AIDS

AIDS tes

By Rachel Hyde

Finger-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 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. wr , r - IF*. • i• .e.74, ,,,,00,:pit4) ,yrriNti , :4' e require

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 year y the •.state and the 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 1-800-405- 2732.

The line is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 pall. -4(

Study shows college students most affected by AIDS

—Center for Disease Contra reir > 4;1Z , 1 , scw By Eric Gates Student Wilier

Many 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, AIDS is the number two cause of death in people between the ages of 25 and 44... which means that most people who are dying of AIDS became infected while they were in college.

The Center for Disease Control also reported that 86 percent of individuals with STDs contracted the diseases 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 study also stated that education is the most valuable tool in preventing STDs.

UCO does not have an official HIV/AIDS prevention program, but the Student Health Center has many resources, such as pamphlets and flyers, which students can use to educate themselves. The center also sells condoms 10 for $1.

Students are urged to have an HIV test. The Wesley Foundation offers free, anonymous testing from 7:30 to 9 p.m. every Tuesday.

The test site is located at 311 East Hurd St., behind Thompson's Bookstore(.

Raising

Committee prepares for 1998 homecoming

By Kate O'Neill

mien/ T his year's

Homecoming celebration, "TACO--- 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 F , 'nsure the success of the Sept. 27-Oct 3 event. , "We want to transform the

We're going to personally invite student organizations to come out and paticipate —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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