Peace Corps Church's Relationship Seeks New with AIDS Discussed
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Spring: Habitat for Humanity VlLLANOVAN pa2e 15. Vol. 70, No. 15 VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY. VILLANOVA, PA. February 24, 1 995 Peace Corps Church's relationship seeks new with AIDS discussed By JONATHAN KLlCK of homosexuality for Catholics, recruits Assistant News Editor according to Nugent. He said many Catholics are called to the By CLAIRE REHWINKEL "AIDS and the Church" was AIDS ministry, and it "help(s] Assistant News Editor the topic of a panel discussion held people get in touch with their Feb. 16 as part of the University's homophobia." He added that the The Peace Corps held an infor- AIDS Awareness Week. The panel gay community sees the Church mation session Feb. 15 in the members were Sr. Jeannine Gram- as the "major oppressor of the gay Connelly Center where Area mick, S.S.N.D.; Rev. Jim McCart- community." Nugent character- Director James O'Brien urged ney, O.S.A.; Rev. Paul Morrissey, ized the Church's stand on AIDS students to join. At this meeting, O.S.A.; and Rev. Robert Nugent, and homosexuality as "compas- O'Brien spoke of the benefits of S.D.S. Dr. Gaile Pohlhaus of the sionate with the dying" and joining the Peace Corps, the religious studies department mod- "hostile with the living." "What now. is openness process and eligibility require- erated the event which attracted we need more part of the the ments for applying and answered an audience of 27 people. on the Church and questions from interested Grammick entertained the sub- gay community," he said. students. ject of homophobia. "AIDS is not Morrissey, the director of the a gay disease, but it is perceived Austin Center for Pastoral Coun- "Unfortunately, there is a dead in Bronx, said, message going out about the Peace as a gay disease," she said. She seling the NY, feel like they're caught Corps," said O'Brien. "People added that males tend to be more "Priests and heterosexuals in the middle between the pope seem to have this misconception homophobic are more uncomfortable with and the people" on the issues of that the Corps is only for soil of their gender. AIDS and homosexuality. He said scientists and such. Our new homosexuals own The relationship between homo- that AIDS has brought homosex- message is extremely open." The phobia and the Church is that uality and death out of the closet. Peace Corps is now looking for attend church more In regard to its teachings, Morris- volunteers who have experience those who frequently are more apt to harbor sey expressed a desire to see the irt a variety of fields, such as negative feelings toward gays and Church present an institution of education, the health profession, lesbians, said Grammick. homosexual monogamy as a engineering and business. Nugent continued the discus- means to lessen the AIDS epidem- The Peace Corps is a two-year sion by speaking about AIDS ic. "We've Ithe Church] cut our- service program, active in 93 phobia. He said he is skeptical of selves out of the dialogue because countries around the world. There statistics that show that church- we think we have to have the last are.three main goals for those who goers are more AIDS phobic, word," he said. join the Corps, said O'Brien. "We adding that many Catholics are "The Gospel has to be the 4- look to help people in developing "cdming to grips" with the dis- source of our beliefs as Chris- countries meet their basic needs, ease. He said those people who are tians," said McCartney, who is a to try to learn from other cultures PHOTO BY SHARON GRIFFIN more AIDS phobic place an empha- member of the philosophy depart- and to implement them in our sis on protecting the non-infected ment. He described Church- communities, here in the United The Wildcats completed their Big Five schedule by beating the Penn out of their last games. population, while those who are related AIDS hospices as the States," he said. Quakers 78-74. The 'Cats have won 12 13 not are concerned with finding a "Gospel in action." He added that "Those who are uncertain about cure for the disease. Describing "We are the church," therefore, entering the Corps should think training and graduate school college degree or three to five homophobia as a "filter," Nugent "who cares what the Church of all the benefits," said O'Brien. fellowships and scholarships. years full-time work experience in claimed it prevents access to says? Volunteers receive living some field. Interviews and a three- knowlege. An audience member asked the expenses, an additional $5,400 The selection process can be month training process are also The AIDS ministry of the panel to explain the Church's upon completion of service, full summarized as follows: applicants necessary. "The prospects may Roman Catholic Church provides official teaching on homosexual- health coverage, language train- must be U.S. citizens, medically seem daunting, but it's worth it," an entry point into the question (Con tinned on page ing, cross-cultural and technical qualified, and have a four-year said O'Brien. 2) Alcohol abuse draws national, campus attention By MELISSA LEE lanova student body has been a responsibilities. Alcohol abuse is to see how it can improve," Stack first meeting is scheduled for next News Editor perennial problem," said Stack. "self-centered behavior under the said. University President Rev. week. "We need to educate people as to guise of college humor," he said. Edmund J. Dobbin, O.S.A., has "The average person is not Alcohol abuse on college cam- why this can be a problem." The negative effects of such abuse formed a University-wide commit- conscious of the number of stu- have been felt around this campus, tee to examine aspects of use dents whose lives are affected by puses is receiving serious atten- It has been established that and including incidents of vandalism, abuse at Villanova. alcohol misuse and end up with tion, at both the national and the college students drink, but many Vice President pulling fire alarms and late night for Residence Life Dr. a college career marked by medi- university level. "Binge drink- question their motives. "Drinking Richard A. noise. Neville, will chair ocrity. [They] end in a rut ing," which has been defined as is an accepted part of society. It this committee, up National concerns have promp- which is of alcohol use/abuse plays the consumption of five or more is a social lubricant, it helps comprised administra- where ted the University look itself tors, faculty consecutive drinks, presents itself people relax. Physically, there is "to at and students. The (Continued on page 2) as a substantial problem, said the no reason why [those under the Rev. John P. Stack, O.S.A., dean legal drinking age of 21] cannot X:. of Students. drink. But the state delays this "There has been an increase in so that there is a greater chance the percentage of people whose of drinking responsibly [because] irresponsibility goal is to get drunk," said Stack. there is increased Alcohol itself "There is no reason to think we in younger groups. is not a [the University] are not in line consumed in moderation with these norms." problem," he said. use A report attempting to identify Danger arises when alcohol these norms appeared in the Dec. turns into alcohol abuse. Abuse of 7 issue of the Journal of the may be attributed to a number American Medical Association. factors, "irresponsibility of youth, oppor- "Health and Behavioral Conse- experimentation and [the « one wants quences of Binge Drinking in tunity] to do what authority figures," College" reported that 44 percent because of few parents, Stack said. of the students who responded to such as as Students may have the fear of $ 9 the questionnaire were noted I out on something, so they binge drinkers, with nearly 19 missing f later on weekends, "but percent being serious abusers. stay out i stay up and do < Health problems and dangerous they can't vf so many turn to alcohol. l^li-jl \ behavior are often the results. nothing," that most students Binge drinkers also cause prob- Stack believes capable of drinking responsi- lems for others who do not engage are k bly, but simply choose not to. in this type of consumption by PHOTO BY JEREMY LEACH t students drinkers to Stack describes college subjecting non-binge I as existing in what seems to be Binge drinking is becoming a more common problem on college campuses. A University committee assault and abuse, including 4 a "no-man's land," no longer a will seek to examine the causes and results of this abuse. "unwanted sexual advances." . i but many feel no adult "Alcohol abuse among the Vil- child, I V y» i)-i}lMV<!;w Pag» 2 • THE VILLANOVAN • February 24, 1995 F>bruary 24, 1995 • THE VILLANOVAN • Page 3 Broadcast HIS WEEK AIDS and I message Beyond the Main Line system Editorials 8 Church I reevaluated Compiled by Melissa Lee equally in the Scope 13 political pro- dignified, reasonable. The illu- (Continuedfrom page 1) Source: The New York Times cess." Precedents from By NANCY LA VINE came sion is that you're dealing with ity. In response, Nugent explained munications. Features 15 1960s rulings, when the Colo- Staff Reporter some animal that can't be that, in the Church's eyes, the There are several problems WASHINGTON - The rado court ruled that local Who knows, reformed." only moral form of genital inter- with the current system, however. House of Representatives, with governments could not The broadcast review system make Ninety-two people have^been course is that between a married is Numerous complaints have been who cares 17 its Republican majority, gave the passage of protective civil a series of announcements put to death in Texas since man and woman where the pos- relat- made about its overuse.