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Blov Sm( ^ USA MOHN Special To The Gamecock Something weird is going on. And ifs not just weird; it's dangerous. And it's not just dangerous; it doesn't make sense. How could bright, young college people, with bright futures, be engaging in something like cioarette amokinp? O ?O D I know all you smokers have just rolled your eyes and are assuming that -I am a holier- than-thou non-smoker. Incorrect?I am a holier-than-thou exsmoker. That's right. The person who runs your campus wellness program used to be a smoker. But I had the sense to quit when I was 20. I started smoking when I was much younger than you are, and it was a cool thing to do, even if we did know about the health risks. But the world was a different place. So much has happened since then to reinforce healthy lifestyles. Fitness is in. Low-fat is in. Relaxation and self-hypnosis are in. Smoking is definitely not in, so why are college students, particularly women, smoking in record numbers? - i nat is tne question l nave neen asking myself. For years, the incidence of smoking has gone down in the population, particularly among collegeeducated individuals lie yourselves. The one group who has not experienced these declines, however, has been young women, and it now appears that college students, in general, are smoking at higher levels. To give you an idea of the dramatic difference in the last 10 years, I reviewed some data recently from CIRP (Cooperative Institutional Research Program Survey), a national survey of entering college freshman in which USC participates. Ton vaaro a an in 1Q8R 7 7 narrant AVU JVU1W 111 XWW) I I f ^/Vl wilb of entering USC freshmen claimed to F IUsc ving )kej fl smoke cigarettes. In 1995,14.8 percent said they smoke, compared to 12.4 percent nationally. Among women, it is even more dramatic Women entering USC reported a 163 percent rate of smoking, as opposed to 12.5 percent of men. I repeat, what is going on? While we know college students are not particularly concerned with their future demise, there's no denying the fact that people who smoke will likely suffer from one of the smoking-related causes of death or disability. Women smokers have experienced a 500 percent increase in lung cancer deaths since the 1960s and have caught up with men in this regard. Isn't equality great? In illnesses more common in women, like breast cancer, a woman's risk of dying increases by 25 percent if the woman is a smoker and goes up to 75 percent ereater risk for women who smoke two or more packs a day, according to a new study by the American Cancer Society. HI bet those of you who are "casual" smokers have just disassociated yourself from these risks, since you only smoke occasionally. I hear more and more people claiming they only smoke on weekends, when they're out, when they're studying for a big exam, etc. Well, unless Fve missed some drastic changes in health information, nicotine is still considered one of the most?if not the most?addictive substance in the world. If s not realistic to think that because you are a casual smoker now, you will stay a casual smoker. All it may take is a crisis, finals week, or some other fvinmor on/1 va? aaiiW Ka omalnnrr a r-vr?/Jr o? ) 1V-A jvvu WU1U UC OUiUIYilig CI fJC&lA. a day like most other smokers. It's just not worth the risk. Something else thafs been concerning Mill 1 MBBM m 8 un to 90.5 this Thur featuring a live i Liste to Wi iilik^i I* K^iJyiiLlJLiJbi this coupon to si next graduatio Uv The Gamecock SIB!? me is the recognition that smoking ads are even worse than I ever imagined. We all know tobbaco companies like to portray smokers as young, healthy, independent individuals having lots of fun. What was pointed out to me was how much these ads try to entice young women into smoking by the subtle message regarding thinness and the connection with smoking. As if young women don't have enough pressure to e thin; now we have cigarette manufacturers giving them one more crazy routine to try. There is a common thought that when smokers quit, they all gain weight. Well, not only is this a debatable point, but it isn t logical to think the opposite is true. Even if quitting promotes weight gain, starting to smoke doesn't neccesarily promote weight loss or even maintenance. We all know a healthy diet and exercise can promote these things. That tobbaco companies are trying to sell us the most unhealthy of alternatives to combat weight should be abhorrent enough to any young woman to insure she never starts smoking or quits supporting those companies by kicking the habit. Young women today are too smart to be duped by that kind of thing. So, if you're a smoker, think about quitting. Maybe not in the next three weeks if that?s too much to take on during finals. But you have the summer just ahead. If 8 a perfect time to adopt a new healthier lifestyle. For tips on quitting or other lifestyle issues, stop by the Open Door Drop-In Center. If you still haven't quit by fall, we'll be offering a new smoking cessation program. And if you don't smoke already, please, please don't start. Life, if you're living it well, is already too short. i Utility jrfveE sday from 10 a.m. lerformaiice from I aveonyour hi purchase I Wednesday, April 10, 1996 Let's I Provided By He FIESTA BLACK BEAN DIP F 8 ounces low- or non-fat cream cheese 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1 can black beans, drained and coarsely mashed 1/2 cup salsa 1 cup shredded, reduced-flat cheddar If cheese 1/2 cup shredded jicama fe 1/2 cup chopped red pepper 1/4 cup minced green onions Mix cream cheese product and cumin || until somewhat creamy. Spread on serving platter. Layer beans, then salsa, then cheese. || Sprinkle jicama, red pepper and onions i| on top. Serve with carrot sticks, pepper || strips or nacho chips. - E CINNAMON-Y CHIPS 1 'N COFFEE DIP c 6 Flour tortillas (6-inch size) S 2 tablespoons sugar si 1 teaspoon cocoa 2 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 cup reduced-fat frozen whipped topping, / thawed 1/2 cup coffee-flavored low-fat yogurt 6 1 Cut each tortilla into 6 wedges and 1 arrange on baking sheet coated with ri non-stick cooking spray. Combine sugar, cocoa ana cinnamon, mixing wen. uoat v wedges with cooking spray and then n sprinkle half of sugar mix over wedges, n T\irn wedges over, coat with cooking S spray and sprinkle remaining sugar a mix over them. n Ktraua rfTfa U ULK!1 - 2 p.m. for a live I Hilumbla's 8-matic ? wr CD, Tape and Post nm Phone 256.6666 612 Main St. Fax 252 ' ? let Co alth and Welln talra ?t 3Rfl /tacrrpf>3 fnr nnnmvim stplv ( 5 minutes or until crisp. lombine whipped topping and yogurt, erve with tortilla wedges. Makes 12 S ervings?76 calories per 3 wedges and f tablespoons dip. ] lNCHO chile catsup to 8 ancho chiles (dried) 1 172 to 2 cups hot water < 1/2 teaspoon Japanese-style seasoned 1 ice vinegar * ( 1 /arm chiles in an unooated skillet over i ledium heat until softened (about 2 < linutes). Remove stems and seeds. ( hred chiles into a blender. Add vinegar \ nd water and blend until smooth. Pour lixture into a saucepan and simmer 1 _ _ _ iroadcast from Gi s from 11:30 -12 D, J j" Graduatio I imprinted Bamecocfc c .0459 wI0GQ3QQ03EGDi 7 okin' ess Programs covered for about 3 to 4 minutes. Use .vara or cool. TROPICAL SALSA 1/4 red onion, minced 1 cup diced cantaloupe 2 tablespoons chopped jicama L tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro 1/2 ripe papaya, peeled & diced 1/2 cup diced honeydew melon 2 fresh jalapenos, minced juice erf" 2 limes Combine onion, papaya, cantaloupe, loneydew, jicama, jalapenoe and cilantro. Drizzle with lime juice, cover, and efrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Dreat served with grilled chicken or ish! CHILI EGGPLANT DIP L small eggplant L/2 cup finely chopped tomato I teaspoons minced green onion Low'at sesame or onion crackers L/2 cup non-fat creamy Italian salad Iressing L teaspoon chili powder Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prick jggplant several times with fork tines. Place in small casserole. Bake until soft about 45 minutes). Cut eggplant in lalf and scoop out pulp. Place pulp in i bowl and mash until smooth. Stir in Iressing, tomato, onion and chili powder. I!over and chill several hours. Serve vith crackers. Vlake 2 cups 1 reene 30. in Pnnnnn UUiljlUII MtMng HHlnrrhiMMliB '