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4 U. THE NATIONAL COLLEGE NEWSPAPER
News Features NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1988
: NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1988. Student Body
U. THE NATIONAL COLLEGE NEWSPAPER 2
Regents' birth control ban inspires 'freedom of choice' protest
Innocuous
Danger
GE products unshelved ... Students can't buy
General Electric batteries and light bulbs in the U. of
California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Country Store anymore
because of a unanimous vote by the UCLA Board of
Controls (BOC) to adopt sanctions against the company for
violation of Associated Students of UCLA's Ethical znd
Social Responsibility (ESR) policy. Last May, BOC found
GE's involvement with apartheid in South Africa and its
alleged disrespect for the environment through the release
of harmful toxins into the atmosphere and ground water in
violation of ESR policy. Penny Newman, who testified
against GE in an August 31 meeting, said she is a resident
of the "Stringfellow Acid Pits" in Riverside, Calif., where
she believes GE dumping caused health problems forher
family including her own miscarriage. "GE is the responsi-
ble party in 30 Superfund (dumping) sites - major, big
bucks types of sites. Don't just be sympathetic with us, do
something within your power to help us," Newman asked
the BOC members. A Black Student Alliance (BSA) repre-
sentative, identifying himself only as "Vusi," spoke to the
issue of GE's involvement with South Africa: "BSA realizes
the fact that we live in a capitalistic society. But therehas to
be some balance between economic rationalization and
equal opportunities, and environmental safety issues as
well," he said. Board members decided to "phase out"
UCLA's electrical system, which is comprised of GE pro-
ducts. The products will not be immediately replaced
because GE will not get further "economic or moral be-
nefits" from their continued use. Whitney Wood-
ward, Daily Bruin, U. of California, Los
Angeles
They're legal, cheap and available
at the corner store... .they also can kill
Demonstrators at Southwest Texas State U. set out for the San Marcos courthouse to protest the Texas State Board of Regents'
decision to ban the sale and distribution of contraceptives on four state campuses. The decision was made during the summer.
NT
OUUn
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'Habitat' helps ... Habitat for Humanity is a
national organization devoted to, and restoring homes for,
the poor. It was founded in 1969 by self-made millionaire,
Millard Fuller. Fuller decided that he could do something
worthwhile with his millions by helping others less fortun-
ate than he. The Connecticut College team of Habitat for
Humanity, headed by senior Susanna Harper, is currently
involved in restoring a New London two-family home to
house two families unable able to purchase a home on their
own. "Basically, we go in and help renovate old houses.
Habitat for Humanity usually funds its projects through
interest-free loans from banks and other related institu-
tions," Harper said. Homes are sold to families at no profit
with a no-interest mortgage. Harper said that "500-800
hours of 'sweat equity' labor is required of the family," plus
a minimum of about 1 percent of the house cost for down
payment. "The family is then given approximately 10 to 15
years to pay off the rest," Harper said. Stasi Alexan-
der, The College Voice, Connecticut College
Capsulized for posterity ... In celebration of
its centennial, U. of Idaho has planned to bury a time
capsule for 100 years. At the time of sealing the time
capsule, probably during commencement week, a 50-year
time capsule will be opened. "It will be interesting to see
what is in there. I hope it hasn't all turned to dust," said Hal
Godwin, centennial coordinator. A walkman, pizza box,
student identification card, microchip, comic strips, photo-
graphs, newspapers and letters are suggested time capsule
items. "We've tried to get the whole university involved,"
Godwin said. "The College of Engineering is working on
the capsule design, the College of Art and Architecture is
working on the setting design and we have asked every
living group forstime capsule items. We want it to be
representative of university life." Tracy Peel, Argo-
naut, U. of Idaho
By Ben Cohen
The Daily Texan
U. of Texas, Austin
While a "zero tolerance" crusade
against illegal substances like mari-
juana and crack draws media and pub-
lic attention, drugs of a different, and
legal, variety pass right under their
noses.
These drugs, categorized as in-
halants, include many common house-
hold products such as spray paint and
correction fluid. Users inhale the
vapors to receive a quick high. Certain
inhalants popular among college stu-
dents, however, serve only highly spe-
cialized or little-known purposes other
than as narcotics. Nitrous oxide cap-
sules, called "Whip-it," also provide an
over-the-counter way to get high. Res-
taurants and ice cream stores use them
to make whipped cream.
Anyone 18 or older can purchase
these "dance-club drugs," sold under
"We'll party all night on
coke and then at four in the
morning, you just don't
want to do any more coke.
So then we'll try ethyl or
poppers."
such trade names as Rush, Locker
Room and Ethyl. Although they are
bought and sold legally, their physical
and psychological effects make them
similar to unlawful substances.
"Rush, Medusa (the street name for
ethyl chloride) - these are drugs. They
have no commercial uses," said Jose
Marquez, minority director of Texans'
War on Drugs. "They say Rush is a room
odorizer, but if you've ever smelled it, it
smells nasty, like old tennis shoes."
Texans' War on Drugs supported a
bill that would include certain in-
halants in the section with the Texas
penal code to make them illegal.
The group's efforts proved unsuccess-
ful, and Wisconsin currently stands as
the only state to outlaw amyl nitrate
and butyl nitrate. Its laws were passed
after a state legislator died while snif-
fing the chemicals.
While state law separates Rush and
Medusa from other narcotics, no such
distinctions exist in the bodies of users.
The drugs affect the brain and heart
immediately upon inhaling, producing
a high lasting from 30 seconds to five
minutes.
"Sniffing cuts off oxygen to the brain,
resulting in euphoria and a sense of get-
ting high," Marquez said. "It also stimu-
lates the heart muscle, making it beat
real fast."
Immediate effects also include de-
creased blood pressure, dizziness and
headaches that vary with the experi-
ence of the user, the user's surrounding
and the amount taken.
"The high hangs around for less than
a minute, and you never black out for
over a minute. It changes your percep-
tion really quickly and makes your ears
ring and burn," said a U. of Texas
junior, who asked to remain anony-
mous. "It's fast fun."
Inhaling can result in sudden death,
most commonly by causing heart
attacks or bursting blood vessels in the
brain.
"Especially if you have a congenital
weakness, it can kill you," Marquez
said, adding that the drugs are often
psychologically addicting with in-
creased tolerance.
The danger increases when one com-
bines inhalants with other drugs, which
intensify the effects. Nevertheless, us-
ers commonly mix and match inhalants
with alcohol, marijuana and cocaine.
"We'll party all night long on coke and
then at four in the morning, you just
don't want to do any more coke. So, we'll
try ethyl or poppers," said a UT senior
who also requested anonymity.
I
INDAN
Peace together . .. Pacem In Terris, Latin for
'peace on earth," is the Wilmington, Del-based organiza-
tion which sent U. of Delaware's Kathleen Sullivan, a
Human Resources major of Irish descent, to Northern
Ireland this past summer to help restore peace among
Protestant and Catholic fighting factions. Sullivan was
struck by contrasts between Ireland's beauty and its war-
torn streets. Describing a large, beautiful mural of the
Virgin Mary on the side of a building, Sullivan explained
how a group of rioters gathered around a burning bus
directly in front of the painting. She said an imaginary line
runs down the center of the town square in Lurgan, Belfast,
dividing it into halves- Protestant and Catholic. Sullivan
worked at the Phoenix Center with Protestant and Catholic
children from 7 to 15 years old, playing games with them
and taking them on day trips to the zoo and other local
attractions. "The purpose (of the Phoenix Center) is to
bring the kids togetherand have them meet both sides of
the community to see that everyone's human," Sullivan
said. Sullivan said that people from both religious factions
treated her in a friendly way that she grew to love. "I don't
believe in one saying they're better than the other. I think
both sides are the same." Phillip Simmons, The
Review, U. of Delaware
Needs go unheeded ... The special needs of an
Indiana-Purdue U. student were allegedly denied when the
hearing-impaired student asked his professor to wear a
tieclip-sized microphone during his class lectures and was
refused. Psychology Professor Dr. D.W. Rajecki "refused to
wear a small F.M. microphone," said Loran Atkinson, a 55
to 65 percent hearingimpaired student. Rajecki contended
that if he gave in to one such request he would eventually
have to give into other student requests. Atkinson's room-
mate wrote a letter of complaint to school officials. John T.
Hazer, chairman of the psychology department, said, "I
think we (the faculty) have to generate standards about
reasonable accommodations." Hazer said that Rajecki
agreed to wear the microphone during his next lectures, but
in an interview with WISH-TV, Rajecki reportedly said, "I'm
not backing down from anything." Jeff DeHerdt,
The Sagamore, Indiana-Purdue U.
'Yes to guests' . . . Responding to a new housing
policy that would prohibit overnight guests in dormitories
at Boston U. (BU), nearly 1,000 students gathered on
campus to protest. Chanting "Yes to guests," the crowd
listened to about 50 speakers voice their protest to the
administration's policy. "What BU has said is that we're not
worthy of being treated like adults. The policy is insulting
and offensive . . . Anything that can happen after 11 p.m.
can happen before 11," said Nicole Blackman, president of
the Student AIDS Force for Education. Student Union
President Andrew Harris, who met with Dean of Students
Ronald L. Carter to discuss the policy said, "In some form,
this policy is going to go down. I really believe we can have
a big impact on what's implemented.". Jason Isralo-
witz and Lauren Terrazzano, The Daily Free
Press, Boston U., MA
Amnesty group aids captive ... Anyone
who says Mississippians don't make a difference in the
world hasn't heard of Ariel Hidalgo Guillen - or of
Amnesty International. Guillen, of Havana, Cuba, was im-
prisoned in Cuba in August 1981 for enemy propaganda. It
is believed that the real reason for Guillen's imprisonment
was his unpublished manuscript titled, "Cuba, the Marxist
State and New Class." Guillen, who spent 14 months in
solitary confinement, was released recently, one year be-
fore his sentence was up. U. of Mississippi assistant
professor Michael Queyja, coordinator of Amnesty Interna-
tional's Group 93, thinks letters of pressure may have
played a role in Guillen's release because Group 93 was the
only U.S. group to write for the release. Queyja said the
Also threatening the well-being of us-
ers, sniffing inhalants reduces the effec-
tiveness of the body's immune system,
leaving the user more vulnerable to a
variety of infectious diseases.
"Anything like (Rush or Medusa) sup-
presses the immune response," said Ed
Denton, director of treatment and in-
tervention services at the Greater Au-
stin Council on Alcohol and Drug
Abuse. "Several studies have indicated
that AIDS isn't always 100 percent
fatal; there's some indication that 2 to 5
percent may not get it fatally. So it
stands to reason that if you've supres-
sed your immune system you run a
greater risk of getting AIDS fatally."
People can also easily "freak out" af-
ter using inhalants, as Alex Hedgepeth,
the doorman at the Sixth Street night-
club, Curfew, can attest.
"People on inhalants can be a disturb-
ance to our other customers. Too many
people abuse it. We once had a guy who
fell off a chair about six times,"
Hedgepeth said. "If we find something,
we confiscate it and give it back to thei
when they leave. They're perfectly fre
to do it on their own time, but the wa
we look at it, this is our house and v
don't want people doing it here."
Marquez attributes the widesprea
use of these types of drugs among youn
people largely to peer pressure, as we
as their price and easy availabilit
among friends.
But regardless of whether clubs allo'
Rush or Medusa, they remain easier I
purchase than alcohol for many colleg
students. And in many ways, the drug
and their users differ from the usu,
perceptions surrounding inhalants.
"People will take poppers (amyl n
trate capsules that are popped open an
inhaled) to a concert, for example and
lot of kids tell me that people just pas
the stuff around, like a marijuan
joint," Marquez said.
But despite their dangers, over-th(
counter narcotics like Rush and Medus
still remain legal, cheap and well b<
hind the front lines of the war on drug
Contacts to wear and trash
BRYN HENDRICKSON, u. OF NORTH DAKOTA, SPECIAL TO U
R POLL RESULTS
IS GRADE INFLATION
CAUSED BY BETTER
STUDENTS OR LOWER
GRADING STANDARDS?
STUDENTS 41 %
STANDARDS 54%
UNSURE 5%
DO YOU FEEL THERE IS
GRADE INFLATION
AT YOUR SCHOOL?
Public parties restricted ... Parties open to
the public will no longer be allowed to serve alcohol at the
U. of Miami. The decision was made by the university and
the division of student affairs because hosts of open parties
can be held liable for the actions of their guests. "You could
have upwards of 1,000 people you don't know coming into
your house. . . Under the current law, if they leave the party
after having a drink, you can be held liable," Interfraternity
Council President Rich Gauthier said. Although the new
ruling mainly affects Greek system members, no group on
campus will be able to serve alcohol at parties open to the
public. Organizations with less than 50 members can invite
50 guests. Groups of more than 50 people may invite as
many guests as members. If an organization wants to invite
more guests than this quota, a guest list must be turned
into the Student Personnel Dean's office for approval.
f Barbra Spalten, The Miami Hurricane, U.
of Miami, FL
By Nancy Prosser
Kansas State Collegian
Kansas State U.
Disposable contacts now offer the
convenience of wearing contacts with-
out the hassle of daily and weekly
maintenance.
The contacts are worn continuously
for one to two weeks, then removed,
thrown away and replaced by a fresh
pair of lenses. "The lenses are much saf-
er and healthier for patients' eyes, be-
cause they are removed before they be-
come dirty," said Dr. Paul Bullock, a
Manhattan optometrist who offers dis-
posable contacts.
Many people who have traditional
soft contact lenses don't follow a proper
cleaning routine, he said. As contacts
become dirty, the cornea and eyelids <
the person wearing them can be di:
turbed. Sometimes the person has I
stop wearing contact lenses altogethe
Senior Von Hallauer wears dispo
able contacts and said he thinks the ne
system is great.
"I don't have to hassle with takir
them out every night and cleaning the:
like I did with soft lenses - it's great
Hallauer said. The lenses can be wor
one to two weeks, depending on the p,
tients' eye characteristics.
Disposable lenses cost $5 each.
"(Having disposable lenses) isn
cheaper, but it's more comfortable
Hallauer said. "But if you have a prol
lem losing contacts, it would b
cheaper."
YES 52%
UNSURE
NO 46%
2%