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Thursday, October 10, 1996 • Vol. XXX No. 34 THE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING NOTRE DAME AND SAINT MARY'S • NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH Speakers call Seminar teaches prevention, care for gay rights By RACHEL RICHMOND By MICHELLE KRUPA News Writer Assistant News Editor One of tho nation's deadliest dis­ Gay rights advocates from the campus eases was confronted last night, in a community called upon the University to symposium highlighting Notre Dame's extend full recognition to the needs of gay National Breast Cancer Awareness and lesbians at Notre Dame during a Month. forum yesterday afternoon. The sominar, and other campus At the forum, speakers addressed aelivitins this month will "serve as a issues regarding economics, civil rights, model for other universities" said theology, and students' reactions to com­ .Joan Lennon, a breast cancer sur­ ing-out at Notre Dame. vivor and last night's hostess. The University's denial of Gays and Father Theodore llesburgh, Lesbians of Notre Dame and Saint Mary's University president emeritus, made College's (GLND/SMC) application to be a the opening rt~marks for the sympo­ recognized student group, and the sium. focusing on medical University's refusal to give funding to researelwrs and the importance of Notre Dame Lesbian and Gay Students women as thn "source of life". (NDLGS), the newly-formed University llt•sburgh, who lost his oldest sister to group, were reiterated by Kathleen brt~ast canct~r. believes, "we often Biddick, director of the gender studies takn for granted the wonderful dedi­ program. cation and long, hard work of medical "[They] provide the students with nei­ rnstmrch pnople." ther the budget nor the civil rights to lleshurgh also commented on the invite speakers to campus, a right ad van c ~~ m n n t s i n breast cancer enjoyed by other student groups," Biddick rnst~arch saying, "Today we arc more said. Pnnrgiznd and more conscious of Because NDLGS is designated as a what rwt~ds to ht~ done." University group rather than as a student Dr. Worta MeCaskiii-Stevcns. co­ group, the rights and opportunities, such din~clor of Indiana University's as sponsoring activities and speakers, Bn~ast Cann~r and Hesearch Center, extended to student groups do not apply. spokt~ on narly detection and preven­ Biddick claims that intellectual posi­ tion of thn disease. tions on campus can be bought by outside StnvtHls emphasized that breast money. While the University does not cancer is a systematic disease with allow gay and lesbian groups funding, a risk increasing from 1 in 19,608 at mulit-million dollar endowment group age 25 to I in 50 at age 50. Although donates to the furthering of conservative thern aro many possible risk factors. ideas. This inequality can lessen oppor­ including family history and a tunics for minority groups. woman's agn at the birth of her first The gender studies program does spon­ child, tlwse account for only 25 per­ sor visiting scholars through a budget of cent of breast cancer occurrences; $4,000, of which some are some funds tlw otlwr 7 5 percent go unexplained. The Observer/Katie Kroener are used to sponsor speakers and activi­ Early detection was stressed by Father Theodore Hesburgh, president emeritus of .the University, spoke yesterday ties for organizations such as GLND/SMC. Stevnns, with monthly self-exams evening during the seminar, referring to the importance of women as the "source of The Bradley Foundation, which dis­ suggested for all women. life." perses the largest conservative endow­ Mammograms should be taken every ments in the country, gives between $25 ynar for women over 50, but there is issue". die from the disease. Although still million and $30 million annually to other no data to support the need for them Dr. George Sledge, professor of high, these figures mark a decline in organizations and largely "fronts the con­ narlicr. Thn fears of fatalism and medicine in the division of breast cancer in the U.S., especially servative Washington think tanks," rnjnction are common explanations llematology/Oncology at Indiana in younger women. Biddick said. given by women as to why they are University, explained new statistics Sledge showed how growth and Through economic inequality, Biddick lwsitant to pursue available methods and ways of treatment. In 1996, over invasion of cancer cells makes the claims that "the production of knowledge of early detection. Above all, Stevens 185,00 women will be diagnosed with at Notre Dame is not an even playing said, "breast cancer is a public health breast cancer and over 44, 000 will see CANCER I page 4 see GENDER I page 4 Depression screening Illuminating the night for Respect Life Week offered today at SMC By MAUREEN HURLEY unusual to see a high incidence A"ociatc News Editor of depression in college stu­ dents," said Nancy Mascotte, ThP rigors of academic life. assistant director of the rouplnd with the transitions Counseling and Career individuals facn during the col­ Dnvelopment Center. lt~g~~ ynars makn students Many students misinterpret prinw candidates for depres­ and internalize feelings of sion. according to officials at depression, according to tlw National Institute of Mental Mascotte. "College students llnalth. tend to think they can pull In an e!Tort to combat stig­ themselves up by the boot­ mas and nncourage students to straps, and handle it. They confront symptoms of depres­ tend to think they're not trying sion. Saint Mary's College will hard enough," she said. "This bo a site for National program is helpful in that, De prt~ssio n Se rt~t~ n in g Day. along with providing the which takes plaee today. screening, it also has a large This is the second year the educational component on the College has participated in the symptoms of depression, and program, under the recom­ how to deal with them." mendation of the Association Coupled with the rigors of of Univnrsity and College academics and college life, Counseling Center Directors. Mascotte said, "South Bend is The Observer/Katie Kroener "There aren't many more not exactly in the sun belt, so stressful settings than the col­ Seasonal Affected Disorder Students and faculty participated in a candlelight vigil yesterday evening at 7 p.m. at the Fieldhouse Mall. lege or university environ­ The vigil, dubbed "A Litany for Life," was one event among many celebrating Respect Life Week on cam­ pus. ments, so it wouldn't be see SCREEN I page 4 ---------- ,...----------------- --- - - - ------------------~---- page 2 The Observer • INSIDE Thursday, September 12, 1996 • INSIDE COLUMN • WORLD AT A GLANCE Charities: Donations increase, while contributors decrease WASHINGTON charities use their money. The propor­ It's raining Americans gave more to charity last tion who disagreed with the statement year than they did two years earlier, but U.S. charity "most charitable organizations are hon­ an increasing number of people gave Fewer Americans gave to est and ethical in their use of funds" charity last year than In 1993, in the nothing, according to a Gallup survey. but average households has increased from 20 percent in 1990 Contributions in 1995 were 16 percent contributions increased. to 31 percent this year. higher than in 199 3 - 10 percent high­ In the five surveys taken since 1987, stands er when adjusted for inflation, the sur­ the year Americans were most gener­ vey says. ous was 1989, in a time of economic Leave those umbrellas at home. Umm, In constant dollars, the average con­ upturn. no, wait, better bring them. Hold it, scratch tributing household gave $1,017 in Seventy-five percent of households that. Grab your mittens instead. 1995, compared with $928 in 1993. reporting giving that year, and they Heck, never mind. The forecast calls for That represented 2.2 percent of gave $1,201 in inflation-adjusted dol­ fair weather, and fans all over the place household income, a slight increase over lars, which represented 2.5 percent of seem to be drowning in the figure two years earlier, 2.1 percent. household income. it. Melanie Waters But only 69 percent of households The survey found similar patterns for Here at Notre Dame, Assistant reported giving anything last year, com­ volunteering. It said 49 percent of it seems that the most Accent Editor pared with 73 percent in 1993. households reported volunteer activities pressing and morally The survey has been conducted every in 1995, up 1 percent over 1993. The challenging issue to grace the editorial other year since 1987 by the Gallup average volunteer contributed 4.2 pages of this University is the heartless and organization for Independent Sector, a hours a week, a figure that has not indescribable gall of Lou Holtz to sadistical­ coalition representing 800 voluntary changed since 1991. ly treat Irish football fans to one whole loss. groups, foundations and corporate giv­ Households which reported charitable Oh, the inhumanity of it all! You mean ing programs. contributions last year had an average that in addition to losing to an obviously Gallup questioned 2,617 adults in income of $46,637, about 50 percent overpowering football team, the sordid face-to-face interviews this spring. The higher than non-contributing house­ truth has been uncovered that Holtz will survey had a sampling error of plus or holds. settle for nothing short of the best from his minus 3 percentage points. Another finding suggested that the players? Well then, we should all be utterly In another finding, participants most effective way to get people to give ashamed to attend a university that pro­ expressed growing mistrust over how AP/Carl Fox to charity is simply to ask them.

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