OcU'ixT;
Opinion
Let’s Get Serious About Safe Sex
With all of the deadly diseases
that can be contracted through un
safe sex, especially AIDS, it is dif
ficult for me to believe that many of
my fellow brothers and sisters are
playing Russian Roulette with their
lives. Taking precautions with sex
has become such a common discus
sion these days that I recently began
to wonder if people took the issue as
seriously. Everyday something is
on the radio, television or in maga
zines and newspapers about prac
ticing safe sex. Is the idea of safe
sex so commCTcialized that it has
become corny?
Pop musicians BBD tell us not
to fOTget “the J, the I, the M, the M,
the Y” and posters tell us to “Love
Carefully.” There are keychains
with condoms in them for those,
“Let’s go to the park and get busy”
lovers, and there are even condoms
that glow in the dark for those people
with fluorescent fetishes.
Apparently, there is something
for everyone...so what’s up with
not using one? Personally, I don’t
away from an AIDS-related death,
or using a condom? Sex with a
condom isn’t so bad is it?
(2)“It’s inconvenient.”
know; so, I asked a few people why
they didn’t use condoms and re
ceived the following responses:
(l)“It doesn’t feel the same.”
What do you think will feel
better, lying in the hospital, suffer
ing from pneumonia, a few weeks
How convenient is it to be in a
hospital, suffering from pneumo
nia, a few weeks away from an
AIDS-related death? Do you see a
pattern?
(3)“If I carry a condom in my
purse, I’ll look easy.”
How easy will it be in the hospi
Professor of Education Brown Known for
Academic Writings and Research
New York after receiving his doc
torate. He was amemberof theNew
York State Commission on Educa
tion and a faculty member at the
City College in New York,
For 11 years. Brown was a
member of the facultv at the State
University of New York in Buffalo.
In 1983, he was nominated for a
position at UNC which he was at
first reluctant to accept.
“I didn’t know a lot about UNC
and I’d been away 25 years before
coming back to the South,” Brown
explained. “I had no plans of return
ing to the South whwe things were
segregated when I left.
“I had to get adjusted to the
social and academic culture of
UNC.”
Brown, the university’s first
black full time professor in the
School of Education, is a noted
writer and researcher as well. His
material has been printed more than
100 times in a variety of publica
tions including books, magazines,
and academic journals.
Brown is the senior editor in a
series of books by Corwin Press,
titled On Excellence, Equity and
Diversity in Education. His con
tract requires him w authors chosen
by him to publish eight to twelve
books over the next five years.
In addition, he is the Project
Director in Education in the Insti
tute for Research in Social Science,
one of the country’s oldest insti
tutes dedicated to research.
“I am woriung on a study cur
rently that looks at minority enroll
ment at four year institutions, what
they are receiving degrees in, and
how many,” Brown said.
Brown tea:hes a graduate course
in school law, which examines the
legal aspects of education and has
several honorary positions in na
tional organizations.
from page 8
He served as the first African-
American vice president of the
American Education Research
Association, a premier research
group for educators, and presently
serves on the editorial board of the
Journal of Negro Education and the
Journal of Education in Urban
Society.
Brown also sits on the Board of
Directors for the National Organi
zation for Legal Problems in Edu
cation.
At UNC, Brown has served on a
committee to review African and
African-American studies, working
with the late Dr. Sonja Stone. He
also serves on the Black Faculty
and Staff Caucus.
A majw concern for Brown is
the low number of students entering
the teaching profession.
“I’m concerned about students.
They ought to go into fields where
there is fulfillment,” he said. “Iwas
tal, suffering from pneumonia, a
few weeks away from an AIDS-
related death? Maybe I’m being a
bit extreme or maybe all of the
above responses to my question are
well-founded; however, these mi
nor hindrances can be overcome.
Take for instance, number two
above, being inconvenienced. I
understand that your wallet is not
always around when “the time is
right.” If this is the case, then keep
a condom {or however many you
require) under you mattress or
wherever the place is you are most
likely to have sex.
My sisters, if it’s nighttime and
it’s the right time. Boys II Men are
oohing and ahhing, and the only
thing you’re missing is your man
(or whoever’s man)...and a con
dom: Just because he’s fine doesn’t
mean he’s HIV negative.
My brothers, yeah, she may have
it going on but being sh^)ed like a
hourglass doesn’t mean she’s HIV
negative either.
Many of you may now be think
ing, “O.K Ms. Thing. You think
you are all that so you must know
that a condom won’t necessarily
prevent you from getting the AIDS
virus.”
This is true. However, I don’t
know of many abstinent college
students (not saying that there are
none) and if you are going to have
sex you need to protect yourself and
the only way to do that is to use a
condom and be very selective in
choosing your sexual partners.
Remember the sixties, the sex
ual revolution and all that free love?
Well, these are the nineties and it’s
time to pay up.
Shelly Willingham
admitted to medical school, but I
liked teaching.”
“I’d like to say teachers can make
a difference that students may not
find in law or dentistry.”
Brown, who spent the 1990-
1991 school year asavisitingscholar
at the University of California, had
some advice to give students.
“Do your best, in hope that op
portunities will become available
where you can use your skills,”
Brown said. “Opportunities may not
come, but at least take advantage of
things you have control over like
study time and motivation.
“Obstacles that exist today may
not be there tomorrow. You must be
prepared.”
1992 Martin Lufher King, Jr. Celeliration
Activities and events for the universities annual ob$er>
vance of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday are now
being planned by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Planning
Committee. This committee is officially charged by
the Chancellor with the resposibility of planning these
activities. The committee invites interested individu*
als and groups who plan to sponsor similar activities
to contact the committee chair at 962-6962.
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