FORUM
New chemical a cure for Cupid^s bow?
11
By Mary Bubar
Staff Writer
We may no longer have to wonder
why fools fall in love, thanks to science.
In fact, we may be able to douse the
flames of passion before they even ignite.
This technology would make it possible
for sufferers of unrequited love to take
an antidote that will help their aching
hearts heal.
Neuroscientist Larry Young's discovery
of a chemical that enhances pair bonding
in mouse-like voles may soon
be available for human use.
Young's research, intended
to improve the social skills
of schizophrenics and the
autistic, reveals that the
hormone Oxytocin
enhances feelings of
trust and empathy.
Like Viagra for the
heart. Oxytocin sets off a
biochemical chain of events
that induces females to love
the one they're with.
More importantly. Young
admits the opposite effect can
be achieved through reverse engineer
ing. Cupid's kryptonite has the capabil
ity of preventing the foolish decisions of
misguided paramours.
If Oxytocin, also known as the hor
mone vasopressin, can put the color back respect and an occasional Merlot.
in faded marriages, just think what the If this love hormone becomes a mar-
remedy could do for toxic relationships, ketable-drug, it should be concocted to
Failed couples can break-up, take a make it compatible with alcohol,
pill and call it a day. Divorcing duos can Beer goggles integrated with the chaos
chemically dial down lingering affec- of the heart have been known to provoke
tions and faded remnants of the good impractical decisions. I can see the lob-
years long past, and get back to single- byists for the Vegas quickie wedding
dom and sanity. trade imploring their state reps to
I could have saved myself a few save their little white chapels from
J ovfinr'fir^r^
years there when I was questioning if
my marriage was salvageable. Where
was this anti-love potion when we
decided that we
trip?
extmcbon.
In all fairness, I do see some
benefit of a love potion. I think
it would be great for couples
that have stable but zipless mar
riages to take on their second*
honeymoon. A guaran
teed romantic vaca
tion after many
years of marriage,
would be a sweet
reward for a lifetime of
devotion.
But in the wrong hands,
it could be the beginnings of a
sham relationship,
were going to ride out the She may not be your honey anymore
rough patches, which in ret- after the hormone fades. And he might
rospect constituted most of the not be so mesmerizing once the chemi
cal infatuation is gone—then what do
Nasimeh Easton/Guilfordian
Don't get me wrong; I'm not bitter, you do?
just practical. Though hardly a hopeless Hopefully you haven't already uttered
romantic, I have a deep appreciation your vows, thrown the bouquet and
for organic relationships based on love, opened the gifts.
My freedom’s flag: smoking in public
By Thomas Wotherspoon
Staff Writer
When I first came to North
Carolina, a naiVe youth enam
ored of all things substance-
related, I realized that I had
entered a state in which smok
ing was almost encouraged.
With the prices of ciga
rettes ludicrously cheap and
a plethora of establishments
that allow smoking indoors.
North Carolina is a refuge for
smokers. I found myself initi
ated into a sort of "club," in
which all those who smoked
were guaranteed the sanctity
of fraternity and a light.
I know that I am not alone
in glorifying smoking, but
now those of us in "the club"
are facing the onslaught of
a public war against tobacco
smoke, where history and
economy have made smoking
a worldwide specter.
According to the N.C.
Tobacco Prevention Control
Branch, there are nearly 1.5
million smokers living in
North Carolina. That's about
one seventh of the population
of the state.
With this in mind. North
Carolina House Majority
Leader Hugh Holliman
has made it his prerogative
to install a bill prohibiting
smoking in public facilities.
Holliman, a lung cancer survi
vor, has attempted, but failed,
previously to instigate smok
ing cessation bills.
I cannot help but think of
all tlie bars, diners and pool
halls that would be affected
by this bill if it was passed.
Many of this college's haunts
allow public smoking.
Despite the looming pro
hibition of smoking in public
that has so far swept through
the Northeast, the South—and
’state.
"While I enjoy smoking in
diners I think that restaurants
aren't really smoke-friendly
places," said Shores. "Bars, on
the other hand, are a whole
different thing. I think smok
ing sections would be the best,
and most logical, compromise
in tliis situation."
Seth Cogdon, a senior
and a non-smoker, had some
enlightening thoughts on the
Despite the looming prohibition of
smoking in public that has so far swept
through the Northeast, the South-and
especially North Carolina-has avoided
giving in to the progressivism.
especially North Carolina—
has avoided giving in to the
progressivism.
The simple thought of a ban
on public smoking in North
Carolina seems hysterical. The
few people that I talked to
about the ban thought that I
was joking when I told them
about recent developments.
Robin Shores, a junior and
a smoker, was forthcom
ing about the possibility of
a smoking ban in his home
subject of the proposed ban.
"There's some bars in New
York City where they allow
people to smoke despite the
ban on public smoking," said
Cogdon, a native New Yorker.
"I've never been bothered by
smoking in diners or bars."
In the face of this trend,
1 have heard many stories
about the tragic effects of ciga
rette smoking from those who
perhaps unintentionally sup
port the ban.
Just recently when I drove
over to the CVS to buy ciga
rettes, I was told a story by
the elderly cashier; whether
it was a case of stigmatism
or friendly wisdom 1 do not
know.
His daughter had appar
ently just recently fully recov
ered from lung cancer. She
had cancerous lymph nodes
removed from her lungs and
it had taken her two years,
and an inordinate amount of
pharmaceuticals, to recover
completely.
The story is not unlike
numerous others that I have
heard over the years, but it reit
erated a thought that should
permeate every smoker's con
sciousness: disease and smok
ing go hand in hand and they
will strike intimately.
Needless to say, the situa
tion in North Carolina about a
smoking ban is a complicated,
serious matter that has at its
heart a general concern for
those who may be affected by
smoke inhalation.
This being said, I don't plan
on quitting smoking anytime
soon, and would still like to
go on enjoying the luxury of
smoking indoors. I predict
that this bill will not pass and
is not likely to meet general
approval in a state that has a
history of tobacco production
and enjoyment.
WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM _
Students should
make effort to
appreciate
Guilford's staff
On Feb. 11, the third annual staff appreciation
day, planned by Project Community, marked
one special occasion where students and fac
ulty thank staff members for their hard work.
Expressions of gratitude are the norm in a com
munal environment and the layers of Guilford's
community do this in various ways.
Money is a big one.
Despite the state minimum wage being set at
$6.55, since Jan. 1 Guilford's lowest paid regular
staff members earn $10.25. This raise includ
ed full-time and part-time positions in Public
Safety, Housekeeping, Grounds, Mailroom, and
Library employees.
Guilford chose Meriwether-Godsey last year
partly because of their commitment to paying
staff closer to a living wage: they pay hourly
wages over $11.
Even though these salaries are not anywhere
near the higher end of the living wage range
for Greensboro, where a single adult household
needs $8 an hour and an individual in a house
hold with two adults and two children needs
$26 an hour, they are undeniably an improve
ment. -
In comparison to recent years, 2000-2002,
where neither staff nor faculty received rais
es, these numbers are especially noteworthy.
However, as always in a community, there is
still work to be done. The Strategic FWt for
example, only calls for a target in the 45^ per
centile market salary for staff, while it aims for
the 50fo for faculty.
It is for these reasons that staff apprecia
tion day is necessary to show our respect for
one another. The potluck organized for this
day allowed people to talk, laugh, and eat
together. Community building such as this is
just as important as - if not more important
than- money.
The dollar fuels our school and makes our
roles as students, faculty, and staff exist, but it's
our sense of community that makes us more
than simply a collection of people in one place.
A more sustainable community will emerge
when we acknowledge that every one of us
can contribute support and care for each other.
These concepts, as shown in Boren Lounge dur
ing the potluck, are integral to this happening.
It is easy to forget that every one of us has
the capability to participate in supporting each
other on day-to-day basis.
;The editorial board of TH E GU1LFORDIAN
consists of five section editors, two photo editors,
a layout editor, an art director, a managing editor,
and the editor-in-chief.
m.
Reflecting Guilford College's core Quaker values,
the topics and content of Staff Editorials are
chosen through consensus of alt 11 editors.