Read about ghosts on campus. See features.
friday,february20, 1987
cabrinicollege,r8:dnor,pa. 19087
vol. xxxiii,no. 15
Birthcontrol:
e ·oinin of two hearts
Distribution questioned by Jacqui McClernan
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"Hello, I would like to set up an appointment." "Okay. Have you ever been in here to see us before?" the voice on the other end of the telephone, said. "No, I haven't." "Well, would you be interested in a day or evening appointment?" "Day would be just fine." "The first available appointment is February 27, at 2:00 p.m. Would that be alright?" "Sure, but do you have anything sooner?" "No, I don't, but are you considering the pill?" "Yes," I said. "Okay please bring in a total of$56. That will include $40 for the complete examination and the rest for the birth control pills." "That includes everything, right?" "Yes. May I please have your name and a number where you can be reached?" I replied and hung up the phone. This conversation was recently held between myself and Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Assuming the _roleof a potential patient, I was shocked that the first available appointment was three weeks away. Recently, birth control has become an even hotter issue because of the increase of the sexually transmitted Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome virus, other sexually • transmitted diseases, and an increase in unwanted pregnancy. An informal poll conducted by the Loquitur found that one- third of the students polled ti, ... • .,,,.1 are sexually active. Of that one- third, over half are not using any form of birth control. In 1985, a total of 48,934 people visited Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania with 46,189 of these being contraceptive related visits. Thirty-nine percent of these .. f" people were under the age of nineteen. Educational institutions are becoming The freshmen-sponsored Valentine's Day dance was a huge success,espec,a/1 increasingly concerned over these alarming statistics. for Michelle latesta, senior, who was the main attraction at the 'kissing booth. Some institutions are going so far as to pass out condoms as is the case on Rutger's latesta is seen here smooching freshman, Jan Torres, who was delighted that Camden campus. latesta is interesed in younger men. Debbie Ferrar junior jealous that she could This has raised many controversial and heated debates. not get into the act point at the ever-loving latesta-Torres coupe. One student polled said they felt birth control education should be left up to parents. ''I think sex education should be taught in high school," junior, female, said, "but the (photo by Chris Francis) birth control itself should be left to Planned Parenthood." Norma Nelson, clinic coordinator at Bryn Mawr College, said, "We have a certified nurse who prescribes diaphragms and pills." "I deal with what the student wants to do and I think they are more receptive to condoms now with the scare of AIDS," Nelson said. Ori the other hand, Harcum Junior College does not provide birth control. Instead, Biller said that this is a very imporby Patricia A. Ruppe students are referred to either an outside clinic or physician. tant tool for the full- time day student A staff nurse at Harcum Junior College, said, ''No, we do not provide contraceptives. We because they can be tested in subjects in Through its continuing education which they are proficient. refer our patients to Planned Parenthood, a gynecologist, or a private physician." department, Cabrini College is offering "It shows that all learning does not students as well as those interested in 1more BIRTHCONTROL necessarily take place within the con3 documenting knowledge gained fines of the clasroom," Leahy said. through work experience, the opportunity to get college credit. The College Level Examination Program or CLEP tests have recently been approved by the College Board for use at Cabrini College. by Kathleen McCabe According to Sorrentino, ''If they can't "Whose fault is it that ~aybe you're The CLEP tests are designed to meahold down a job, it is our responsibility to black, the product of a poor school system sure the level of proficiency that an indiIt all started with Bob Geldoff and Band- take care of them. It's not charity, it's basic or your company closed," he said. vidual may have gained outside the aid. The world became obsessed with the human need." Other, more common instances that lead classroom atmosphere. poor in the Third World and what could be While keeping vigil, Sorrentino met many to this homeless state were the empThe test consists of two types of examdone to help them. many of the homeless and found them not tying of the psychiatric hospitals about a inations, five general examinations and Back home, however, there were also to be the sterotypic "bagpeople." decade ago, the disappearance of affordthirty subject examinations. thousands of homeless and hungry people. According to Sorrentino, many homeless able housing, reduction in federal funds for The general examinations are given Many believe these people went unnoticed people are very intelligent and well-read, social programs, or simply divorce and on topics which the student would have with all the media publicity focused on the primarily because they spend most of their domestic violence. taken in his or her first two years of African famine. time in the Library of Congress, going to college, such as English composition or The combination of the last four causes is Now a group of dedicated men and movies and attending lectures because it's becoming increasingly more common. The natural sciences. women are working to change that. They warm and free. The subject tests are designed to evalresult is that more single parent families are dedicated to helping the homeless in Alex, a Vietnam veteran, introduced uate more specific knowledge and skills their own country, in their own cities, in Sorrentino to the Free bee Finders Club, an and intact families are homeless because gained through job experience. they cannot afford housing. their own backyards. organization of homeless people who "CLEP examinations allow the indiThe Community for Creative Non-Vio- gather together and attend free events. A survey of25 cities taken by the United viduals to prove that they have the lence, an organizaton originally created to The members of the club meet in the after- States Conference of Mayors found that 28 knowledge, without requiring them to protest the Vietnam War, has been taking noon and separate to find something to do percent of the homeless population are sit through a college class when they notice of this growing population for the for the night. families with children. The number of chilalready have the skills," Mary Ann past ten years. A study conducted by the University of dren being born and raised in shelters is Biller, academic dean, said. They have recently been joined by former . Delaware found that a good portion of the 'rapidly increasing. Each examination is ninety minutes Cabrini biology professor, Dr. Joseph SorShelters are not the answer to the probhomeless are also well-educated. The study long and is divided into two sections. rentino. Sorrentino spent two weeks keepfound that 18 percent had attended some lem either. According to Sorrentino the Questions consist almost entirely of the ing vigil in front of the capital after college and five percent were college gradu- shelters are dangerous and degradip.g. multiple choice type, excluding the witnessing the homeless problem in Philaates. English composition test. The real goal of the activists is to "get delphia. Sorrentino has also written artiMany people are also under the impres- people back into the mainstream," Sorren"Originally these tests were designed cles on the topic for newspapers in sion that homeless people are transient. to allow a student to get advanced placetino said, "and to put the handicapped in Deleware. ment in college," Meredyth Leahy, an environment where they can be cared Sorrentino said they do this not only to Sorrentino does not agree. "The myth that homeless people are for." director of continuing education, said, show their concern for the homeless probtransient is not true," Sorrentino said. "but now people who have been out lem itself, but to do something about it. "They have their territory. They become As for who is to blame for the problem, working can get college credit from They are asking Congress, on behalf of Sorrentino said, "We are to some point , part of a community and do odd jobs." what they learned while working." the homeless, to pass emergency legislawasteful. We can't just point to Reagan." Although apprehensive at first, once According to Leahy, the topics which tion, the Urgent Relief for the Homeless Even though the passage of the bill looks they know that you are not trying to take Cabrini will test on had to be approved Bill. The bill would appropriate a total of hopeful because it is a bipartisan effort, advantage of them, the homeless are very by the head of the respective depart$500 million which would provide food, the help of the public is needed. ment or the instructor of the course for shelter (either new facilities, renovation of friendly. According to Sorrentino, there are many which the student wishes to gain credit. Sorrentino thinks that everyone can do old ones or the conversion of unused federal The subjects for testing which buildings) and would create a government people who take advantage of the home- something to help C.C.N.V. achieve their less. These people try and exploit the goal. All it takes is a letter showing your Cabrini has approved include topics in agency within the Department of Health history, English, business, psychoiogy and Human Services to coordinate the plight of the homeless through using their support to your congressman or senator. pictures and their stories as a means of and science. While those letters remain unwritten, program. profit for themselves and not to help the every night the temperature goes into the "This is by no means a new idea," "Why is it our responsibility to take care homeless. Leahy said. teen1;1 and someone without a home dies. of them?"
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