PAGE 2 — THE DECREE — APRIL 24,1987
Opinioiis and Eilitorials
Bad alarm system
a potential danger
Although the year is prac
tically over and everyone has
grown accustomed to the fire
alarms going off twice a week
for no specific reason, it's
time to call the TV-11 Trouble
Shooter, Russ Murphy. Russ
seems to be the only one who
can save us.
For three-quarters of the
year, "they" have told us the
alarms would be working pro
perly soon, but soon never
seems to get here. Now the
alarms are a joke, the only
people who respond to the
alarms are the R.A.’s who
have to turn them off. Only
four people were outside
during our last fire drill which
occured sometime after mid
night last night. What is going
to happen if there is a real fire
some night?
It's a scaiy thought; I sup
pose 90 percent of the dorm
residents will assume it is just
another false alarm and will
bum to a crisp. But, I'm sure
the cafeteria will find a way to
serve the fried flesh for lunch
one day. Seriously though,
how can so much money be
spent on such a lemon of a
system. Who built these
things anyway, Ronco! Did
we get a free Ginsu knife or
Potato Peeler with the system?
Will someone please give
Russ a call so that soon, may
be by next year, the alarms
will work properly.
JMY
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KlENTioNiS
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Some spots ^hotter* than others for tanning
By LISA A. SHENKLE
Tanning is much more than a
tourist phenomenon — it's a
student's way of life. Whether it's
UCLA or Western Michigan, the
scent of coconut and aloe wift out of
dorm complexes and hover over open
stadiums. The student body is
obsessed by the quest for a knock
out tan!
Jason Vogel, life-long prac-
tioner of the sport of suntanning and
author of The Official Suntanner's
Bible (Acropolis Books/$6.96) lends
new insight into the world of
tanning. It's the ultimate guide for
those who bask and don't we all?
Of course tanning in and of
itself is important but where you get
your tan is critical. If it's on the
slopes in Switzerland in January it's
much more chic than at a West
Virginia state park in July.
Springbreaks and summer vacations
never had so many options, so
whether you're doing the domestic or
international scene here are just a
few of Vogel's suggestions:
Best Obvious American Beaches
(Swimsuits mandatory):
1. Hawaii—Everyone wanted to
come here after they win the lottery,
before you lie on Waikiki Beach, pay
homage at this natural temple.
2. San Diego, California — Can
there be too much of a good thing?
No way. San Diego has 70 miles of
beaches!
3. Martha's Vineyard, Mas
sachusetts — Comfortably breezy in
the summer and the scenery is
beautiful in the winter.
4. Okracoke, North Carolina —
Surf and sun of the uncrowded outer
banks and a pristine environment. If
you miss the crowd and night life,
go to nearby Nags Head or Coquina
Beach.
5. Montauk Point, New York
— This is the place to be for the
New York tanning jet set. Make sure
that your black Porsche is a
convertible.
Best Foreign Beaches
1. Riviera — Worth a visit even
if you are traveling on a Eurail pass
and have to dig deep into the bottom
of your backpack for some item of
clothing that will get you on the
grounds.
2. Cub Med — Amazing time,
no inhibitions, and not just for
doctors.
3. Tahiti — The topical island
where businessmen go after they
abscond with the company funds.
4. Eilat, Israel — Bring your
mask and snorkel. You won't have
to wear anything else.
5. los, Greece — You can live
for months on a Greek Island for the
cost of a weekend in Honolulu. And
the beaches are first rate.
6. Negril Beach, Jamaica — Da
sun be strong, da wata be warm, and
da ganja make life slow and easy.
7. Beruwela, Sri Lanka — A
major sea and sand resort with
beaches that match any in the world.
Despite the possible harmful
effects that the sun can have on us,
we persist in turning our skin into
saddle leather. For those who spend
365 days a year pursuing the rays
and for those who try to get that
quick-fix tan in a week, Vogel has
sifted through health reports, product
claims and beauty tips to uncover
both the real dangers and actual
benefits derived from the sun.
The sun as a bad guy can cause
bums, premature skin aging and
increases the chances of skin cancer.
The sun as a good guy can lower
blood pressure (important for those
calculus exams), heart rate, and
blood sugar, and most importantly,
increases sex hormones!
For those of you planning on
spending mega-hours in the sun,
here are some valuable tips to tan
by:
• If you think you're burned, try
this little test: Push the affected area
with your finger. If it creates a
white patch that quickly returns to
red when pressure is released, then
you are sunburned.
• Shade can provide a false sense
of security. Reflected light form the
ground — particularly off of sand or
snow — and more potent sunlight
can still shower you with 89 percent
of the ultraviolet rays of the direct
sun.
• When choosing a sunscreen
look for active ingredients such as
paminobenzoic acid (PAB A), benzo-
phenone, and PABA derivatives
such as isoamyl and glycerol.
• Vitamin C is important be
cause it helps prevent a blotchy tan.
foods high in vitamin C include
citrus fruits, tomatoes, cauliflower,
cabbage, cucumbers, brocoli, par
sley, papaya and strawberries.
Let's face it — with information
like this, tans don't have to be
limited to Aunt Mildred's backyard.
There are ways of gaining that four'
year paid vacation (you may already
have it and if you don't, no need to
worry, you still have time).
Students tanners realize that hot
weather and proximity to water
make a natural choice. Ray-re-
flecting ski slopes are of particular
zeal with this crowd and non
demanding academic loads can also
qualify a school for top tanning
status. Just a sampling of suggested
colleges include:
1. University of California, San
Diego: Black's Beach, a nudist's
paradise accessible to those who
brave sand cliffs, is located in the
school's backyard.
2. University of California, Los
Angeles: Not only should you look
like a movie star, but it's okay to
wear Vuamets in the lecture hall.
3. Jacksonville University,
Jacksonville, Florida: Known for
very light academic requirements.
Most exams are true-false or
multiple guess. This leaves lots of
time to roast on the beach.
4. University of Colorado,
Boulder: For a strong fascial tan, the
nearby slopes can't be beat.
5. University of Miami, Coral
Gables, Florida: the original and
official "Suntan U."
But never fear —• if you're a
graduation senior stuck at MIT or
the University of Wyoming, gradu
ation brings with it some bronze-star
occupations. Forget what your par
ents told you about being res
pectable. Being respectable never got
you a second glance at Spring Break
or your cousin's beach house, so
why should it now? Consider the life
of a golf pro — with caddy, of
course sailing instructor, raft renter,
porpoise trainer, construction
worker. Club Med hosUhostess or
anything on a cruise ship. Now,
don't you wish you'd majored in
General Studies?
OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF
NORTH CAROLINA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
Editorial Board — Wayne Martin, Barry Nethercutt, Christopher
Ostling, Tom Rivers
Illustrator — David Gilliam
Photographer — Steve Wiggins
The Decree is located in the Student Union, North Carolina
Wesleyan College, Wesleyan College Station, Rocky Mount. NC
2780L Policy is determined by the Editorial Board of The Decree.
Republication of any matter herein without the express consent of
the Editorial Board is strictly forbidden. The Decree is composed
and printed by The Spring Hope Enterprise.
C^inions published do not necessarily reflect those of North
Carolina Wesleyan College.