News

The new California Spatial Reference Center, which uses Global Positioning System technology to monitor California’s environment, was dedicated Monday at its headquarters at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. There are more than 40 organizations that will use the center, including the Cecil H. and Ida M. Green Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics at Scripps, Caltrans, the California Land Surveyor’s Association, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the U.S. Geological Survey, and Orange County’s Public Facilities and Resources Department. UCSD Professor Looks Into High Altitude Effects Frank Powell, UCSD professor of physiology and director of the University of California’s White Mountain Research Station, has organized a program to study the effects of high altitude on humans and the environment. Mountain research has significant implications for heart and lung diseases. Powell and his colleagues presented their findings at the annual meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Science Feb. 18. Powell and his fellow researchers study hypoxia, a factor that limits humans’ oxygen intake at high altitudes, and their findings may lead to treatment for people who suffer from hypoxia at sea level as a result of heart or lung disease. UCSD School of Medicine to Offer Classes for Seniors The Scripps Institution of Oceanography held its annual Surf Bowl Feb. 10. Each year, local high schools compete in the competition to demonstrate their mastery of the fields of biology, chemistry, geology, technology, the social sciences and geography, by answering questions. La Jolla High School’s first team placed first in the event and will continue on to the National Ocean Sciences Bowl. Dana Hills High School came in second, and La Jolla High School’s second team came in third. Poway High School received the Best Sportsmanship Award, which was decided by all the participating high schools. The National competition will be held in Miami Beach, Fla., in April. In that competition, La Jolla will compete against 18 other teams that won their own regional competitions. Scripps Institution of Oceanography Holds Surf Bowl The UCSD School of Medicine is offering a course on healthy aging for seniors in the San Diego community. The course will cover a wide variety of topics pertaining to aging and will focus on disease prevention and personal health enhancement. The individual classes will address the biological processes that affect aging as well as various diseases and disorders common among the elderly. The course will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a $25 enrollment fee to help offset the cost of instructional materials. Sessions will be held for eight consecutive Saturdays on the UCSD campus beginning April 28. For more information call (858) 822-2437. ...

Earlier this week the “”Navidad”” virus was unintentionally sent via e-mail to hundreds of students on a visual arts mailing list. The e-mail’s subject line read “”Grad Show!”” and contained the attached file navidad.exe, which is a virus that distributes itself through address books in Microsoft Outlook Express. According to ResNet Coordinator Erik Strahm, when downloaded, the virus prevents any application from running. “”When the user tries to open an application, a screen pops up with a smiley face,”” Strahm said. “”Fortunately, computers infected with the virus are 100 percent repairable.”” Nich Ziesmer, senior residential computing consultant, explained that the outbreak was completely random. “”It is pure chance that the UCSD sender got the virus,”” Ziesmer said. Strahm said that the Navidad virus that was sent to people on the visual arts list did not originate on campus. “”Usually someone creates the virus somewhere else and almost all viruses are from other countries,”” Strahm said. He added that the UCSD sender did not intentionally propagate the virus. “”Microsoft Outlook Express is very susceptible to viruses because the viruses can piggy-back themselves on the files the system uses,”” Ziesmer said. He also said that computer viruses spread like viruses in humans and can be designed to do almost anything. He said the Navidad virus is very well-designed. “”It’s practically ingenious,”” he said. “”It readily distributes itself to millions of computers. It is unfortunate how effective the virus is.”” The Navidad virus is one of many viruses that have been spreading around campus. The “”Snow White”” and “”Romeo and Juliet”” viruses are some of the others. Ziesmer said the best way for people to protect their computers from viruses is to buy an anti-virus program such as Norton AntiVirus. He said another problem is that people do not keep their anti-virus programs updated. Ziesmer added that students who read their e-mail though popmail.ucsd.edu or telnet are at less risk, because file attachments will not be opened automatically, as they sometimes are in older versions of Microsoft Outlook Express. “”Look twice before opening files,”” Ziesmer said. He explained that students should be cautious about opening files from senders they do not know. According to Strahm, the problem with viruses is that they grow exponentially when they are distributed through mailing lists. Strahm said that although viruses are already commonly found on campus residential computers, there has been an increase in the last few weeks. Two years ago, the “”Melissa”” virus infected computers and was the most devastating virus on campus, Strahm said. There have been no reported actual costs or damage to computers infected with the Navidad virus on campus yet, other than the time spent removing the virus because people were temporarily unable to use their computers. Students whose computers have a virus or have problems should call the ResNet office at (858) 822-2800. The office is open Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Information about computer viruses, those that present the top threats, removal procedures and anti-virus software can be found at http://www.norton.com/avcenter/ ...

UC President Richard C. Atkinson proposed dropping the SAT I as a criterion for applying to UC schools, citing the test as an unfair assessment of the abilities of students. “”The SAT I is problematic because it does not cover what is learned in a high school curriculum,”” said UC spokesman Brad Hayward. “”The SAT measures the student’s test taking abilities.”” As a result of such criticism regarding the SAT, Atkinson has proposed to restructure the application process so that students will no longer submit their SAT I scores. Instead, high school grade point averages in UC-approved classes and SAT II scores would be the two major parts of the application and would determine a student’s acceptance. Atkinson suggested that a new, fairer standardized test be developed, but recommended that the SAT II be used until such a test has been made. In his Feb. 18 speech at the Annual Meeting of the American Council Education, Atkinson said that the SAT I is no longer a valid indicator of success in college. “”We know that high school grades are by far the best indicator of first-year college performance,”” he said. “”We have also found that the SAT II is a better predictor of performance than the SAT I.”” A 1996 study, on the other hand, showed that 82 percent of students who had over a 1,300 on their SAT I graduated college within five years, while only 74 percent of the students who scored between 1200 and 1299 graduated within the same time frame. UCSD’s Assistant Vice Chancellor Richard Backer said that this proposed policy would not impact UCSD to a large degree, as the importance of standardized tests in admissions decisions has already been decreasing for the last two years. For the last two years, admission to UCSD has been based 60 percent on high school GPA and 40 percent on standardized tests. This is a change from three years ago when the percentages were equal at 50 percent each. In recent years, the test has fallen under close scrutiny, and many believe it is culturally, sexually and economically unfair. Statistics from the 1998 test show that males on average perform 42 points better on the exam than females, despite females’ general better performance in high school and higher graduation rate than males. The SAT is also under scrutiny because many believe it is unfair to students from low-income families that cannot afford private tutoring. Atkinson said last year that about 150,000 students paid over $100 million to companies such as IVY West and Kaplan that charge as much as $750 per student for services. “”These changes will help all students — especially low-income and minority students — determine their own educational destinies,”” Atkinson said. If passed by the UC Regents, the proposal will go into effect during the 2003 school year. Backer said there is a strong possibility that this will happen. ...

William B. Armstrong, whose resume boasts 12 years of directing research activities for the San Diego Community College District, had joined UCSD as the new director of Student Research and Information. Armstrong takes over the position, which was formerly held by the now-retired Darlene Morell, on March 12. In addition to the book and numerous papers, Armstrong has authored concerning institutional research at the university and post-secondary education level, he has also worked as the project director for two nationally funded endeavors on the development of national standards for adult literacy. Author Ruth Morgan-Jones to Appear at UCSD Bookstore Ruth Morgan-Jones will make an appearance at the UCSD Bookstore on Feb. 28 at 5 p.m. to discuss her book, titled “”Hearing Differently: An Investigation into the Impact of Hearing Loss on Family Life.”” The book covers the results of 150 interviews with hearing-impaired people and looks at how their disability has altered their relationships. Morgan-Jones is hearing-impaired herself and used her experience on the subject as inspiration to write the book. The book finds a positive outlook on the topic by drawing from various fields of study, including social psychology, family sociology and linguistics to discover means hearing-impaired people use consciously and unconsciously in every day interaction such as conflict management and communication. For more information about the event, call (858)534-3149. Brain Impairment Discovered in Female Alcoholics Researchers at the UCSD School of Medicine and the Veteran’s Affairs Health Care System have used fMRI studies to confirm that alcoholism negatively affects memory in young, female alcoholics. Previously, only thinking and memory tests were used to test the theory. The researchers published their findings in the February issue of “”Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.”” Susan F. Tapert, who works as an assistant adjunct professor of psychiatry at UCSD and as a clinical psychologist at the Veteran’s Affairs Health Care System, headed the research, which employed functional magnetic reasoning for the first time to study the brains of female alcoholics. Women 18 to 25 years old were tested in order to discover the importance of studying the impaired brain parts individually to see how early alcoholism leads to brain damage. The researchers are planning to do more studies with men and women to determine whether memory loss can improve with abstinence from alcohol or whether it is permanent. Waste Minimization Committee Announces Recycling Awards The Waste Minimization Advisory Commitee announced the 2001 Recycling Heroics Awards last week. The Recycling Heroics Awards were created to cut down on waste and to encourage recycling in all departments at UCSD. Recipients of the award will receive a pin and a certificate for their conservation efforts. Nominations for the awards are accepted all year long with the actual awards being given out some time near Earth Day, which is April 22. March 30 will be the cutoff date to submit nominations for this year’s awards. The ceremony will be held April 27. Award recipients are chosen based on several factors, including fostering recycling in their own department, encouraging others to recycle, and making sure that the recycling continues. ...

Student Regent-designate Tracy Davis visited UCSD Thursday to talk to potential student regent candidates at a luncheon concerning the application process. The luncheon took place in the Faculty Club Thursday morning. Davis spoke to six applicants and a few other spectators about the difficulties of the application process and the responsibilities of student regent. Applications for the position are due in the chancellor’s office Feb. 23 by 5 p.m. These applications are for the position of student regent-designate for 2001-2002 and student regent for 2002-2003. Davis is the student regent-designate for 2000-2001 and will be student regent next year. Students from all UC campuses are eligible to apply. Student regents in the past have been undergraduate and graduate students alike. Davis is a graduate student at UCLA. She received her bachelor’s degree in 1995 from UCLA. She moved to New York City and worked for CNN in the investigative documentary department before moving back and becoming an undergraduate adviser at UCLA. She then began her graduate studies and ran for the student regent position. Davis is the first student regent to be elected to a two-year term. Previously, the term was only one year. The year as designate was added to allow student regents to become more involved and versed in the issues. “”Even though you only have two years, you have things to learn, networking,”” Davis said. “”Those don’t take hours, they take months.”” The students present at the luncheon asked questions regarding the position and the application process. Davis informed them of different steps of the process. The first interview for the position is with the UC Student Association. Her advice for this step of the process is to go to the UCSA Web site and find out where the association stands on issues. “”A lot of it is figuring out what you can accomplish and what you can’t accomplish and talking to a lot of people to find out what they think a student regent should be doing,”” Davis said. Davis will not be able to vote until her second year. “”[Next year] I do all the same things as a regular regent does,”” she said. The year as student regent-designate is a nonvoting year. The last interview for the position is with the regents themselves. Only three candidates in the UC system make it to this step. Davis again told applicants to prepare by knowing their audience. She talked about how she prepared by talking things out and realizing where she stood on issues. “”The regents want someone they can spend hours and hours on buses and planes and in meetings with, as well as someone they can work with,”” she said. Davis said she found the second interview intimidating because it was with 24 interviewers and just her as the interviewee. “”[The luncheon] broadened my mind as to the specifics of the job and what role I could have in it and the advantages I would bring to the position,”” said student regent applicant and Warren junior Fady Mikhael. The position of student regent takes up a lot of time, Davis emphasized. She said she is used to working 12 to 14 hours in a day and up to 30 hours a week in addition to her graduate work. “”I’m in my office doing ‘regental’ things between 10 and 20 hours a week,”” she said. She has an assistant who works 10 hours a week, but she does more research, according to Davis. Davis summed up her job by simply saying “”It is to direct people to correct information.”” Revelle junior Seth Silvernail attended the luncheon to obtain more information about the position. “”I’m looking at all the implications of it,”” he said. During the luncheon, Silver-nail asked Davis about the personal impact of her job. “”I think you need to love what you’re doing,”” she said. “”You need to be willing and prepared that your friends and the things you’re doing will be a part of this.”” The duties of a student regent include keeping well-informed of issues affecting education in California, being prepared to represent all students in the system and understanding how the system actually operates. Applications for the position of student regent can be obtained at the A.S. offices on the third floor of the Price Center. Davis urged students to apply for the position. “”It’s learning an amazing internship,”” she said. “”You learn so much about the way things really work.”” ...

A record 300 students participated this weekend in the 12th annual “”Students of Color Conference: Politics of Silence Establishing a Voice at the Crossroads of the New Millennium,”” which was hosted by the A.S. Council in cooperation with the UC Student Association. Students from various schools were in attendance during the three-day event, including members from all of the UC campuses, some California State University campuses and some high schools. Among the UC campuses, Davis and Riverside had the highest number of attendees. UC Santa Cruz junior David Harbaugh explained his motivation for making the long commute to attend the conference. “”My motivation as a white ally was to learn my role as one,”” Harbaugh said. “”I wanted to be more familiar with the struggle and I think the people [in the conference] have been really open in trying to educate themselves and learn their role, as well.”” Co-Chair of the SOCC Committee Nneka Udoh said she heard only good things about the conference. “”It was extremely organized,”” Udoh said. “”I think this conference in San Diego totally set a precedent — not to say the ones in the past weren’t successful, because they were. It’s just that this year we had so many people.”” Jesse Coward, a member of the SOCC Committee, agreed. “”It ran very smoothly,”” Coward said. “”The amount of work and energy put into it really paid off.”” Udoh said the high turnout rate was a surprise for everyone involved. According to her, this year’s student participation is a significant increase from last year’s number of approximately 60 students. Before the conference, Co-Chair of the SOCC Committee Alicia Schwartz talked about her goals for the three-day event. “”My big hope is that people will get something from this when they leave,”” Schwartz said. “”After a conference like this, it makes you think of what you really have — you realize just how privileged you are.”” The conference’s first major event on Friday was “”The Arena,”” a concert/dance/art exhibit featuring L.A. Symphony and Medusa. Events sponsored by the conference on Saturday included an opening speech from Hughes Suffren of Claremont-McKenna College, workshops on issues including rally organization, various caucuses including multiple identities and a rally and march with the coalition of Justice for Janitors and Bus Riders’ Union. The evening’s activities included a banquet featuring professor George Lipsitz of the UCSD department of ethnic studies as keynote speaker, and the play “”The Vagina Monologues.”” “”He touched me deeply,”” said Kevin Du, a UC Davis junior, about Lipsitz’s speech. “”He talked so passionately that it made me passionate.”” Sunday, the final day of the conference, wrapped up with more workshops, caucuses addressing women and queers of color, a panel discussion entitled “”The Changing Face of Activism”” and finally, a large group session. Arash Kolahi, a Marshall senior, said he liked how the conference ended. “”It ends on a positive note,”” Kolahi said. “”Speakers talk about solutions and success stories.”” A.S. Vice President External Eugene Mahmoud praised the conference and its participants but wondered why more people did not attend, particularly more members of the administration. “”It’s interesting when something is student-initiated like this conference, Chancellor Dynes, who has deemed himself chief executive officer of diversity, or something to that effect, is not here,”” Mahmoud said. Udoh shared his sentiment. “”Honestly, I wish more people from UCSD could be here,”” Udoh said. “”I wish Joseph Watson and Chancellor Dynes were here. They should totally use this as a resource.”” UC Riverside senior and External Vice President Ryann Nieves mentioned how she thought this year’s conference was better than the ones before. “”This is my third year at the conference, and this year has three times as many students who are just more willing to listen and dialogue,”” Nieves said. “”Touchy subjects usually bring negative connotations, but I’ve seen people [this year] really be open to make it a positive situation.”” Nieves went on to commend the San Diego staff for hosting the event so smoothly. UCLA junior Greg Hom said one of the goals of participants was to network. “”A lot of connections were made that were really important,”” Hom said. “”I definitely met a lot of people, which is sort of the theme of this conference — unity of struggle.”” Mahmoud said most of the credit should be given to Co-Chairs Udoh and Schwartz. Udoh expressed her thanks to all the SOCC staff, including a special thanks to Tom Colley, UCSD operations manager of the University Centers. ...

The date and plans for this year’s commencement were finalized this week as seniors graduating this June prepare to participate in all-campus commencement ceremonies and college graduation rites on the same day for the first time in recent history. David Pilz Guardian The three graduate programs will conclude earlier in June, whereas the five undergraduate colleges will hold their events on Sunday, June 17, along with a campus-wide ceremony on RIMAC field. Previously, the five colleges had events spread across a weekend and only in recent years have all-campus ceremonies been held. This year’s speaker will be Dr. Patch Adams, best known by Robin Williams’ portrayal of his holistic approach to medicine in the 1998 film bearing his name. Students may remember that last year’s all-campus ceremony had to be canceled at the last minute, as Maya Angelou unexpectedly faced double knee surgery. Previous speakers have included then-President Bill Clinton in 1997 and House Speaker Newt Gingrich in 1998. A.S. President Doc Khaleghi and Festivals Coordinator Scott Mantell have pursued speakers and worked on invitation letters since last summer in an attempt to secure a keynote speaker for the all-campus event. One of the first on the list was Adams. “”All-campus commencement has always been a tenuous ceremony,”” Kaleghi said. “”Securing support from the administration was difficult, and we had a limited time to publicize it.”” Over the summer the A.S. Council worked to make certain the chancellor and provosts supported the idea. After acquiring their backing, the Council had until Dec. 31 to acquire a speaker. They met this deadline, and Adams has committed in writing to giving the commencement address. The staff at RIMAC has also been working for some time to prepare the facilities to receive the thousands of guests that are expected to arrive on campus during the various graduation exercises. “”We have to turn RIMAC field into a commencement site and turn Marshall field into a twice-used area,”” said Steve Evans, production manager for RIMAC. Though it is unknown exactly how many will be attending, staff will set up 8,000 chairs at RIMAC and slightly less than that for Marshall college’s graduation. The other colleges are expected to draw 6,000 to 7,000 people each. In comparison to previous years, this number is much lower than the 25,000 chairs set up for Clinton’s visit, though it still presents a formidable challenge. “”Previous commencements went perfectly,”” Evans said. “”We received an amazing amount of support.”” The RIMAC staff is currently working to finalize the event budget and ordering the logistical elements, such as staging and sound equipment, and hopes to have these items furnished by the end of March. In addition to meeting with the various campus organizers, Evans will also form a logistics committee responsible for the specifics of the program. It will be this committee that sets the final schedule for the ceremony and makes decisions regarding items such as band involvement and the chronology of events. “”We’re really, really excited about this new direction,”” Evans said in reference to the decision to do everything on one day and feature a less political and more educational keynote speaker. The organizers have worked hard to address the concerns of parking, as the campus has to handle an estimated 35,000 visitors between the five undergraduate and two graduate commencements that weekend. Shuttles will take guests from the east campus parking lots to the San Diego Supercomputer Center area, though not to the Marshall lot. Families of Muir and Warren graduates are urged to park in the east campus lots, Marshall and Revelle families will be directed to the Muir and north campus lots, and Roosevelt families to the north campus lots. Visitors are advised to arrive early, as gridlock is a definite possibility. It is suggested that families plan on arriving in the morning, as college commencements will follow the all-campus ceremony. ...

David Artis has been named the new director of the UCSD Academic Enrichment Programs. Artis is the former director of the Michigan School of Public Health in Ann Arbor and has also managed the graduate student retention programs at the University of Michigan’s Rackham School of Graduate Studies. Artis will now be responsible for academically supporting UCSD undergraduates in their studies. Artis will be expected to increase student diversity and to create and improve programs that encourage undergraduates to pursue higher levels of education after graduating college. Artis will also forge communication with local high school seniors about UCSD and its various programs. UCSD Study Finds Gene Therapy Effective in Mature Monkeys UCSD School of Medicine researchers have built upon earlier research with brain cells to report that degenerate brain fibers in older monkeys can be restored using genetically altered tissues that have been modified to create a nerve growth factor, which is found in all vertebrate animals. The fibers, which are called axons, carry messages through the brain and are affected in Alzheimer’s Disease. The researchers believe their discovery could lead to a possible treatment for that disease. They have since received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to develop an Alzheimer’s treatment and are currently seeking human subjects. The researchers published their results, which describe the work they did with 18 rhesus monkeys ranging from 9 to 27 years old, in the Feb. 13 issue of the “”Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences.”” UCSD and San Diego Historical Society to Create Regional Studies Network UCSD, in partnership with the San Diego Historical Society, will establish the San Diego Regional Studies Network, which will act as a clearinghouse for those doing research or are interested in subjects relating to San Diego’s history and culture. The network will present its plans for its first task, a 120-page directory of San Diego’s historical resources, at its first meeting to be held Feb. 20 at the Museum of Man in Balboa Park. The directory will be posted online in the future. The first series of meetings will unite local scholars and citizens to talk about issues concerning San Diego and will address the level of regional knowledge possessed by San Diego residents. Speakers at the meetings will include Robert Witty, the director of the San Diego Historical Society, Bruce Linder, a naval historian and author, Mark Spalding, a UCSD professor and environmental specialist, and Richard Griswald Castillo, an SDSU professor and Mexican American history specialist. Public attendance of the meetings are welcomed, but limited. For more information, call (858) 822-3125. Chancellor Dynes Elected to the Council of the National Academy of Sciences UCSD Chancellor Robert. C. Dynes has been elected to the Council of the National Academy of Sciences. Dynes has been chosen to serve a three-year term as a councilor and is one of 12 elected councilors-at-large. Dynes has been a member of the society since 1989 in the field of Applied Physical Sciences. UCSD to Help Fund Computer Based Programs at Gompers Elementary UCSD in cooperation with California Student Opportunity and Access Program (Cal-SOAP) have created a pilot program called “”Through Windows and Lenses: Technology in Focus”” to help low-income students experience “”hands-on”” exposure to computer technology. Students from Gompers Secondary School in the San Diego Unified District will participate in the program which will link them to math and science tutors at UCSD through live video connections called “”webcams.”” The program is made possible through a $30,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications. The grant was established to assist institutions of higher education in recruiting and retaining qualified minority undergraduates in science and mathematics disciplines. ...

Thursday, Feb. 15 Theater: ‘Twelfth Night’ Sponsored by the UCSD Theatre and Dance Department, this William Shakespeare comedy depicts a world of comfortable order wrenched apart by the disease of love. Old lives are rudely discarded in favor of new fantasies as Shakespeare explores the lengths people go to in pursuit of the desires of their hearts. The play is directed by Jonathan Silverman. The performance will take place at the Mandell Weiss Theater at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and at 7 p.m. Sunday. The cost is $6 for students. For more information, call (858) 534-4574. Theater: ‘Bash’ Neil LaBute’s smash hit explores everyday evil in three short plays about a handful of seemingly normal people whose capacities for violence and hatred border on the sociopathic. In “”Medea Redux,”” a woman takes her 14 year-old boy to a motel to meet his father for the first time. In “”Iphigenia in Orem,”” a businessman lures a stranger to a motel room where he makes a gruesome confession. And in “”A Gaggle of Saints,”” a stylish couple attends a party on Manhattan, but after the soiree their evening turns violent. The performance, directed by Les Waters, will take place at the Mandell Weiss Forum Studio at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Tickets for students are $6. For more information, call (858) 534-4574. Saturday, Feb. 17 Performing Arts: ‘Pilobolus Dance Theatre’ Formed almost 30 years ago by Moses Pendleton and Jonathan Wolken, today Pilobolus Dance Theatre is a major American dance company of international stature, acclaimed for its unusual mix of physicality and invention. The performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Mandeville Center. The cost for students is $18. For more information, call (858) 534-4119. Theater: ‘The Vagina Monologues’ This Obie Award-winning play will be performed at 8:30 p.m. in the Price Center Theater. The event is sponsored by the Women’s Center. The cost is $5. For more information, call (858) 822-0074. Sunday, Feb. 18 Music: ‘Lunasa’ Young, fresh and progressive, yet steeped in the rhythms and textures of traditional Irish music, Lunasa has emerged in Ireland to take Irish music into the next century. They will perform at 7:30 p.m. in Mandeville Center. The cost for students is $10. For more information, call (858) 534-4119. Music: La Jolla Symphony The La Jolla Symphony will perform their recital entitled “”Music with Art and Love”” at 2 p.m. at the Institute of the Americas Building. The UCSD Music Department will sponsor the event which is open to the public. General and student admission is $40. For more information call (858) 822-3374. ...

In recognition of Valentine’s Day, health advocates across the United States rallied to support Condom Awareness Week. Despite the rain, Student Health Services manned an information booth on Library Walk Tuesday to support sexual health awareness. Condoms and other forms of sexual protection were handed out to students. Student Health Advocate Natalie Lamb spoke of the need for increased awareness of the dangers of unprotected sex. “”The purpose of the awareness week is not to push condoms,”” Lamb said. “”People are already using them and we want them to be aware of the different options available. There are many misconceptions that need to be understood.”” Among the misconceptions noted by the advocates were misunderstandings of the correct functions of protection. “”Many people don’t understand how to be safe,”” said Sara Working, a student health advocate and Marshall senior. “”For example, many condoms are made from lamb intestines which can be used as birth control but not for protection against sexually transmitted diseases such as the AIDS virus.”” Advocates cited other protection failures such as using two condoms, misconceiving oral sex as intrinsically safe from virus transmission and using improper lubricants, such as petroleum jelly or whipped cream, which dissolve the latex condom. Working explained some incorrect assumptions about oral sex. “”Many people think that oral sex is safe,”” Working said. “”The only requirement for the virus to exist is a warm, moist area.”” Working promoted the practice of using a dental dam, a protective latex covering for male and female genitalia, to prevent the transmission of disease during oral sex. The table also offered games and trivia intended to educate people on sexual safety. Students gathered to play “”Pin the condom on the man.”” Students found the distribution of condoms and the games either amusing or embarrassing. Health advocates aimed to erase these sentiments. Debbie Pino-Saballett, outreach coordinator for Student Health Services, spoke of the need for increased awareness without shame. “”Many people find the table offensive,”” Pino-Saballett said. “”The goal is actually to desensitize. If we do some games with condoms, maybe when they need them they won’t be so offended.”” The group also wanted to stress the week as “”Latex Awareness Week”” as opposed to “”Condom Awareness Week,”” so as not to discriminate against relations in which latex protection takes a different form. “”Latex should be used among lesbians as well,”” Pino-Saballett said. Pino-Saballett has worked in sexual education since 1988. For the past three years, she has worked at UCSD at the Student Health Center educating college and high school students. Health advocates hold on-campus information sessions by request. They also hold several assemblies at local high schools, informing high school seniors about sexually transmitted diseases. Students observing the table applauded the efforts to bring awareness of sexual issues. “”I think it’s a good idea that people need to learn about,”” said Roosevelt senior Andrew Culberson. “”College students should be confronted with these issues in a grown-up way.”” Other students spoke of the need for abstinence from sexual activity prior to marriage. Revelle senior Sandra Zipperer promoted abstinence on two grounds. “”Abstinence is not only the ultimate protection but it also allows you to save the gift of sexuality for your lifetime partner,”” Zipperer said. Working concurred with Zipperer on the superior safety of abstinence. “”Abstinence is the only 100 percent form of protection,”” Working said. Another event planned for this week is the play concerning female sexual issues, “”The Vagina Monologues.”” The Student Health Service Center has teamed up with the Women’s Center to bring “”The Vagina Monologues”” to UCSD. “”The Vagina Monologues”” are a series of interviews with women about their vaginas. Money raised by ticket sales will go to end violence against women. The event is extremely popular and is already sold out for the Feb. 17 performance. Student Health advocates stressed the existence of a variety of student resources that are available. Latex and lubricants are available all year long for students. Sexual health information sessions go on every day of the week. There is also help for diet and proper eating, including cholesterol screening and fitness awareness training. HIV tests are offered for a $10 lab fee. There is also a little-known Men’s Center to match the more popular Woman’s Center. Students are encouraged to come to Student Health with any questions concerning their personal health. ...