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All are respoi In spite of all the media attention given to AIDS dring the 1980s, many people still believe they will never be faced with this deadly disease. While these people may never become infected, they will be affected. That's because all of us eventually will know someone who suffers from AIDS. The victim may be someone we love or a co-worker or even a relative of a friend. In the United States, 139,765 men, women and children have AIDS ? 1040 of them are in South Carolina. Although statistics are not available for the number of people who are HIV-infected in the United States, it is estimated that 3856 oeoole in South Carolina have the AIDS virus. There are 21 cases of pediatric AIDS in South Carolina, with an additional 57 infants who are HIV-infected. South Carolina ranks 20th in the nation in the rate of AIDS cases per 100,000 population, and an alarming 18th in the nation in the rate of pediatric AIDS cases. Considering that South Carolina is a small state, the figures are disturbing. In the Southeast, only Georgia and Florida, both of which have larger populations, have higher rates of AIDS cases. The public cannot take an ostrich approach to AIDS. Too frequently we hear people say "I'm not gay and I don't inject drugs" as an explanation for why they will never contract AIDS. However, studies show that the AIDS virus has moved into the adolescent and heterosexual populations. While the numbers of cases still remain fairly small, none of us can afford to ignore the issue. A vaccine to prevent the spread of AIDS is at least five years away, and a cure is still many, many years into the future. For now, the only weapons we have in the war against the AIDS virus are education and prevention. As health educators, we have a critical challenge facing us. First, we must convey the message that AIDS is deadly. On the other hand, our message is that the virus is fragile ? it is spread only trough blood and body fluids. Getting both of these messages across is very difficult. Yes, the AIDS virus is serious. The virus can kill you. . . but only in certain circumstances. It is very easy for health professionals to cross the line and create panic in people. All of us must learn to find the right balance. Another challenge in AIDS education is one There are absolutely, pos no hidden charges * RafnmVm 1A/1U1V1UI CheckingAo ReadH N 1 nsible for All DR. DONNA RICHTER Guest columnist of changing behaviors. With AIDS, the behavior that we want to change is immediate. The pleasure of sex, for example, is now. The "high" from intravenous drugs is now. But the dangers these behaviors pose are far off in the future. It's very difficult to convince people to change behaviors that produce instant gratification. We've known for years that cigarettes increase our chances for lung cancer and other related diseases. We know certain foods put us at risk for heart disease, and we know we shouldn't drink and drive. Somehow, making decisions not to engage in behaviors that endanger our health is hard. If we go to an amusement park and decide against getting on a ride that appears unsafe, it is a decision we must make only once. But decisions about smoking, drinking, drug use and sexual behaviors are decisions that involve lifelong behavior changes. A contributing factor that makes changes in sexual behavior difficult is that sex is pushed at us from every possible angle. From magazine ads and television commercials to movies and prime-time TV, the message is one of sex. Sex sells everything from cars to clothes and soap. "Mainstream" Americans are more likely to engage in excessive drinking than to be pushed toward drug use. But in certain areas, particularly inner cities, drugs are pushed at people all the time. Anything that impairs judgement ? whether drugs or alcohol ? will affect a person's ability to make decisions. This can lead to risky behavior choices. In the end, you're playing Russian roulette with your life. The International Society for AIDS Educa tion was founded at the University of South Carolina to help health educators and health professionals throughout the world understand the AIDS epidemic and learn what they can do to prevent its spread. Since our first international conference in 1987, hundreds of health educators and health professionals have met each summer to focus on the how-tos of AIDS education and prevention techniques. Though the general public thinks that our job Don't forget to advertise your orgar meetings and ev< Call 777-5780 for more infc itively, definitely, unequivocally, and indubitably in an MRSr frpp nhppltintf amount Rpilllv. ... V... ?? -Vr iiOpenAFree nAiinl DA e, ' LUUlll,IJCOUIC lefineftint IBSC Tree Checking Member F/)/C i )S education is accomplished ? that information about AIDS is pretty well known ? we find that we have the never-ending task of trying to reinvent AIDS education. Each year, we have new groups of young people becoming sexually active. They must be educated. Also, those of us who have heard the AIDS message before need to have it reinforced and said in a different way. Sometimes, health professionals are told, "I'm sick and tired of hearing about AIDS." We have a continuing challenge to develop new and different ways of presenting information about AIDS. At our conference, a session on "The Joy of Latex" delivers the message with a humorous slant. Also, we teach decision-making skills for interpersonal negotiation so that partners will know how to communicate their feelings. It is important for people to know that they have choices and to feel comfortable with them. One of the most interesting things happening in education efforts is peer education. For example, drug abusers, homosexuals, prison inmates and teens are learning ways to share the AIDS prevention message with their peers. While the 1980s were a time of panic, I believe that the 1990s will be a time of hope. AIDS is no longer viewed as startling, new and different AIDS education is becoming part of our comprehensive health education efforts. We have learned to address the weaknesses in some of our health care delivery systems, and we are beginning to see people working together in the fight against AIDS. This has become an interdisciplinary effort, and people from every walk of life in almost every country of the world have rallied to the cause. We have come a long way from the early days. There is no question that we still have much to learn. Even when vaccines and cures are found, our education efforts will continue. Despite vaccines for measles and cures for syphillis and other sexually transmitted diseases, we still see outbreaks of disease. People all too often become complacent when they see that vaccines and cures to diseases have been found. nnw wp miKt rp.1v on education and nre vention to fight the AIDS virus. Though health professionals and educators have led the way in delivering the AIDS message, all of us must be a part of AIDS education efforts. Dr. Donna Richter is assistant dean of USC's College of Health and president of the International Society for AIDS Education. Nation's irmation The Cot Don't you hate can change tha Carpet Mill Oi selection of car] room or apartir So come in tod you and the col< A Jj?i I LAUREL ST. ^ogdill? & GERVAIS ST -?i O | IT! LU 00 oo < GREEN ST. Col- I IRuss iseum iHous BLOSSOM S' (803) 779-5606 1700 Huger Street, Coll Cofii m M pbsem Mon.,Fi iLE|rERSjO|T Mandela not Nobel worthy To the editor: The fact that some liberal members of Congress are proposing that Nelson Mandela be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize shows just how distorted the Mandela myth has become. Among those claiming that Mr. Mandela "follows in -i r * r i . t 1 tne tradition or Manatma unanai, Martin Luther King, Jr. and other recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize," are Richard Gephart (D-MO), Speaker Thomas Foley (D-WA), William Grey (D-PA), Ben Gilman (R-NY) and Ronald Dellums (D-CA). While no one can refute Mr. Mandela's commitment to ending apartheid in South Africa, it is also clear that he is no Ghandi or King. Mr. Mandela was jailed for violent crimes. Even Amnesty International refused to recognize him as a political prisoner. He has admitted that his organization, the African National Congress, tortured its own members when they did not toe the ANC line, and even his own wife, Winnie, has been implicated in the beatin and murder of 14-year-old Mokhetsi "Stompie" Seipei. Nelson Mandela continually advocates the use of violence as an appropriate means of political persuasion, refuses to talk with other black leaders who do not accept him as the only representative of black South Africans, and praises Fidel Castro for his "love of human rights and liberty." Surely these are not the values and traits that characterize a man worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize by even suggesting that Mr. Mandela deserves such an honor. Nelson Mandela may be a crusader against apartheid, but he is not a beacon for peace. Michael Reed Flesh shows lower women To the editor: I was all set to call Louann Mazur up and congratulate her. This girl has true insight, wit and taste for blasting the ever celebrated bin forts of I living on a cold, b t for less than you utlet has the Sout pet remnants perfe Lent. And at prices ay and put some c( i, bare floor. _ 12 x 13 'fe $89.9 jmbia did Cai ill Out i.& Sat. 9-6; Tues., Wed. I "H:EjEDf||B[ kini contest. It seems this summer I've heard a lot of advertising here in South Carolina for this outdated, neanderthalish event. But alas. . . Debbie, our weekly winner of said flesh extravaganza doesn't deserve our admiration. . . She deserves our disappointment. Once again, another woman is added to the ranks of those who naively and foolishly reinforce the stereotype that we like to be judged, accepted or oogled at for our appearance. Half dressed and proudly bouncing across the male stage of life, Debbie, like many others, fails to see the harm. Hell, I did too. . . until about two years ago. But wet t-shirt contests, strippers and bikini competitions aren't about appreciating the human form, they are about degrading women. They disgust me because I am a humanist. Think about it for just one second. Judging a person's self-worth because of their willingness to disrobe and act like they enjoy being visually and verbally violated: ! that's sad. And you know what? If . you saw someone sell themselves and their self respect for just a little money. . . that's sad too. It's not a matter of manipulating men via their hormones. It shouldn't be a matter of manipulating anyone. The person really be ing used here is Debbie, who thinks what she's doing is sheer fun and not harmful. When she goes out and gets a job and she's sexually harassed at work, she can't stop it just because it's not fun for her anymore. Or . when she tries to enjoy a drink in a bar without being grabbed or pawed or barked at, it won't disappear because she wants it to. If you tell those guys out there ? that this is O.K., then you make us all suffer the consequences. I never , considered myself a feminist because the men I was around treated me with respect. What a rude awakening when you find out that you J can't take that for granted. Feeling * cheap never makes anyone feel in control. Let's leave Annette in the '50s... I'd rather be my own '90s woman. Donna Lanzendorf Graduate student Marine science Home... are floor? You think. Cogdill L Aoof-'o 1 nvnroof licaoi o laigcou set for the dorm you can afford. Dmfort between rpet l6t HSBl Thurs, 9-8