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THEVISTA
Student
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inger-prickers and sitesitters are needed at the anonymous AIDS testing site at the Wesley Foundation, 311 E. Hurd. The site is run by Other Options Inc., an organization serving the HIV/AIDS community since 1989. The center is open from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and is run by
JULY 23, 1998 . .74,,,,,,00,:pit4),yrriNti , :4' wr, r-IF*. • i• e
AIDS tes By Rachel Hyde
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Cookie t-Vbuckle, site coordinator. Test results come back in seven to 10 days, Other Options is always looking for volunteers. Arbuckle said that it only takes a few hours to train people in certain jobs. Finger prickers are the most needed. They extract the blood sample with a lanset needle. Finger-puckers wear rubber gloves and are taught universal precautions.
Another volunteer job needed is a site-sitter or manager. This person has responsibilities involving putting out nieclical supplies. The site sitter also keeps track of all of the statistical forms and makes sure they are complete. All of the durable medical supplies are donated so that Other Options does not have to request funds from the State Health Department. However. they do receive blotter cards, lansets, scan forms <and lab
requisition slips from them The site is inspected once a ] the •.state and the year y American Red Crosc, Arbuckle said that they haven't had any errors in the 10 years that the site has been open. The State Health Department would like to close the testing center because they can't monitor the number of cases that are tested. Arbuckle said. She added that the Health Department does not want many anonymous testing sites open. If
it closes, then they will not reopen it. In addition to providing free testing, the foundation also offers free AIDS presentations. For more information call Other Options Inc. at 495-2732. If you would like more information about AIDS or AIDS testing, there is an information line at 1-800-4052732. The line is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 pall. -4(
Study shows college students most affected by AIDS By Eric Gates Student Wilier
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any college-age students may think that HIV and AIDS do not affect them, but recent studies have shown that the number of AIDS cases are rising in this age group. In a 1989 survey conducted by the American College Association, one out of every 500 students had contracted the HIV virus. Experts have estimated that in 1998, one out of every 250 students will be HIV positive. LaBetta Wallenmeyer, director of UCO's Student Health Center, confirmed that the number of cases is rising nationally, but that students at UCO may
not reflect the current trend. "I would estimate that our numbers at UCO may not be as high because we have a lot of older students and married students,"Wallenmeyer said. While HIV, AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases can_affect people of all ages, young adults are at the greatest risk for contracting and transmitting the diseases, the study showed. The primary reason, experts say, is because young adults experiment sexually more than others. AIDS is the number two cause of death in people between the ages of 25 and 44—second only to accidental deaths, according to the Center for Disease Control. HIV has an incubation period of six to lOyears before it becomes AIDS,
between the ages of 15 and 29. The study reported that the only way to avoid contracting HIV with 100 percent confidence, is to abstain from sex. The AIDS is the number two study also stated that education is the cause of death in most valuable tool in preventing STDs. people between the UCO does not have an official HIV/AIDS prevention program, but the ages of 25 and 44... Student Health Center has many resources, such as pamphlets and flyers, —Center for Disease Contra which students can use to educate themselves. The center also sells reir > 4;1Z,1,scw condoms 10 for $1. which means that most people who are Students are urged to have an HIV test. dying of AIDS became infected while The Wesley Foundation offers free, they were in college. anonymous testing from 7:30 to 9 p.m. The Center for Disease Control also every Tuesday. reported that 86 percent of individuals The test site is located at 311 East with STDs contracted the diseases Hurd St., behind Thompson's Bookstore(.
Raising Committee prepares for 1998 homecoming By Kate O'Neill
We're going to mien/ personally invite student his year's organizations to come Homecoming out and paticipate celebration, "TACO---
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Raising the Roof," might be more than four months away, but planning for the event has already begun. Members of the UCO ;`Homecoming Committee have spent their summer forming sponsorships, creating banners ;,and contracting merchants to 'nsure the success of the Sept. F, 27-Oct 3 event. , "We want to transform the campus that week so that the ,, students and Edmond know rwhat is going on," said Kristine ;
—Kristine Crain Crain, UCO Homecoming Committee chairwoman. A bonfire and pep rally are scheduled to kick off the weeklong event, followed by an appearance of traveling comedians, Second City Improv. The LAI Olympics will allow campus organizations to compete against each other in daily e‘.7ents, featuring games like shaving cream tug-of-war.
The Homecoming parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 3 in downtown Edmond. KJYO disc jockey Teresa Maxwell will emcee the parade and KFOR news anchor Tammy Payne will serve as the parade marshall. The Homecoming king and queen will be announced at half time of the football game against interstate rival Langston University. The game begins at 2 p.m. Oct. 3. Crain said the committee would like to see more student organizations nominating king and queen candidates. "We're going to personally invite student organizations to come out and participate," Crain said.
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