February 1,1995
6
Campus Extras
Anorexia Nervosa; Taking control
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contributed by Sarah White
It is Sunday and Ashley is at home
surroimded by a large portion of her
family who are telling old stories, and
catching up on the family. She is enjoy
ing good company until she notices
everyone is staring at her.
“What is wrong with them? Haven’t
they ever seen a skiimy person before?
Who cares if my arms look like tooth
picks?” said Ashley.
Everyone stares at Ashley’s plate as
she creatively moves her mashed pota
toes from the left to the right, never
putting any in her mouth.
“Don’t they know I am starving and
want to eat,” said Ashley.
Like Ashley, many American
women are suffering from Anorexia
Nervosa. According to the American
Pwrhiatric Association one out of ev
ery 100 women are anorexic.
The anorexic tries to solve all her
problems and anxieties by manipulat
ing her body size through self-starva
tion, said Steven Levenkron, a New
York psychotherapist.
“They enjoy the sensation of hun
ger. It offers assurance that they are
not gaining weight,” said Levenkron.
Stelka, a 17-year-old patient of
Levenkron said, “When I was able to
lose weight and keepit off, I finally felt
like I was in charge of my life.”
Patti, a 19-year-old patient claims.
“Whenever I don’t eat—when I’m fi
nally able to stand it, and I don’t give in
to the hunger—I believe that if I can do
this, I can do anything.”
The onset of anorexia nervosa usu
ally occurs between the ages of 14 and
18. The women are usually attractive
and come from middle class families.
They have distorted body images.
Sometimes it is caused by a parent who
is obsessed with weight, and some
times it is caused by a number of child
hood experiences.
Even when they are imderweight,
they have an intense fear of becoming
fat, said Ann Waldon, Chapel Hill so
cial worker.
“The disease is often associated wtih
stresses of puberty and sexuality,’’said
Dr. D. Heining-Boynton, associate pro
fessor of psychology, at MEredith Col
lege.
Victims of anorexia have obsessive
compulsive bahavior. They are perfec
tionists, have low self-esteem, have an
over emphasis on exercise, and are
driven, claims Heining-Boynton.
“I watch students in the cafeteria.
Most get a bowl of sugar cereal for
breakfast, and walk out with three
slices of bread for lunch. This is an
unhealthy diet,” said Heining-Boynton.
The difficult part of diagnosing the
eating disorder is recongnizing when
someone is dieting on a regular basis
and when someone is starving them
selves. This is a very thin line claims
Levenkron.
So, how can you tell if someone is
anorexic?
The difference between a dieter
and an anorexic is the way they act.
The anorexic has a glazed look, as if
they are “not there,” said Maureen
Wilson, a social worker at Cary Coun
seling.
Anorexics withdrawal firom oth
ers around them. 'They behave differ
ently than their friends and loved
ones. For example, they have a diffi
cult time showing emotions of excite
ment and happiness, said Wilson.
“My daughter was anorexic, ” said
Wilson. “I remember we used to go
out to eat, and she would never eat
what she ordered. If she ordered a
salad, she would take all the cheese,
dressing, and croutons off. Dieters do
not do this.”
'The students of Meredith are ex
cited about the new year and the new
athletic facility. While traveling
aroimd campus, you can see for your
self how many women are getting
into shape. But keep a look out for the
signs of this eating disorder. Watch
your roommate and suite mates. We
want everyone to have a happy and
healthy new year!
Meredith makes a difference in Tanzania
by Clarky Lucas
Meredith College lent a helping
hand to those in need through Project
Tanzania by sending medical supplies
to the impoverished area of Africa this
year.
A sealand container holding 18
mechanical hospital beds, 18 night
stands, 18 bed tables and a sterilzer
from Meredith was sent this past fall
semester.
Before housing students in Carroll
residence hall, the entire building was
an infirmary. The second" floor was
much like a hospital ward. When it
was renovated to become a residence
hall for students, the furnishings were
put into storage.
Clark Suttle of Facilities Service and
Jessica Owens of Housekeeping came
up with the idea of sending the sup
plies to WRAL Channel 5 News Station
in June 1993. The station had been
coordixuting a relief effort to Tanzania
since 19^ when there was a great
famine in Ethiopia.
The supplies are stored in a ware
house owned by WRAL located near a
transmission tower.
Projert Tanzania began whenarep-
resentative from WRAL contacted the
Catholic Relief Services who related
information about an area in east Af
rica that need supplies. The station
wanted to tell the story of this region
through the eyes of North Carolina,
said Waltie Resulula, WRAL associate.
People working in medical, agri
cultural and educational fields were
asked to volunteer to go over to Tan
zania, so they could tell the residents
of North Carolina about what life was
like for the average firmer, children
in school and medical facilities. WRAL
chose three of the volunteers to go
with Resulula and a photographer to
Tanzania. They took school supplies
and seeds on their trip along with
other supplies.
Project Tanzania has continued
with financial support through schol
arships to help students finish high
school, a reforestation program to
help build up the vegetation and sell
ing artwork from the citizens of Tan
zania and sending the money back to
the people.
Culture
Calendar
February
compiled by Clarky Lucas
• An Intimate Evening with A1
Franken who plays Stuart Smalley
on Saturday Night Live will take
place at NCSU Center Stage. The
program begins at 8p.m. on Wed.,
Feb.l. General Admission costs
$15 and students will be admitted
for $7.50. Call 515-1100.
• The 12th annual North Carolina
Jazz Festival will showcase Jazz
great Eddie Henderson, trumpet,
and the Duke Jazz Ensemble
Saturday Feb. 4 at 8 p.m. at
Baldwin Auditorium on the East
Campus of Duke University.
Tickets are $10 for the public and
$7 for students. Call Page Box
Office for more information at 644-
4444.
• Bob & Mike’s Valentine Hook-
Up Party begins at 6 p.m. on
Sunday Feb. 12 at Cafe Giorgios.
Admission is $5.
• Raleigh Little Theatre will
feature The Foreigner by Larry
Shue on Feb. 3-19. The perfor
mance demonstrates what can
happen when a group of devious
characters must deal with a
stranger who (they think) knows
no English.Tickets range from $10-
$17. The Raleigh Little Theater’s
Main Stage is located on 301
Pogue Street Call 821-3111.
• The North Carolina Symphony
will present “Music form the
Movies” pops concert on Fri &
Sat, Feb. 3 & 4. The performance
at Memorial Auditorium begins at
8 p.m. Tickets cost $18-$28. Call
831-6060 for information.
• The Visit wll be presented in
Chapel Hill at the Paul Green
Theater by Playmakers Repertory
Company. It is a tragicomedy by
Friedrich Durrenmatt The play
will run Feb. 1-26.