Klipsun Magazine, 1982, Volume 12, Issue 05-May

Western Washington University Western CEDAR Klipsun Magazine Western Student Publications 5-1982 Klipsun Magazine, 1982, Volume 12, Issue 05 - May Jenny L. Blecha Western Washington University Follow this and additional works at: https://cedar.wwu.edu/klipsun_magazine Part of the Higher Education Commons, and the Journalism Studies Commons Recommended Citation Blecha, Jenny L., "Klipsun Magazine, 1982, Volume 12, Issue 05 - May" (1982). Klipsun Magazine. 65. https://cedar.wwu.edu/klipsun_magazine/65 This Issue is brought to you for free and open access by the Western Student Publications at Western CEDAR. It has been accepted for inclusion in Klipsun Magazine by an authorized administrator of Western CEDAR. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Bolen-Rubey Becky Duelin’ Presidents: Greg Sobel and Paul Olscamp are captured here during more friendly times. Both leave Western in June; Sohel for law school, Olscamp for Bowling Green State University to assume the school's presidency. Editor: Jenny L. Blecha Managing Editor: Grace Reamer Photo Editor: Casey Madison Production Manager: Laurel Mooney Design Coordinator: Debbie Auerbach Staff Artist: Masaru Fujimoto Business Manager: Loren Landerholm Advisor: Gerson Miller Staff: Donna Biscay, Becky Bolen-Rubey, Connie Compton, Larry Flood, Darlene Harold, Dave Jack, Chuck Leach, Jo Lundgren, A1 Minato, Caron Monks, Sue Parrish, Jim Perkins, Donna Rieper, Greg Roth, Barbara Scabarozi, Nori Shirouzu, John L. Smith, Jim Springer, Mike Stoddard, Laurie J. Sturdevant, Ben Verkerk. Klipsun is a Lummi Indian word meaning “beautiful sunset.” Copyright Klipsun 1982. Kilpsun is a twice-quarterly publication funded with student fees and distributed without charge. Address all manuscrpts, photos and illustrations care of Klipsun, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington 98225. 676-3737. Printed at WWU Print Plant. 2 klipsun 12, Number 5 a magazine of student interests 4 Suicide Depression among students. Story by Ben Verkerk. Cast of “Buried Child, "see story page 18. 6 Not So Hot Springs Baker Hot Springs. Story by Connie Compton and Laurie Sturdevant. 7 A Sensual Thrill Story by Connie Compton and Laurie Sturdevant. 8 Robert Embrey: Photographer 10 Embrey Creates a Colorful Career Interview by Larry Flood. 12 Close Your Textbooks Fun with foreign language. Story by Donna Rieper. A visit to Arroyo Park, see story page 22. 14 Left Brain, Right Brain — Who’s in Charge. Story by Donna Rieper. 15 Protest of a Different Color El Salvador march. Comment by Jenny L. Blecha. 17 Solidarity Taking on the burdens of the poor. Comment by Dave Jack. 18 Behind the Scenes Western’s production of “Buried Child.” Story by Grace Reamer. 22 Trials of a Trail Recycle your waste, see story page 26. Arroyo Park revitalized. Story by Caron Monks. 25 The Interurban Connection Story by Caron Monks. Front and back cover photos of El Salvador march in Seattle by Dave Jack. 26 A Place for Waste AS Recycle Center. Story by Jim Springer. 29 Sobel in Transition Two years as AS president. Story by John L. Smith. 3 Depression an( any individual feels he can in when someone attempted suicide Persons contemplating suicide often effect no substantial change in his and was brought to St. Luke’s Gen do not realize it is permanent. life, then suicide seems an active and eral Hospital’s emergency room, he Males tend to choose more “per logical alternative. said. manent” suicide methods, such as — an anonymous Harvard While Douglas may never know gunshots, hanging and automobile student on his suicide at about suicide attempts off campus, crashes, Spitzer said. Fehiales tend to tempt — he said he usually is made aware of choose drug overdoses or wrist-slash from Death and the College those that occur on campus. In addi ing, which are slower and easier to Student, Edwin S. Shneid- tion, faculty, resident aides and land stop. Consequently, while males man lords often notify him of students commit more suicides, females at Students have different ways of who seem suicidal. tempt more, he added. coping with stress and depression in Spitzer explained that students Douglas said this pattern applies the college environment. Some attempt suicide when they have lost to suicidal behavior among Western change their lifestyles to adjust to all hope for the future and see death students. “Women have significantly academic and social pressures. Oth as the only way to solve their prob outnumbered men in suicide threats,” ers turn to alcohol or drugs to get lems. It can become the logical and he said. them through a depression. A few single alternative to life if they think Drug overdoses seem to be the choose suicide — the ultimate solu they have lost control of their lives. most popular suicide method among tion to their problems. By choosing suicide, “they have some college students because of the illu Statistics from the American As control over some part of their lives, sion that they are an easy and pain sociation of Suicidology show sui even if it’s ending it,” he said. less way to die, Spitzer said. But cide is a leading and increasing cause Students can feel backed in a corner overdosing on drugs can be very of death among college-age youths in because of academic, financial or painful physiologically, causing res the United States. personal problems. Counseling Cen piratory failure or seizures, he ex Two Western students committed ter Director Sandra Taylor said. Sui plained. suicide this academic year, Dean of cide can be an escape route, or a Reasons for suicidal behavior at Students Tim Douglas said. Both “time out,” at least. Western usually reflect students’per suicides, however, occurred away It also can be an escape route for sonal problems rather than academic from school and during breaks. students seeking relief from the problems, Taylor said. The administration does not keep crushing pain of depression. By kil “Typically, there is a personal rela official track of the number of sui ling themselves “they hope to accom tionship that they perceive as having cides by Western students, but “it’s plish some way of stopping the pain failed at or having not turned out not more than one or two cases per and the hurt,” Spitzer said. right,” she said. Students may become year, if any,” Douglas said. He could Students sometimes attempt sui very depressed after relationships not recall a time in the past five years cide unsuccessfully, hoping they will end. Persons with low self-esteem or when a suicide had occurred on cam be caught and will receive help with low self-confidence may not be able pus or among students living off their problems. to deal with rejection, she continued. campus. “It’s a gesture to reach out to Depression also may result from The number of suicide threats and anybody who they think will under the loss of family members, boy attempts is much higher. Douglas stand,” Spitzer said. friends or girlfriends because of acci said he is informed of between one- Other times students may attempt dents. “Eight months is the normal and two-dozen suicide attempts each suicide to get back at others, usually grieving time” after such a loss, Spit year. those who have hurt or rejected them. zer said, but added “some people Richard Spitzer, a local psycholo “They have the irrational belief that never get over losses.” gist and member of the emergency they will be justified or vindicated if Students supporting themselves services team from the Whatcom they kill themselves,” said Haydon and those living away from home for Counseling and Psychiatric Clinic, Mees of the psychology department. the first time may be unable to accept said he sees an average of two West But viewing suicide in these terms the extra personal and financial re ern students each month who at — as an escape or a way of getting sponsibilities, which results in stress tempted suicide. He usually is called revenge — is short-sighted, he said. or depression in their lives, he said. 4 kl^psun aespalr cloud college life ty. The social pressures of campus life More obvious still are signs such as also can create problems for students preoccupation with death or giving with low self-esteem and low self- away possessions, he said. confidence. Suicidal persons can experience Students who have socially suc many emotions of depression, the cessful parents may be pressured to most devastating of which are over be socially successful themselves, he whelming senses of helplessness and added. If they cannot fulfill their par hopelessness. “They are hopeless be ents’ or their own expectations they cause they see no resolution to the' may consider themselves failures. depression,” Spitzer said, “and they The same may be true of students are helpless because they feel they who cannot fulfill academic expecta^ don’t have the strength to turn it (the tions. depression) around.” Obsessively ambitious or perfec Other feelings include intense lone tionist students may set standards so liness, depersonalization and numb high for themselves they cannot meet ness. them, Taylor said. They may con Students should help friends, room sider failing one exam a failure in life. mates or others who exhibit suicidal Spitzer emphasized that for many, behavior. Suicides can be prevented “college is a make it or break it (in by reaching out to them, said Cecelia life) situation.” MacClure, program director for Students at colleges that demand Whatcom County Crisis Services. high academic performance often People should take suicidal talk suffer from depression because of the seriously and show their concern for academic pressures on them. “West persons by asking questions about ern does not really promote that cli their feelings. “Let them experience mate,” however, Taylor said. Such and express their feelings,” she said.

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