Union University - Lest We Forget Yearbook (Jackson, TN)

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In the six years since Americans first heard of a mysterious immunity-robbing disease from which no one recovers. AIDS has killed nearly 25.000 Americans. Millions of dollars have poured into medical re- search and President Reagan has pro- claimed the plague Public Health Enemy No. . AIDS: Public Health Enemy No. 1 1987 was only the beginning of a panic over a disease about which little is known and for which there is no known cure. AIDS — acquired immune defi- ciency syndrome — took Ameri- ca by surprise and forced Ameri- cans to seek more knowledge to protect themselves. AIDS statistics are staggering. Only six years after Americans first heard the term AIDS , 2 million people have become in- fected with it. The number of deaths which this will lead to is expected to be larger than the death toll of the Vietnam War and to make the Ethiopian fam- ine look like a picnic. The AIDS virus is also compared to the Black Death that killed a fourth of Europe ' s population in the 14th century. The HIV virus is only the first of many viruses that can infect people and lower their immune system. As many as 10 million people are infected with the HIV virus. Predictions include 500.000-3 million new cases be- tween 1986-1991. and by 1991. 50- 100 million people will be in- fected with the HIV virus. It is also predicted that cancer will be recognized as a complication of the HIV infection. Within the next 5 years. 3 million AIDS vic- tims will be dead or dying, and it is possible that America will be devoting 2% of its GNP to care for AIDs patients. 66% of AIDS cases are found in homosexuals. Behind every AIDS patient, there are about 100 hidden sources with the HIV virus. Within 5 years. 2 major shifts in the AIDS virus are predicted: 80% of all AIDS cases will be found outside New York and California, and it will be trans- mitted more and more by hetero- sexual contact. There is only one way that society will live in peace until a cure or vaccine is found, if ever. That is for each person to decide whether his or her sexual conduct is a danger to the life of another, and then act accordingly.

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National News Pope Visits United States Stockmarket Crash Of 1987 For nearly five years the stock market had made dra- matic gains, setting records for miraculous increases. It was termed as being a very bullish market. Thousands of people were making tons of money. The market topped at over 2700 points, the highest mark reached ever! October 19. 1987, put a halt to all of the merry money mak- ing. An event took place that will surely be remembered and talked about for many years to come. The New York Stock Ex- change made the greatest de- cline in history. Falling nearly 200 points more than the crash of 1929. the market fell 508 points. What did the crash mean to the economy? If government played its cards right, it could be beneficial. Many people now bought securities, trea- sury bonds, and mutual funds. No longer were people looking for a high risk, get-rich-quick stock. They wanted low risk, long-term investments. The re- cession that followed the 1929 crash need not happen again. If everyone starts talking re- cession, and the public reacts as if a recession is coming, then one will occur. Govern- ment must be careful not to lead the public to believe a re- cession is coming. Now is the time when government must be strong. Although it seems that the bear is running freely throughout the market, many investment firms forsee a strong economy to continue. Expected lower interest rates, and increases in government spending will help settle the shaky market. The bull will be back! Everyone knew that Pope John Paul ll ' s sec- ond visit to the United States was not going to be easy. A growing problem between the American Catholics was the major reason for this visit. Once re- garded as among the most committed fol- lowers, many American Catholics today feel they have the right to choose the elements of their faith and ignore those they disagree with. Major disagree- ments ranged from abortion to women priests. The Pope met this challenge by not scold- ing his followers with harsh words, but rather by offering blessings and warm homilies. He also chose to follow the advice of American bishops by avoiding confrontational speeches.

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National News California Scores A 6.1 Garbage Cargo Becomes Joke At 7:42 am. one October morning. California experi- enced an earthquake regis- tering 6.1 on the Richter Scale causing fear in most Southern Californians. Over 100 people were injured and six killed during the earthquake. The quake shattered windows, snapped power lines, broke gas mains, and ignited fires. Centered between Whittier and Pasadena, the earth- quake was just thirty miles from the San Andreas Fault. Eight blocks of Whittier s business district were closed after falling bricks damaged cars and eight buildings were destroyed. The quake, although damaging, was rather minor compared to the 8. 1 quake in Mexico City in 1985. and the 1906 San Francisco ca- tastrophe that measured 8.3 on the Richter scale. Still, the October quake was the worst since 1971 in South- ern California, when the San Fernando Valley was shak- en by a 6.6 quake that left 64 people dead. This quake showed the people of Cali- fornia that they are far from ready for a major earth- quake along the San An- dreas Fault. The barge Mabro 4000 began its fateful journey from a New York City port on March 22. 1987 bound for Jones County. North Carolina. The barge was filled with a very unique cargo of New York ' s finest . . . garbage. But little did the crew know just how long and unusual this trip would be. After being turned away from the original port in North Carolina, Mabro 4000 tried sev- eral other ports. The barge quickly became national news. The barge filled with 3. 128 tons of garbage became a national joke and a symbol of the na- tion ' s worsening prob- lem with solid waste management. The barge, while looking for a place to dump its cargo, was banned by six states and three for- eign countries before an incinerator finally reduced it to ash.