered at risk or not. It seems that abstinence is the most ef- fective way of prevention. However, this is an unrealistic concept. On more practical terms, a person should know their partners well and limit them in number. Condoms, which are an effective way of stopping trans- mission of bodily fluids. There are many ways a person can get educated on the deadly virus of AIDS. (AIDS INFORMATION, New Orleans AIDS Task Force, Tulane Health Center) The message from this prevention effort is best stated by British AIDS educational slogan: No one needs to die from ignorance. Remember this is not a virus that hits someone else. If not careful, it can happen to you. • — Stephanie Colen