University of Nebraska Kearney - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Kearney, NE)

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For Jane, this issue necessitates anonymity which we gave Eating, a silent issue that can kill mane, a 2'1-year-old KSC junior, m spent much of the summer B and early fall of 1984 in front of a television set gorging on foods like ice cream, doughnuts, candy bars and potato chips, then forcing herself to vomit, Jane followed this routine, known as binge-eating and purging, at least 10 times a day. She was also getting up at 4:30 a.m. daily for a minimum of three hours of exercise. That was before she slashed her wrists. Her suicide attempt led to treat- ment at an eating disorders clinic in Omaha, followed by Jane's return to KSC in January, when she and Dawn Ulrich, a school counselor, organized a self-help group for other college women with similar problems. Eating disorders, more specifically bulimia and anorexia nervosa, had become a serious health problem nationwide — and KSC was no exception, according to Ulrich. Coun- seling young people with eating disorders had become a large part of her day. Ulrich gave the American Anorex- ia Nervosa Association's definition of anorexia as ... a serious illness of deliberate self-starvation. She added that bulimia is characterized by compulsive binge-eating and purging — by way of self-induced vomiting, laxative abuse and or diuretics. In either disease food becomes an addiction or obsession, she said. Secrecy and feelings of shame or guilt about eating are also character- istics. Because of the confidentiality of her patients, Ulrich declined to give numbers on how many KSC people were receiving counseling for eating disorders, but she stressed it had become a campus problem — most common at KSC among freshmen women, It's not only weight. There are usually other problems that go along with it, only we choose to ignore the other problems and concentrate on the weight instead, Jane said. Jane's problems snowballed in the summer of 1984. By strict dieting, fasting and exercising she lost 45 pounds from September to April. That summer she was home alone with lots of free time. She began the binging and purging cycle, then she said she was also taking between 100 to 200 laxatives a week. Yet the weight started to gradually come back on. By fall, she had regained all of the 45 pounds. Jane said weight gain is common among bulimics because binges are usually on high caloric foods which the body absorbs despite purgings. Frus- tration and depression result. Jane attempted classwork at KSC in the fall, often physically weak and exhausted from dehydration and the 4:30 a.m. exercise regimen. If it were a choice between a date or exercise, I would exercise. I even got up that early on weekends because I hated myself if I didn't exercise. In October Jane thought she preferred death to the life she was living. But at the Omaha clinic, Jane said women undergo extensive group and individual counseling as well as learn about food, diet and nutrition. A major attitude, once you've recovered, is you need to know food is a real scary subject — it will be hard to eat and hard not to eat too much ... We were taught to look at food as a medicine you must take three times a day. And, like medicine, you don't want to take too much and not too little. And you must take it at the right times, she noted Gloria Tye, a nurse at KSC's Student Health, said most women suffering from either disorder will usually not seek help. Instead they will require medical treatment for other problems — problems usually related to the eating disorder. Jane is aware of some of those medical problems. Vomiting can become physically addicting and patients can experience withdrawal symptoms once self-induced vomiting is stopped. Sometimes eating disorders don't arise until the freshmen year in college. Ulrich said women entering college are often leaving home for the first time. Many fall victim to a traditional problem nicknamed the freshmen 15. This phenomenon is the result of such lifestyle changes as the overeat- ing of junk foods from fast-food restaurants or the dormitory vending machines. Peer pressure to party on weekends can also lead to weight gain. For some of these women the added 15 pounds to their frames brings on panic, which could lead to unhealthy ways of coping, according to the counselor. For a few it might result in the extremes of anorexia or bulimia, she said. Jane said she doesn't believe there is anything wrong with being concerned about weight. But be aware you might have a problem if your weight and dieting become the most important things in your life, or you panic everytime you gain a pound. Today Jane considers herself recovered, But she knows she has to be careful. I still get up every morning and think I am fat. But being out and doing things is a lot better than looking at the toilet. — Blue and Gold Editorial Staff

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Issues Advice for porkers — “Let them 5ue's class was going to start in 10 minutes and she'd been around the block three times. Her frustration built by the second - there was not one parking place close to campus. The alterna- tive could mean walking eight blocks or more. A momentary hope rose, then was dashed, as a closer inspection showed a motorcycle taking up what had promised to be ci rare parking space. The residential area bordering campus became a backup solution. Some residents might resent the loss of their parking spot, but looking at her watch negated any consideration for their inconvenience - there was only three minutes to get to class! Desper- ation set in and a semi-legal parking attempt was made, followed by a dash to class. Fears of towing andl tickets lurked in Sue's mind throughout her classes. The same fears that caused her to complain to other fellow students. She found she wasn't alone. Parking at KSC was a favorite gripe of many students she talked to. Many students, visitors, com- muters and faculty to the campus have all, at one time or another, had a problem finding parking space. I pay to live here, but if I leave during the day, I usually can't find a parking spot when I return. People who don't buy parking stickers park behind our house on 24th Street, said Paula Ackerman, KSC student. Ackerman is one of the people who live in apartments in the residental area bordering campus. Parking is a real problem at KSC, said Mike Diffendeirfer, publishing representative from Walsworth Pub- lishing Co., whose work frequently brings him to campus. It's a hassle. You have to get a parking place to get permission to get a parking place, said Diffenderfer, in speaking about his personal experiences in trying to park near the source of his business at A.O. Thomas. Ever since the parking lot for car-poolers was shut down it has been difficult to find a parking spot. Car-poolers were competing with commuters, said Joel Lau from Hastings. Parking is a real pain around here, he said. Faculty member, Charles Pickens said that after 8:30 a.m, there was usually no parking for faculty members around Bruner Hall. He would then be forced to drive around and look for a spot, or try to park in the faculty lot near the Otto Olsen Building. Pickens said this lack of parking may have occurred because some faculty members were already here for the day. Remaining places were filled up by students with only an early class to attend, who believed they could sneak in and out, ahead of the crowd. In response to questions about parking complaints, Lynne Brandt, parking service officer, said, Every- body wants everything close, but people are going to have to learn to walk. Earl Rademacher, vice president for administration and finance, re- sponded with, Students need to leave 10 minutes earlier. They wait until the last minute, then become frustrated trying to find a close parking spot. Most parking tickets were written for having no permit during 1984-85, Brandt said. Some 11,900 tickets were written from the last of August, 1984, up to Christmas break. However, she also said 3,414 permits were sold for the year, but that there were only 2,440 parking stalls available. Accord- ing to Brandt, the reason this was done was because every vehicle parked on campus must have a valid permit. Solutions relating to the parking problem cited included working to acquire more properties between west and center campuses. A high- rise parking complex has also been a consideration but would have cost to much to maintain in addition to high interest rates, Rademacher said. According to Rademacher, this would have also resulted in high parking fees for students and faculty. As another possible solution, a shuttle bus was discussed, with students paying so much a year for its use. Pickens said he would like to see the Student Activities Council inves- tigate this possible solution for moving people back and forth, from east to west, as well as surrounding parking lots. A four-year-plan to improve and add additional parking lots was under way. Through this plan more land was being purchased and gravel lots were being hard-surfaced as well as added lighting improvements. Meanwhile, another frustrated driver had found a ticket on his window and Sue's car had been towed from her semi-legal parking spot. In 1984-85 the controversy surrounding parking at KSC kept many drivers muttering under their breaths. — Katherine Brown

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Issues Cancer — nasty word but time to face it Cancer! An issue most youthful college students would like to avoid. But avoidance is the worst thing you can do, according to Arlis Weed, tumor registrar for Kearney's Good Samari- tan Hospital. “Information about and for any cancer is important. Coliege, and the average college age, is an excellent time and place for education about cancer, Weed said. Not talking about it is a solution that many use in avoiding the topic of cancer. But with the recent loss of two well-known KSC professors, whether we wanted to talk about it or not, cancer was brought to campus attention this year. Students, co-workers and other faculty members experienced the loss of these two professors because of cancer. Cancer strikes all ages. While older people are more likely to get cancer, youth should not consider themselves immune, according to Beth Hulthusen, central area execu- tive director of the American Cancer Society. Halthusen said there are some cancers that are prevetant in college- age people. Supporting this information. Weed said, “In the '19-29 age group within the Kearney area, there are 38 cases of cancer at this time. They vary from cancer of the thyroid gland, lymph, esophagus, sinus, lung, breast, cervix, testes, bladder and brain, in addition to Hodgkin's disease and leukemia. Even Ann Landers states that there is more cancer in the U.S. than 35 years ago. She attributes this to five reasons: (1) more accurate diagnos- ing; (2) the population has increased approximately 55 percent during the past 35 years; (3) more women are smoking; (4) industrial pollution has became heavier and (5) people are living longer. While lymphomia and leukemia are two cancers that strike young people, Dr. Robert C. Rosenlof of Kearney said there is an increased amount of lymphoma and leukemia in the Central Platte Valley — perhaps twice as much as the national average. Cancer can be an issue even Seven Warning Signs hange of bowel bladder habits. A sore that won't heal. Unusual bleeding dis- charge. Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere. Indigest ion difficulty in swal- lowing. bvious change in a wart or mole. Nagging cough or hoarse- ness. when the individual doesn't suffer directly from the disease. For Jane Carroll, a KSC student, losing her father to cancer was an emotional trauma that came during her college senior year. For other students, according to Darlene Bevard, counselor at KSC's counseling center, it can mean losing an unde, a spouse or another close person. The student has to deal with the changes that cancer within the family brings — and frequently, the grieving process. Halthusen said that the American Cancer Society stresses that support groups are important. She said sup- port groups include not only the cancer victims, but other family members who share in the cancer experience. Halthusen said In these support groups, persons often find they' e not alone; they can learn from each other about ways to get through such things as chemotherapy and the fear of loss. Being aware of cancer as an issue Is only the first step for college students, according to Flalthusen. She said early diagnosis is very important in increasing survival chances. “Be aware of the warning signs, she said. But, she added that more then recognizing the warning signs, young people should be aware of eating habits such as low fat and high fiber. There are things one can do to minimize the odds of getting cancer, according to Halthusen. She advises that people should learn more about stress management; that they should take responsibility for their own health and well-being by eating right, getting regular medical exams and moderating their lifestyles. She said young people should not fall info the trap of thinking cancer only happens when you're older. Both Halthusen and Weed stressed education and awareness are two important keys in keeping healthy and avoiding cancer — and if it can't be avoided, then In coping with it in a successful and positive way. Cancer — it's an issue. An issue that can be approached with silence and ignorance, or with information and education. It's your choice. — Carolyn Troxel and Marsha Kaiser