OBSER VER Volume 16, Number 1 College at Lincoln Center, Fordham University, New York January 15,1992 AIDS On Campus Thanks For Not Smoking By Vivian Lake is that most students think it can'tl By William Brooks & Clarisel the cloakroom, the cafeteria's south By the end of 1993, between happen to them, said Margaret! Gonzalez section and the 12 floor lobby. 390,000 and 480,000 Americans will McQuillan, director of Fordham'sl Areas which are not identified as have developed full-blown AIDS Health Center. The non-smoking policy here at smoking areas should be considered said Tom Skinner, spokesman at the Fordham's AIDS policy as CLC has been reinvigorated, as non-smoking , states the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in delineated in the student handbook, according to Father George J. handbook. Atlanta. consists of education and McMahon, Vice-President of CLC. Feelings about this new policy are There are about 1 million HIV prevention. This includes making As of Spring 1992, there will no split among smokers and non- positive Americans, he said. information available to students on longer be a designated area for smokers. "AIDS among male homosexuals has how the disease is transmitted and smokers on the second floor lounge. According to CLC junior Jim Plasko, started to level off...we're seeing I.V how they can protect themselves.! Prior to this new policy the area who is a smoker, there is no respect drug users and heterosexuals Students who want to be tested are near the registrar windows was for smokers rights. sexuars increasing at a faster rate," referred to centers in the area, and the designated area for smokers. "Although there is no requirement said Skinner. treatment is available to HIV "Complaints about smoking around allowing smoking in designated Health professionals say AIDS is nolpositive students, the building forced us to put the areas, we should be happy with what longer perceived as a gay disease. It] "We're not treating any cases signs up in that area, because people we still do have." has claimed victims in every social now," said McQuillan, seemed to be unable to distinguish "It is long over due (the policy of and economic level, every ethnic The primary means of transmission between smoking and non-smoking no-smoking in the second floor group, and every sexual persuasion.Uf the AIDS virus is through sexual sections," said Father McMahon. lounge area) because this increases Public and private institutions havejeontact, but most people assume if The policy of the university is to awareness of the effects smoking been forced to incorporate policieskhey use condoms there is no risk. regulate smoking of tobacco has on those who inhale it directly to deal with the medical and legal) "Even with condoms its not 100 per products as required by the New and those who get the smoke issues AIDS has raised. it safe," said McQuillan. York City and New York State Clean indirectly," said Karen Issac, CLC Colleges and universities across the| a is 90-95 per cent safer, she says, Indoor Air Acts of 1988 and 1990, sophomore and a non-smoker. "This country have adopted AIDS policies but maintains there is no such according to the CLC 1991-1992 has proven the hazards to which range from prevention andthing as safe sex. I Student Handbook, everyone." education to on-campus testing andl The CDC and the New York State I Although smoking was listed as "Although I'm a smoker, I think its treatment. Department of Health recommend prohibited in areas such as the healthier for everyone, " said Columbia University has beenthat condoms be used during all [classrooms, hallways, restrooms and Vivian Lake, CLC sophmore. "I want offering anonymous AIDS testing to types of sexual activity, citing latex (library in the Handbook, the to quit so the more limitations I students since September 1985, Saidfcondoms with the spermicide [Lowenstein west end 2nd floor have on where I can smoke the Dan Kany, of Columbia's MentalNonoxynol-9 as the safest. founge was listed as a designated better off I am." Health Center. 1 Pregnant women can pass the "I , for one, am very happy about it The testing is done through thelvirus to the fetus through the blood, I Some of the designated areas for [the new policy], too many good Mental Health Center to insure thathnd transmission through breast kmokers in the Lowenstein building people are not around because of students get AIDS counselingknilk is possible but rare, said Ptill include the 60th street lobby to smoking," concluded {ton-smoker required by law, and treatment is McQuillan. fhe right of the guard station, near and CLC student Mikki Abitol. available for students who test Skinner said that since the Food positive, he said. and Drug Administration established also possible to have the virus Kany would not comment on the screening procedures for the without developing the disease. Card Shuffle number of AIDS cases being treated nation's blood supply in 1985, "the "Magic Johnson does not have on campus, saying that anonymity is odds of getting AIDS through a AIDS-he's HIV positive," said Smith, By Vivian Lake very closely guarded. transfusion are very rare." "people confuse that latency period A pilot program is currently in "I doubt such a > figure is McQuillan agreed, saying that blood with the disease." effect to determine the feasibility obtainable—I doubt it even exists," testing is extremely sophisticated. Health professionals agree that the of using debit cards for he said. According to the CDC, antibodies in best prevention is avoiding high- purchases on campus, said a Rose Dr. Ivan Gutnick, head of Student the blood of someone who is HIV risk behavior. Do not have Hill administrator. If successful, Health Services at New York positive may take-up to 6 months to unprotected sex, use intravenous the program will eventually be University said they, refer students appear in a test. This is known as drugs, or have sex with an I.V. drug brought to the CLC campus as who wish to be tested to the Newlthe "window" through which user. Do not share personal items well. York State Department of healthjtainted blood may get into the blood like toothbrushes or razors that may The cards are the opposite of and offer informal counseling. supply. have been expossed to tainted blood. credit cards- students pay money "We'll be entering a new program "Since 1985 there have only been Do not use drugs that may impair into an account and purchases with St. Vincent's Hospital nex 20 cases of AIDS through your judgement. are deducted when the card is year," said Gutnick, "our students transfusions," said Andrea Smith, Make sure your doctor and dentist used. It also serves as a photo will be able to get testing am spokeswoman for the New York follow strict safety guidelines. identification card. counseling through the hospital ." iBlood Center. Dental instruments should be heat 500 of the cards have been At Manhattan College, a Catholicl Smith says blood cannot be held sterilized and gloves should be worn issued so far at Rose Hill, and an university, the focus is on land tested a second time because the during exposure to body fluids. If expansion of the program is to prevention and education. I anti-bodies come from the body you have any questions, ask, or find start in February. "We have an informationallfighting the HIV infection. Blood a health professional you feel The Debit cards are being used program on AIDS we give to remains the same after it is removed comfortable with. on vending machines and copiers incoming Freshman, and we have from the body. If you think you've been exposed to and will eventually be used at the programs throughout the year foi 84 million units of blood have been the AIDS virus or just want to be student deli. Future plans include all students," said Dr. Thomas Gilbart, transfused since 1985, said Smith. tested, the counseling center and using the cards on fax machines, Director of Counseling and Health "Make your peace with the window the Health Center at Rose Hill both laundry machines, ATM's and as Services. period. 20 cases out of 84 million are refer students to testing clinics and security access cards in dorms. Resident Assistants (R.A.'s) are also better odds than anything you could icounseling centers. Pamphlets on In addition to the convenience trained to deal with issues put yourself at risk for, she said. AIDS are available at the Counseling of the system. Rose Hill regarding AIDS , and faculty a The new York State Department of Center and the Student Activities administrators feel it will enable Manhattan have held seminars or Health recommends people take two Office. students to budget discretionary the ethical and moral questions tests three months apart if they The New York State Department of income more efficiently. surrounding AIDS , said Gilbart. think they've been exposed to the Health offers free anonymous Students arc referred to testing virus, testing and counselling. For clinics, and counseling and AIDS is spread through coniac information call 292-3853 or 800- treatment arc available to studentswith someone's body fluids 526-4823, on campus, he said. primarily blood and semen, said CDC "Have a sense of your self- In 1989, a study conducted by the officials. It is not spread through worth,"said McQuillan, "don't let American College Health associationjcasual contact such as touching or your judgement be impaired by and the CDC with blood samples fromlkissing.