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4 >^ ^Profess? Profile I HMmnnV IjXyiflytiyjQjg A USC English professor Amittai e; Aviram believes that evervone has ra responsibility to their society. ^ Aviram fulfills his responsibilities p by bringing diversity to the ^ Carolina community. n Aviram, 35, has taught at USC S) since 1984. Since then, there has Cl only been one course on the books for African-American literature, p and Aviram thought there needed S( to be another. So instead of wait- S( ing for someone to do something l about it, he originated a special t< section of Selected Topics in n Literature on African-American Ci poetry. "One-third of South Carolina's t> population is black. It's very o important uiat we reneci mat in ti our curriculum." A Aviram said students who take African-American Literature and e develop an interest in the topic had A no other classes to take that would a build on that interest ? until now. y He said the class opened doors for t( students who had never enjoyed literature before. "It would be a L shame to close those doors," he a said. Aviram is opening doors for the F gay community as well. He was F co-advisor for the Gay and * Lesbian Student Association for F two years, and places ads in The Gamecock supporting gay and jj bisexual students during Coming > tt r i_ uui weeK. Q "It's important for students to know that some of their professors ^ are gay ... there are gay people in n every walk of life," Aviram said. s He has been "out of the closet" ^ to his family and friends since age v fifteen. He had a relationship with b a woman while he was in college k at Columbia University, with li whom he has a fifteen-year-old h son. v Aviram "came out" again when he was in graduate school at Yale g University, where he made friend- s ships with famous gay scholars. v Aviram is a member of the n Some of Grc 'EheCE Zaro ( Professor Amittai Aviram tay/Lesbian Studies division of te Modern Languages association, and has written on ay themes and authors, such as /'alt Whitman, Countee Cullen, udre Lorde and Allen Ginsberg. Aviram has had some negative uperiences as a result of being pen about his sexuality. When he 'as GLSA co-advisor, he put his hone number in the Gamecock to How students to call him if they eeded someone to talk to. He Don received harassing phone alls from students. After he placed an ad in the aper on Coming Out Day one smester, according to Aviram, ome students in his American Iterature class became arguamenitive in class discussions and lade homophobic remarks, like ailing Walt Whitman a "queer." "The majority of students have een very fair and mature. I think n the whole, it has been a posive experience coming out," iviram said. Much of Aviram's musical taints stems from his childhood, iviram's father was from Israel, nd the family moved there for a ear from their small New York >wn when Aviram was eight. Aviram learned how to speak lebrew at home, and used his bilities in foreign languages to sarn Spanish, rench, German, ,atin, Greek, "The bi talian and Old sure that nglish. Aviram's teaching tother taught that stu( im to play the iano. His family Clenly QTQ ouldn't take a maoninn IIIUUI IIIIM iano with them .. . /hen they that W6T6 loved to Israel, to them" o he learned ow to play the iolin. Aviram All uilt on his nowledge of piano and violin to 2arn viola and to teach himself ow to play classical guitar and iola. Aviram sang in college choral roups and for two years of his tay at Columbia University, he /as an English and music double lajor. indma's ol< ~He Be, ^ Have yoi truth there is always heard Seems like pharmacy al say when yo basketball. I The advic homemade i starve a feve: and eat a lot < V 'V Believe it iJjr"! been right all m The saying ' is left from t people practi I tern based on \ / Digestion stomach. A I ?7* r\ ) elevate body Vu)(I / )J more. This h< Reducing l supposed to stomach lov fever. Of course, Il ^ ~ Wfa ~ I m liMr m. f M3m>> IS Aviram's interest in AfricanAmerican litemture stems from his long-standing interest in the the "continuum of dance, music and poetry." The rhythmic quality African-American poetry is important in African-American culture because of its relation to music and dance, he said. In his poetry class, Aviram has pointed out the similarities in the beats of slave work songs and the rhythm of pick axes falling. He teaches his students how to read poetry for deeper meaning. He challenges his students to make poetry speak to them. "The biggest pleasure that I get from teaching is finding that students suddenly are able to find ggest plea- meaning in I get from is finding ing to them," Jents sud-Avirrsaid Aviram dblG tO find takes responin things ""''y for hi,* ,., . society is still mystifying yet another way. He rides -PrnfpQQor bicycle to rruiei>s>ur work each day littai Aviram from home about a mile and a trparhprnns hill awav from campus ior environmental reasons. "The environment comes first. I wish everybody did that," Aviram said. There are other advantages to riding a bike, according to Aviram. He doesn't have to look I remedies r 7 7 11131 ? aith die;;; at #' be lin I Pec i ever wondered how much every tr\ thncp nlH u/ivpt' talPQ vnil r\f r\rc IV U1VOV V/AV? " * ' vu y VM vi VIL when you got sick? Th< i those Golden Agers in the C, sc ways had something cute to preve ur nose was dribbling like a Ch made e usually took the form of have remedies like: feed a cold, In r, or take plenty of vitamin C chick of chicken soup. mucu or not, Grandma may have showi along. hot li ; "Feed a cold, starve a fever," but c he time of Hippocrates, when benef ced humoral medicine, a sys- Pei hot and cold remedies. woult of food causes heat in the Of heavy meal can significantly and f r temoerature for an hour or of flu rat was thought ends colds. Karlc the amount of food taken in is at th keep the temperature of the Cente / and therefore counteract a sent Draw the drawback to this theory is be an lamecock lina! ^ ^ W s&? | '[WffBlf^. i?'. .M^Wro':. /* ,~'- !> ,! i* 1 'J JmB for a parking space and riding is good exercise. Aviram is a vegetarian, describing himself as a "loose vegan," meaning that he eats mostly vegetables and grains, only occasionally eating dairy products. Aviram, an advisor for the Honors College, helps the student society as well. He said that he enjoys being able to help those very smart students who don't feel compatible with other students and haven't had anyone to share their ideas with. Because students have named him as someone who contributed to their success, Aviram has been cited twice by the Dean of Students for excellence in teaching. Aviram is the recipient of several awards, such as teaching fellowships for Cornell and Yale University. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Columbia University, and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Aviram published articles on gay studies in literature, AfricanAmerican literature and poetry theory. He has also published poems and has a book of poetry under review. His book of poetry theory has been accepted and is due to be published in the spring by the University of Michigan Press. In the past, Aviram has considered taking other jobs that pay more than his, like opening a business or being a lawyer. But he has since changed his mind. "I'd like to be a teacher for the rest of my life," he said. eally work ne must be careful to have a balance* ) fight off infection, amin C has been a popular cold rem or years. Researchers believe it ma; iked to fighting off illness, but takinj s vitamin C can cause liver damage. >ple need only 250 mg of vitamin ( day ? the equivalent of two glasse inge juice. ; human body does not store vitamii i excess amounts are not helpful ii nting a cold. icken soup has been called "home penicillin," and its positive effect recently been proven, a study, volunteers who drank he en soup had a 33 percent increase ii s flow. Those who drank cold wate sd an extreme decrease. Drinking an iquid would increase mucus contem hicken soup shows some additions its in clearing nasal passages, haps other soups with strong aroma 1 provide the same benefit, course, the best advice during col lu season is to eat right, drink plent ids, and see your doctor. [ Fulmer is a peer sexuality educato e Open Door Health and Wellnes >.r. Health-related questions should b to the Gamecock, Attn: Lee Clont: 'er A, Russell House. Questions ma swered in a future column. f ? Damaged J to be repla By SEAN MCGUINNESS Staff Writer At Senate and Park streets lies a historical landmark which has served Columbia since 1950. For 42 years, the Station One firehouse has fought fires in Columbia and on the USC campus, often putting out residence hall fires and initiating fire safety inspections. "It's a nice, well-built building, but the foundation wasn't set right...the building is settling," Assistant Fire Chief Bradley Anderson said. Lately, the firehouse has been struggling with complicated staff needs, company expansion and building detoriation, which makes the firehouse unsafe to live and work in. Last year, the heating pipes broke and portable heating units, a fire hazard, had to be used to warm the rooms. "We don't advocate the use of portables, but we didn't have that much of a choice," Anderson said. They recently switched to window units which provide heating and air conditioning. onH Co 11 on KrtpUc v^i aiiu laiiuii uhva.o VCU pv^t the firestation walls, floors and ceilings like a spider's web. Anderson said the station is considering making the work areas a hard-hat zone. In the lobby, there is a large plaster crack in the ceiling where an engineer put his foot through as he was walking on the floor above. Three years ago, a firefighter scalded more than 80 percent of his body when he was opening the valve of a gas-fired boiler. The accident forced him to retire and the boiler was changed. Two weeks ago, Anderson said they had their annual sewage back^1 went from house to house, getting any food or clothes they would giyeme.ThenI handed it all nnttn A?WAJI%?W % MW WMLM V W V needy people in the neighborhood. -Jack Powell Salisbury, MD ? B -C ? g U ?! S-g M !- -55 s 5 m ? ip? : i D ? ! g cs ?*?? : cc J | ? s ; . H ^ sin : HI ~ H 03 It tl : 13 CQ ^ c ^ ? | I ^ n H? ? * 1 & itif J " H t P t s El12 "?!u El "c3 S ^ 13 * it El *2 ? ~ Fu5 n B O : rB? siili : y H S 5 a. M tP^js $! H*J ^ z?~? El O o?| ^ fc ? K d El =\ o I| ? y H K ^ 1 ? i ^ ^ ?6; El ft Wednesday, October 28, 1992 i rehouse ced in '93 up which played havoc with the bathrooms. The female bathroom has decayed so badly that men and woman are forced to share the same restroom. Anderson said the building's location is inconvenient. "We are too close to and cut off by the Congaree River," Anderson ! j ^ r saiu. we get very rew responses to the west, and the building is not effectively placed." Columbia City Council has approved the building of a new firehouse within the next year. Anderson said relocation will improve fire-prevention coverage, and a series of studies will provide information as to the best location. Fire Chief John Jansen said he is looking forward to the new building. "The trucks are getting heavier and that causes stress on the building," Jansen said. "We'll be able to provide better coverage in the new building." When the new building is constructed, ventilation shafts will be installed in the garage to carry away diesel exhaust. The current station lacks these vents. Anderson said the building's original planners never anticipated the need for secretarial staff, logistics, a classroom or a training bureau which occupy the obscure corners of the station. The staff members are spread out over different rooms in the station which separates and keeps them from effectively communicatinrt nritK r\tbDr A nHarorvn pniH iii? wiui ^aui uuiu, nnuuiouii ocuu. "The building will probably have to be demolished after we move out. It's too much of a hazard," Anderson said. Jansen said he expects the new firehouse to be completed by late 1993. ?Jock Powell is one of the little answers to the big problems lacing every community in America. 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