Friday, Oct. 8, 2010
Utah Statesman The
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Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.utahstatesman.com
Event answers questions about breast cancer By ALLIE JEPPSON staff writer
Joining the nation-wide effort to support Breast Cancer Awareness month and raise awareness among USU students, the Student Health and Wellness Center hosted a booth on the TSC patio Wednesday and Thursday. The objective of the Health and Wellness Center during this event was to provide information, answer questions and caution people of breast cancer risk factors. Karinne Van Wagoner, intern at the Student Wellness Center and a coordinator of the event said, “In 2002-2006 women ages 20-24 had the lowest incident rate of 1.4 cases for 100,000 women. Even though this number is really low, it still shows that younger women are at risk too. The most important thing a student can do is be aware of their bodies and realize breast cancer can happen to anyone, no matter their age, race or gender.” Pink ribbons, commonly seen in retail stores to support breast cancer, and each ribbon represents the lives that have been touched, destroyed and saved through the consequences breast cancer. According to www.breastcancer.org, “breast cancer occurs as a result of mutations, or abnormal changes, in the genes responsible for regulating the growth of cells and keeping them healthy. Normally, the cells in our bodies replace themselves through an orderly process of cell growth: healthy new cells take
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS WEEK partners with the Utah State Student Health and Wellness Center to educate students about the facts on breast cancer. KATLEYN BATTLES photo
over as old ones die out.” Once the cell has been mutated it can keep producing identical cells without any order, creating a tumor, the site states. Once a tumor has formed, it is common for it to spread to
nearby tissue and even infect the under arm lymph nodes, which can be a portal for the infection to the rest of the body, spreading the harmful disease even further. In 2010, 207,090 new cases of invasive
breast cancer were diagnosed in the U.S. which resulted 39,840 deaths, according to cancer.org. It is this type of cancer that is most common among women in the U.S., other than skin cancer, and is the second leading cause of death behind lung cancer. There are a combination of factors that cause and increase the risk of breast cancer. Lacy Fellows, a registered nurse for the radiation therapy department at Logan Regional Hospital, said heredity is one contributor to the risk of developing breast cancer. Other factors include obesity, lack of exercise, intake of hormones for menopausal women and age. A pamphlet provided by the American Cancer Society states that “all women can get breast cancer – even those who have no family history of the disease.” “There is no sure way to prevent it,” Van Wagoner said, “however, there are four main things that can help lower the risk.” These four things include maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding hormone replacement as you get older, limiting alcohol consumption, and keeping a physically active lifestyle. “The older you are, the more exercise helps” Fellows said. Along with maintaining a healthy lifestyle, it is widely suggested by doctors and cancer specialists to do monthly self-exams as well as get a yearly mammogram and a Clinical Breast Exam (CBE).
- See PREVENTION, page 3
Gov. dedicates USU building Middle East club By RHETT WILKINSON staff writer
The new USTAR Bioinnovations 650 Building was unveiled Oct. 7, complete with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Utah Gov. Gary Herbert was among the notables that attended the event, and provided opening remarks. The facility should begin to be occupied in December. Part of the reason for the building’s name comes from its location, at 650 E. Grand Ave. in North Logan. Additionally, the facility will triple the size of UTSTAR’s current main research facility, located just down the street at 620 E. Grand Ave. “The research being conducted in this building will change our lives,” said Raymond Coward, executive vice president and provost of USU. The purpose of the 110,000 square-foot facility is to provide research among all USU sciences and industry researchers, and other institutions at the university. Additionally, the occupations in the facility and the research itself will continue to create 100 new jobs, besides recruiting top-level scientists in their field to the state, Coward said. Gov. Herbert said the new facility not only improves the status of Utah State University, but also contributes to helping achieve three main goals currently being pursued on behalf of the state of Utah. That first goal, Herbert said, is economic growth. “With 2.3 trillion dollars on the side right now, there’s a lot of opportunities to research,” he said. Herbert said the new facility encourages such GOVERNOR GARY HERBERT cuts the tape at the spending, and for a good cause of development of USTAR building dedication. ARMEN HOVSEPYAN photo technology that will improve the everyday lives of people. relate to and surround Utah State University,” Herbert The second goal of education is achieved, as Herbert said, said. “because students will have greater opportunity to work All of the speakers concerning the event were extremeside-by-side with researchers,” many of whom will be only optimistic about its potential to generate employment campus professors, already teaching within the majority and provide new innovational technologies, mainly of both the undergraduates and graduate students, who within science, that can be applied to the world outside will have the opportunity to work at Bioinnovations 650. the laboratory. The third goal is accomplished because much of the Scott Anderson, USTAR governing authority member research is devoted to developing natural resources. and CEO of Zions Bank, was among these speakers. Herbert described one of the already-in-place projects Anderson said the construction of Bioinnovations 650 as a miracle, saying that conversion of algae to energy is will help to continue a major goal that was set when the just as remarkable as conversion of water to wine, and is university was established in 1888. part of a greater miracle that is impacting the outlook of “This university was founded with the idea that it the entire state, not to mention the increasing prestige would take its discoveries from the campus to the peothat is building around the school. “There’s a lot of great things in the state right now that - See HERBERT, page 4
Inside This Issue
10/08/10 Global Village gifts sells handicrafts from 30 countries. Page 5
discusses Islam By MIKE BURNHAM staff writer
The Middle East club met Tuesday to try to dispel some of the many misunderstandings associated with Islam. “There are a lot of misunderstandings,” said the club’s president, Allia Abu-Ramaileh. “Our goal is to gain a better understanding of Middle Eastern politics, religions and culture.” Abu-Ramaileh is an American Muslim. Her father is from Palestine and her mother is from Utah. She said she got involved in with the club after it was founded last year by students in political science. She said she saw it as an opportunity to help others bridge the gap between American and Middle Eastern culture, a gap she was raised in. The club welcomes those with or without a background in either culture. “If we have a mixture of those who grew up in the Middle East and those who are interested in it, that’s the best combination to learn from each other,” she said. “We try to get a good representation of everyone.” After a brief introduction explaining how clear Islam can be to those who look into it, Tuesday’s discussion kicked off with an introduction to the five pillars of Islam, and moved to an hour-long question and answer session covering topics ranging from the religion’s history to scientific evidences found in the Quran. Questions were so numerous that the discussion eventually had to be cut short due to time constraints. The panel fielding the questions consisted of a student couple from Kuwait, a convert to Islam who was raised in Utah, and USU’s Arabic professor. Past discussion topics have included the role of women in Islam and Muslims in the media. In addition to discussions, Abu-
Aggies gear up for critical road test against Louisiana Tech. Page 8
Ramaileh said the club regularly plans other activities including fashion shows, barbecues, and dances in order to spread awareness and deepen understanding of Middle Eastern culture. “It was a really good start (to the year),” said Arabic professor Abdulkafi Albirini. “There were about 40 people, so there is some interest.” Bradford Hall, head of the languages, philosophy and speech communication department, said he has noticed a shift in student interests towards the Middle East. “We just added Arabic this year,” he said, “and we would certainly hope for expansion.” He said Arabic is especially important because it is labeled as a “strategic” language by the defense department. Hall said while other “strategic” languages such as Russian are tight in enrollment and funding, Arabic is looking to expand. Professor Albirini explains that there are currently two sections of Arabic 1010. “I teach 65 students,” he says. “There were actually 22 students who were on a waiting list and couldn’t get into the class. We could have easily offered another section if we could afford it.” He said students in the club and class are “respectful, enthusiastic and receptive,” qualities necessary for the Middle Eastern programs to thrive. “I could use all of the positive adjectives,” he said. “For us to grow and flourish, support from the community and student body is important,” he said. “It’s an important language and culture for the United States because it occupies a huge area.” The Middle East club meets every Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Old Main 121. – mike.burnham@aggiemail.usu.edu
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