S A Students Study AIDS In Florida
Todd Tyner, Dale Riddell, Stephanie Riggs, Alex Debnum,
and friends
Stephanie Riggs
Special to the Lance
Seven students, along with Dr.
W.D. white, met in Sarasota,
Florida for three weeks of inten
sive winter term study. The
course entitled "AIDS in the
mind of America" involved
reading material that dealt with
prejudices society holds toward
those people vwth AIDS.
Students also spoke with the
coordinator of Sarasota AIDS
Support, Buzz Larson, who said,
"Although I have AIDS, I don't
feel like a victim." Buzz said he
feels that AIDS is as much a
psychological disease as a
physical one. He was diagnosed
as testing positive to the HIV
antibodies test nearly seven years
ago. Buzz is healthy and has
only been in the hospital once.
When he feels down, he removes
the stress in his life.
Students also engaged in
critically reading James F.
Childress' book entitled Priorities
in Biomedical Ethics. This book
covers moral and ethical issues
such as doctor/patient relation
ships, to live or let die, human
subjects in research, and other
sei\sitive issues.
Joining the St. Andrews
students in the class were two
University of South Florida
students, Eric Schickler and Tracy
Lutz. Eric is a jui\ior from Massa
chusetts majoring in politics, and
Tracy is a junior from Florida
majoring in psychology.
TTieSt. Andrews students
stayed in a hotel purchased by
New College, a branch of U.S.F.
After class was dismissed at
noon, students headed out into
the sun. It was just a short drive
to Siesta Beach, on Siesta Key,
located on the gulf of Mexico.
Students also visited the Ringling
Museum, affiliated with Ringling
Brothers Circus. Busch Gardens,
in nearby Tampa, was a fun-filled
day of roller coaster riding and
animal watching.
Senior Richard Sneed thought
that the best part of the trip was
talikng with someone who had
been diagnosed with AIDS.
"Learning about how they react
and feel makes the disease itself
more real. Buzz lost count of all
the friends who died of the
disease, and 1 didn't know any
one. Now I do." Sneed stated
that knowing more about a gay
lifestyle makes one less afraid.
He also stated that he loved the
beaches, and the excape they
provided from the serious topic.
Senior Todd Tyner expressed
his feelings by saying. "As far as
what I learned, the most was how
important the topic was. The
issues we discussed and discov
ered are universal, and work
into other social problems. AIDS
shows us a great deal about
social morality. 1 also got to
know my peers under closer
circumstances. The four weeks
was a great time. Plus, l>eing so
close to Tampa enabled me to
tour the Salvador Dali Art
Gallery just three days before
they announced his death."
When asked to comment on the
trip. Dr. White said, "It's remark
able how much students learn if
they are in a comfortable and
interesting setting. Students
teach and learn from each other if
they are living in a stimulating
enviroi\ment and engaged in
creative relationships with each
other. The students felt that win
ter term in Florida was a sonder-
ful break away from the consis
tency of the campus. Dr. White
said that it is likely that he will
take another group of students
there in the future.
Herbert Presents Paper
Nancy Often
Staff Writer
Brian Herbert, Vice-President of
Tri-Beta, presented a paper on
Thermogenesis to the Association
of Southeastern Biologists in
Charlotte, on April 6. The paper
was the result of many months of
research completed by the Tau
Rho Chapter of Tri-Beta.
The paper, entitled "Energetics:
A Preliminary Study on the Total
Energy Dissipation for Thermo
genetics in Warm Acclimated
Wister Rats," characterized the
components of the total amount
of energy that is required to
maintain normal functioning in
Wister rats. "It was a prelimi
nary study of thermogenesis (the
production of body heat) as a
function of fat metabolism. No
one has characterized the energy
produced by shivering," ex
plained Herbert. "Further down
the line, we should be abk to
come to grips with what is going
on in thermogenesis."
Tri-Beta President Warren
Williams said, "The project was
an extreme success. We were
pleased with the results because
it exceeded all of our expecta
tions." Herbert added, "We got
to present our findings to a
diverse audience who knew what
we were talking about."
Williams commented that if
research continues on this
project, it will have the potential
of being published in journals.
The purpose of Tri-Beta is to
encourage undergraduate re
search. Most of the Tri-Beta
members played some role in this
research project, while the
professors acted as consultants
and advisors. "All of this could
not have been done without the
help of Tri-Beta members," said
Herbert.
Brian Herbert