Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

The Department of Theati Speech and Dance presents t USC Dance Choreographic Sho case, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. tomorrc Drayton Hall Theatre. Free. Ua \jahfe>r roWovo c,ire broafh staff writer REBECCA CRONiCAN "Laughter, the best medicine." Everyone's heard the adage before, but it hasn't always been given much attention. Since biblical times, laughter has been credited with having healing or stress-relieving effects. With the more recent interest in the mind-body connection, the power of humor as part of a holistic approach to healing has become more widely recognized. From building up the immune system to toning muscles, all sorts of benefits have been attributed to laughter. One of the most obvious physical benefits happens in our muscles. They tighten and relax during laughter, which relieves tension. That muscular work out, combined witn raster Dreaming and an increased heart rate, makes laughing almost the equivalent of an aerobic workout, according to some research. In addition, laughter decreases the effects of stress hormones, such as "fighter-flight" adrenaline. According to K. Sue Haddock, of the USC Institute of Public Affairs Center for Health Policy and Health Services Research, blood vessels constrict in times of stress, and blood pressure and heart rate rise. That's good if you're running, she said, but not for everyday life. Laughter causes the brain to release endorphins, chemicals she said act like pain killers. Those endorphins counteract the effects of adrenaline. Computer engineering senior Scott Landry can see those effects. "Comedy in movies and TV, as well as being able to find amusement when hanging out with friends, helps me to unwind," he said. But laughter goes beyond just relieving stress. Research has shown the immune system actually gets a boost from a good dose of laughter. "No question about it," said Dr. Eugene Kaplan, a professor of neuropsychiatry and behavioral science at the USC School of Medicine. There's t staff writer AJJA AKKAM < 1 "I'm a little doubtful about going j home. I have just gotten so used to my life here at USC," freshman Sarah j Smith said. ? Smith is far away from the comforts t of familiar surroundings. A native of Omaha, Neb., Smith hasn't been home since August. "I am looking forward to seeing my high school friends, but I know it will be weird," she said. As the semester winds down, students are preparing to see their families and old friends for the long winter break. While packing and exchanging "goodbyes," though, if s not uncommon for a skeptical outlook like Smith's to settle in. Particularly among freshmen, the transition from a semester of newfound independence and freedom to one of old a rviotm nno t*r%v\ Ka aatnam ollir V* a wl 4 i vobi ivwi/110 urn l/c coputiaiij uaiu. i "Here at college, I know I can just go out whenever I want to," said Stacey i Ostrowski, a freshman from Greenville, t "But when I go home, now I have to re- tl turn to all the rules. It's kind of de- o pressing, actually." For many students, their lives back p home barely resemble the lives they're c accustomed to at college. However, ac- s cording to Robert Heckel, the director of the USC Psychological Services, go- v ing home can be a pleasant experience if one is willing to make adjustments, v "You have evolved, but the house I rules haven't changed," he said. He rec- h e, he w>w, ? gPV* ha$ fho t>ov\ So so air and havt- a || | jjjil ' ??N i| Juniors Laury Katz (left) and Cassia Blood studies, he said, have shown that white blood cells, which fight against infection, diminish in times of bereavement. As humor eases that emotional pain, the physiological response is for the immune system to build itself up again. The result? Less time being sick and quicker recoveries. Haddock agrees. "[In my experience], people who do engage in self-healing where they go 10 nlflre 1 im mends a high level of communica:ion to "make the matter of control and luthority run more smoothly." While talking with friends might be m obvious support system, Heckel also urges students to express their frus:rations directly to their parents. Ostrowski agrees. "Once you talk to your parents and et them know how you have changed, sventually they will become more lelient. Mine did." Elizabeth Thomas, a University 101 nstructor, emphasizes that not only lave the students grown while away it school, but their parents have hanged as well. Students who build an open and rusting relationship with their parents < ire more likely to have far less negaive views of home. "[But] a positive relationship with < inyone supportive is just as beneficial o the student," Thomas said. , Often, students look forward to visting their families over the break and Kat? rlimn/?Vi f a ommwoA 11 V/ll UlOWTCl , UiUUl tu tUCll OU1 pi IOC, | hat they seem to have been worked out f the equation. "If a family has closed ranks and | iuts their child's things in boxes, that ould be a continuous problem for the tudents," Heckel said. Sophomore Noel Reynolds knows 1 fhat that's like. ( "I live just 30 minutes away, and whenever I come home, the first thing t notice is all the storage my parents i ave put in my room," she said. "All the i Etc 5" and ^ /cy to heal and ieadt tafce a de zpod gjj-faw. i Barnett laugh at a joke between classes. out of their way to engage people in hu- brother ] morous situations do better," she lem fror said. died at' They handle pain and other stres- She sors better, too, she said, because of the with his increase in endorphins. The Linda Walling, a professor at the ences w College of Library and Information Sci- and hea ence, and her husband Bill have long wich" si been interested in the healing effects Bill! of humor. They also believe laughter playing can help keep illness at bay. Linda's lectures like home, things I loved about my room at home Sopho: are now at my room on campus." lives fo i Some students exriect to keen the Cherlestn friendships they developed while in high Althoi school and then become saddened once living in h they realize they've grown apart from hometowi the people they were once closest to. volvedwitl Anna Embree, a resident adviser with her c for two predominantly freshmen floors "When in Laborde Hall, has noticed that even much mor though her residents are more or less Senior excited to go home, "they do tend to feel way, face! more mature among their friends When he i who didn't go to college or stayed at every six i home." an entire Part of growing up is realizing there "In No; are certain people in our lives at only mit succes certain times. about spee "It is necessary to find a way to cope challenge with the transition that will not put balance ol stress on the student," Thomas said, with a cer Heckel has observed from the stu- Achiev dents he s talked with that those who tive way f< are shy and don't easily make friends Thoma are the ones most prone to "fall through break as the cracks." stresses Finding a support system on cam- "take part pus through participation in organiza- want to do tions and shared friendships is one way a part-tim< "or students to Find themselves and ing up wit ouild their confidence, therefore mak- Howev ng them stronger and more able to han- tions helps lie the awkwardness of visits home, the univei In addition, Embree recommends through th ;hat students get involved in a fulfill- ter on Pen ng activity at home to make the time tion or ai nore rewarding. 4864/2127 <9? ha e-p 4\ lived with a serious heart prob- "It a the time he was 26 until he Sh 54. thesul credited his ability to laugh by No I living as long as he did. In Wallings share their experi- of an ] ith and knowledge of humor ence \ ling with their "humor sand- that ? lows. In hii lip-syncs to a comedy routine watch on a tape recorder, and Linda old M; i on the benefits of laughter, his ho Toto L more Ashlev Smoak said she C - weekends at home in igh she loves the serenity of er own place, she enjoys her i because she's actively ini her church and is constantly staff losest friends. I am away, I appreciate it so e," Smoak said. j Tor Odland, who's from Nor- . 3 an even bigger challenge. cent. returns to his home country q nonths, he must get used to ly different culture again. rj rway, people are afraid to ad- j. s," he said. "They're worried j^ov iking up for themselves. The ^hat to me when I go back is to him T my newly won confidence j. tain degree of modesty." whe] ing such a balance is a posi- the ; )r student;! to adjust. p is suggests using the winter era}_] a time to escape from the sessj of college and home and show i.l_ . iL: -* J i in me tilings you missed ana from for yourself," such as getting LO-r i job, reading a book or catch- Bosti h old friends. inal er, if none of these sugges- F s, Heckel reminds students "wal sity offers free counselling wher e Psychological Service Cen- on th dleton Street. Forinforma- A \ appointment, call 777- the s prep: I I 15 I ;'s a fun way to heal," she said, le said she was enticed to explore bject after attending a 1985 speech rman Cousins. 1979, Cousins wrote "Anatomy Illness," a book about his experivith a sometimes-fatal disorder iffected his connective tissues, s book, Cousins tells how he ed "Candid Camera" episodes and arx Brothers' films to lighten up spital stay. aw schoc njoys apf n 'Jeopar writer MAYA HOLUNSHEAD A nswer: The man who has L\ recently appeared on a -Agame show of blue screens, -second timing and intense conration. Question: Who is law student Chip s? Tiis is "Jeopardy!" licks appeared on "Jeopardy!" 13, the final stop in a journey began when his wife convinced to try out for the show, licks tried out in early August i WOLO-TV had an audition at Adam's Mark Hotel, ifter passing the 50-question genknnwlpdtrp fpst bp nlavpH a mnrk on of the game show. Then, the ''s producers randomly chose him the more than 1,500 entries WOrV got. The prize? A flight to )n in September to play the "Orig13 Colonies" tour, licks said he felt like he was Iking on clouds for a week" 1 he found out he was going to be le show. Jthough he was excited to be on how, Hicks said it was hard to are. f Aeon Flux didn't freak you out on MTV, check out her web page. Lttp://www. steal th.net/~ch/ ai/inaex.ntmi It worked," he said. "I made the joyous discovery that 10 minutes of genuine belly laughter had an anesthetic effect and would give me at least two hours of pain-free sleep." It isn't a miracle cure, as Cousins and most others would agree, but it is an effective way to help ease pain and stress, both physical and mental. The idea that humor can have that kind of power stems from the holistichealing notion that mind and body are one. In the medical community, that concept is generally accepted?at least, more than it used to be, Haddock said. Kaplan agrees. "The division is becoming more blurred," he said. For example, he explained, if John learns he's failed an exam, he'll be upset, and he could measure the effects of that physically. In other words, the thought or emotion translates itself into a physical response. Linda Wallings points to a passage in "Molecules of Emotion" by Candace Pert, in which Naomi Judd illustrates the unity of body and mind. While sDeakine in front of an audi ence, Judd asks a man in the front row, "How many guys does it take to change a toilet-paper roll?" She answers herself, "I don't know. If s never happened." As the audience laughs, the man blushes, a perfect example of a physical response to an emotion. Scientific explanations aside, what really relieves stress is the in-control feeling that comes from laughter, Kaplan said. "The more there is a feeling of helplessness, the worse the stress is," he said. For example, if people are in combat, he said, and someone says, "Gee, you could really die out here," people will laugh and consequently feel more in control. At the very least, laughing is fun. Bill Walling thinks if s all about living in the moment. "I am completely alive in the moment when I am laughing," he said. il student >earance dy!' show "I don't think you can prepare yourself for it," he said. "If s so broad, and they ask so many different questions from so many different categories. You just kind of have to pay attention to what is going on around you and try to take as much information as vou can." Hicks said he didn't get the chance to meet the host of "Jeopardy!", Alex Trebek. However, he was impressed with Boston because it reminded him of Charleston. "'Jeopardy!' was a lot of fun," Hicks said. "It was a very neat experience. It would probably be comparable to having an opportunity to do a bit part on a soap opera or a bit on a TV show." Even though he didn't win any money, Hicks did get some prizes. Those included a big-screen television, a stereo VCR, a surround-sound package with headphones, the "Jeopardy!" home game and a watch. "It was a wonderful experience," Hicks said. "I hope that other people from South Carolina, and particularly the University of South Carolina, have the opportunity to do the same thing that I did." ^