LRC—open on
weekends?
Cosmotology
begins at WCC
page 7
Campus crime
on increase
page 12
Leukemia
victim shares
story page 15
THE
WCC
volume 4 no. 2
Wayne Comihuhity College, Goldsboro, NC 27533-8002
Dr. Jmts Atkins addresses the crowd while other panelists wait their turn
I to r): fleanor Lucas (hidden), Michael, and standing, Dp. Edmond Hogan.
PHOTO: TAMARA
AIDS seminar
attracts over 400
by TAMARA
DEBBIE
HAM ancd
JOHNSON
On Wednesday, January
22, 1V92, more than 400
students, faculty, and
concerned citizens were
present at an AIDS
Seminar held in Wayne
Community College's
North Campus Lecture
Hal 1 .
The program, planned
by Dr . EcJmond Hogan ,
chair of the Human
Services department,
featured 3 guest
speakers: Dr. James
Atkins, local oncolo-
gi st <specIa1 i st in
cancer); Eleanor Lucus,
whose husband died from
AIDS; and Michael, an
AIDS victim (whose
surname will not be
revealed to preserve
his pr i vacy).
According to Dr.
Atkins, Ulayne County
has 50 cases of fu1 1
b1 own AI DS.
He discussed the
ways that the human
immunodeficiency virus
<HIk^> enters the body:
by means of semen,
vagi nal fluid, and
bl ood.
Dr. Atkins also
discussed the 3 stages
the virus goes through
after the HH^ enters
the body: asymptomatic
HIV Infection,
symptomatic HI'v^
infection, and AIDS.
In the asymptomatic
stage, people do not
experience symptcxns;
the only sign of
infection may be a
positive blood test for
antibodies to the
V i rus.
Uith symptomatic HIV
people begin to show
mild symptoms like
weight loss, diarrhea,
fever, cough, and night
sweats.
Ful1 blown AIDS
victims may exhibit all
of the symptoms already
stated as we 11 as
Kaposi''s sarcoma, a
rare cancer, and
Pneumocyst i s car i n i i ,
an uncommon lung
i nfec t i on.
Dr. Atkins cited
precautions people
should take to avoid
this deadly disease;
limit number of sexual
partners, use a condom,
and do not share I'v'
needles and syringes.
Eleanor Lucas, the
second spokesperson at
the seminar and a
former WCC student,
told about the effects
upon her family and
herself when she lost
her husband to the
fatal disease.
Lucas also discussed
the love and support
that she and her family
received during the
time of her husband''s
death.
When she was first
told by her husband
that he had AIDS, she
said she and her
children took the news
very hard.
She said each family
member has to come to
terms with the illness
in his or her own way.
LucQ.s said she was
grateful for family
and friends who were
helpful and understand
ing during their time
of sickness and loss.
Mi chael, the th i rd
guest to speak at the
seminar, discussed the
circumstances surround
ing his diagnosis with
AIDS in the mid-1980s.
He became aware he
had the virus when he
volunteered to parti
cipate in a study
focusing on homosexual
males.
However, the doctor
who conducted the study
did not inform Michael
of his i11 ness
immedi ately.
Michael told the
audience that the
doctor said, “If you
ever want to know if
you have AIDS, Just let
me k n ow."
February 19,1992
The doctor later
confirmed that Michael
was indeed HIM
posi t i ve.
Michael said that he
was not total 1y
surprised to hear he
had contracted the
terminal disease.
In addi t i on, he
discussed the medical
expenses which he has
accumulated, the
support he received
from his family and
friends, and the toll
that the virus has had
on his body.
Medical expenses
play a major role in
Michael's life though
he said his insurance
has been a big help
even if the insurance
company is not covering
the full amount of
expenses.
In add i t i on, co
workers have taken up
collections for his
medical expenses.
After the speakers'
presentations, the
audience submitted
questions on note
cards.
Two of the questions
asked were, "Can you
catch AIDS through oral
sex?", and "Can you
catch AIDS from giving
blood?".
Dr. Atkins responded
that there have been
cases of the AIDS virus
being spread through
oral sex .
Dr. Atkins said,
"Catching the virus
through giving blood is
virtually impossible,
and there have been no
such cases found here
in the United States."
WCC students who
have questions about
the disease can call
the National AIDS
Hotline toll-free at
the Research Triangle
Park, 1-800-342-AIDS or
l_800-344-7432
(Spanish). The hearing
impaired should call 1-
800-243-7889.