The News Argus, November 2002
Sickle cell
has strong
impact
on blacks
By Tanisha Blakeney
ARGUS REPORTER
Scientists have shown
that African-Americans
are more susceptible to
having a heredity disor
der known as sickle cell
anemia.
Sickle cell occurs when
a person gets a defective
gene for hemoglobin from
both parents, according to
Center for Disease
Control. One in 500 births
to African-American par
ents result in sickle cell
disease, and one in 12
African-Americans carry
the sickle cell trait, which
is about 2 million people.
According to the March
of Dimes, "Most parents
who are certain that they
both carry the gene usual
ly have a blood test per
formed of the newborns."
When this occurs, parents
are notified ahead of time,
which means that the dis
ease can immediately start
to be treated. If both par
ents have the gene for
Sickle cell, there is about
"a 25 percent chance of
the newborn to be diag
nosed with it."
Sickle cell anemia also
has major dangers and
complications. If children
have the disease, they
become more versatile to
many different kinds of
infections.
STUDENT
Fiesta
for the
Senses
Alesha
Lackey
immerses
herself in
Mexican
culture for
semester
abroad
i I
» .. f
Photo coutesy of Alesha Lackey
WSSU student Alesha Lackey stands in front of the Temple of the Sun (above) in
the ancient city of Teotihucanand. Below, ‘Bienvenidos’ welcomes visitors to the
city.
By Anthony Nelson
ARGUS REPORTER
The other day, Alesha Lackey
ate elote, which is corn on
the cob with mayonnaise
and cheese. The next day she had
Cocoa Krispies, Oreo's, Cornflakes
and Lucky Charms - all in the
same bowl!
The meals prepared for Lackey,
a senior mass communications
major and Spanish minor, are far
beyond traditional. In fact, the
food is one aspect of her cultural
experience that has required some
getting use to.
Lackey is spending the first
semester in Queretaro, Mexico as
part of the International Program
offered at Winston-Salem State
University. She's learning the
Spanish language while experienc
ing Mexican culture. At the com
pletion of this semester. Lackey
will receive 15 credit hours at
WSSU which will be transferred
from El Instituto Tecnologico de
Estudios Superiores de Monterret
Campus Oueretaro in Mexico.
Lackey is living with a family
that is accustomed to hosting
exchange students, women in par
ticular.
The family includes five
people; Eduardo
(father),
Nerea (moth
er),
Kendrick,
Karl and
Ulrich (their
sons). The
father speaks
English,
German and French in addition to
Spanish. The three sons know how
to speak English, but other than
saying "bye," they rarely do.
"Nerea likes doing mother-
daughter stuff, but she speaks
See MEXICO, Page 6
WSSU sophomore competes in county pageant
By Anthony Nelson
ARGUS REPORTER
Denise Fountain, a
sophomore from
Fayetteville, last month
competed in the Miss
Forsyth County Pageant
held at the Arts Council
Theatre on Oct. 26.
Fountain, who is major
ing in molecular biology.
was one of two African-
Americans in the pageant.
Contestants ranged from
ages 18-24 and competed
for a chance to become
Miss North Carolina and
then Miss USA.
The winner. Heather
Hamby, received a $2,000
scholarship, a $1,000
wardrobe allowance and
the crown.
Fountain, who plans to
further her education at
Wake Forest University to
become an anesthesiolo
gist, said she was excited
about being in the
pageant. She has been
involved with pageants
since she was 14.
"1 enjoy them because
they are about more than
beauty. They test your
poise, help you learn
more about yourself, and
teach you to respect your
self," said Fountain.
Contestants competed in
the categories of lifestyle
See PAGEANT,
Page 6
Photo courtesy of Media Relations
Denise Fountain