Oklahoma State University - Redskin Yearbook (Stillwater, OK)

Page 26 text:

AIDS CRISIS He was one of Hollywood's most popular actors. His illness drew world- wide attention to an incurable disease. He was the catalyst for research. Rock Hudson died at 59. The killer was Acquired Immune Defi- ciency Syndrome (AIDS). AIDS was first identified in 1981. Some 3,572 cases have been reported since then in which 70 to 1 00 percent of the patients die. AIDS is a virus which attacks the body s immune system, rendering it unable to resist disease. The condition most often affect male homosexuals, in- traveneous drug abusers and hemophilacs. Many doctors say symptoms include night sweats, swollen lymph glands and severe weight loss. The disease can even lead to inflammation of the brain in some cases. Research suggests the probability of contagious transmission exchange of body fluids such as blood, urine, semen, saliva and perspiration. AIDS victims have low or totally absent helper T- lymphocytes levels. Patients also have a reduced level of natural killer cells, recently associated with effective resistance to cancer. You can carry the virus around and not necessarily have AIDS, says Dr IVliller of the Oklahoma State University Hospital. Miller says at present no students she knows of are reported as having the disease. Five students at the most have ex- pressed a concern in knowing about the disease, says Miller. Many people, for fear of catching AIDS, refuse to donate blood. In March the Red Cross began screening donated blood using the HTLV-III method. This test measures whether a person has built an antibody to the disease. The test is not designed to diagnose people who may be suffering from AIDS. The testing for AIDS is done on a blood sample at the AIDS Task Force, Tulsa or Oklahoma City Health Depart- ment. The public has several concerns about the risk of donating blood, says Tulsa Red Cross representative Duke Kastrisin. There are no risks in donating blood. The equipment is sterilized and once it is used it is then destroyed, says Kastrisin. Hemophilacs have a higher risk level, Kastrisin says . 22«campuslife AIDS can spread quickly if certain measures are not taken. Some problems that exist have become very controver- sial, for instance: •School officials are trying to decide how to deal with 183 people under 18 known to have the disease. No children have been found to have acquired AIDS in school, day care, foster care or other casual contact. No United States public school system has admitted a child known to be infected with AIDS. •The Defense Department will soon be requiring military recruits to submit to blood testing in order to expose the disease. •Officials across the country are trying to close gay bath houses in order to help stop the spread of AIDS. As of yet, there is no cure. Many AIDS patients seek solace in psychological counseling. The counseling depends on the indi- vidual more than anything else, says Miller. Hudson made his illness public in July. Hollywood celebrities joined together in raising benefits to help other victims. Even though Hudson died, he created an awareness of the deadly disease.

Page 25 text:

STUDENT CENTERS Students voice religious views Every student has experienced one )f those days. They consist of such lappy events as waking up late for class, lunking a test and having an argument vith a friend. No one ever said college would be ;asy. In times of adversity where and ow do students cope? Many students find student centers a ;ource of familiar background. Charles Davis, junior and council nember of the Baptist Student Union lays he decided to attend because he las many Christian friends to do things vith or just share problems. The Union offers social activities, trips, 3ible study, singing and guest speakers. Dn Tuesday and Thursday nights 60 ;tudents regularly attend. The Nazarene Student Center also has 3ible study and praise services. 4owever students there like to compete n intramural sports. It's a chance to be athletic, says jophomore Randy Zabel. The at- Tiosphere is great because the attitude s to have fun. The center also has a group for stu- dents who like to sing. Zabel says it's an excellent ministry. i came here because my brother was lere but I like it; it's a neat place, says Zabel. IVlany local churches offer a university :enter within the church. A church in Stillwater is a place to go where people can share common beliefs and backgrounds, ' says senior Anna Ayers. Ayers is a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church. She also attends the Campus Crusade, a Bible-study group that meets on Tuesday nights for about an hour-and-a-half. Ayers says sometimes finding time to attend is difficult. Or I may not feel like going. But it's discipline. We usually study something that I can apply to my life. Afterward I feel better. Local churches always welcome stu- dents for special programs. November 14th, Stillwater Church of Christ presented a guest speaker, Jeff Walling. His topic was motivation. Walling was great. He has a way of making you want to listen. He's really funny to listen to, says junior Gayle Koger. Koger is a member of the Uni- versity Center at the Stillwater Church of Christ. Things now are temporary. If you look at the world around you, that's depressing and there's better things to come. So what if you make a bad grade, says Koger. Some students are very much involved with a church. Robin Huckabay, fifth-year senior, is a Eucharistic minister and an acolyte for St. John's University Parish and Catholic Student Center. Huckabay's says his goal is to follow the teachings in the Bible by using them every day. Huckabay was reared as a Prebsterian but after becoming interested in Catholisism he enrolled in a religious education course and later joined the Catholic church. Everything the Catholics believe in has a basis for in the Bible. It's more meaningful, says Huckabay. In addition to churches and university centers, the campus offers religious clubs like the Navigators. I became a Christian through the Navigators, says senior Patsy Carver. Navigators is an international Christian organization which provides discipleship training. Activities include Saturday morning fellowship, sports, rallies, evangelism and Bible studies. Carver says her goal is to tell people about God and help them in their rela- tionships with Him. The Christian Bookstore does a large amount of business with students. Manager Dennis Carroll says most students who enter are either looking for music. Bibles or gift items. KCFO is a contemporary gospel sta- tion. I listen to KCFO if my radio can pick it up, says senior John Sczzesny. But i do like listening to my Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith tapes. When I get to feeling down and need something to pick me up that always works. photo by Craig Williams

Page 27 text:

,.-- ' I L I lA k '