The North Texas Daily (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 76, No. 102, Ed. 1 Wednesday, April 20, 1994 Page: 2 of 10
ten pages : ill. ; page 23 x 15 in. Scanned from physical pages.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
The North Texas Daily
Wednesday, April 20, 1994
Page 2
Commentary
Editorials
Smoke screen
Tobacco companies hide truth
09
(•)
Y
0.
addictive.
(((
D
O
Student sheds light on mental illness
because doctors understand depression may occur as a result, drug." I do not have a "different.
before. However, the brain is the ily, tends to have too low of the
Fair's success proves its worth
Letter to the Editor
The North Texas Daily
All-American 83 times
National Pacemaker 6 times
V
)
w
9
Guest
Column
ease 1
more
Editor's Note: The
following guest col-
umn was submitted
by an NT student,
who wished to re-
main anonymous.
I am one of the
millions of name-
Denton and NT police helped ensure an orderly crowd. Police
reported 16 arrests as of 11:30 p.m. Saturday, but no major
disturbances were reported. Fairgoers should be proud that they
helped the Delta Lodge improve the image of the fair and keep the
event safe and fun for all who attended.
The estimated crowd of 8,000 people was the largest ever in the
fair's 15-year history. Although the line at the entrance had at
times a 20-minute wait, it was worth it.
People danced in the streets, listened to the 22 bands and
patronized Fry Street businesses. All of the people connected
with the fair benefitted from the disturbance-free event.
The Delta Lodge will donate all of the money collected from
booth rentals and a percentage of the money collected at the door
to Denton charities. The best aspect of the fair is that everyone had
a good time and the money raised will help some people in need.
The Daily hopes the Denton City Council allows the Delta
Lodge to hold future fairs on Fry Street. The success this year
proves that the Delta Lodge and fairgoers really want the fair to
remain on Fry Street.
Thursday the chief executives of America's top seven tobacco
companies sat in front of the House Subcommittee on Health and
the Environment and said they do not believe nicotine dr ciga-
rettes are addictive.
Then they admitted they would not want their children to
smoke.
Something is wrong here. Executives do not want their chil-
dren to do something that would help support their business. The
only reason they would not want their children to smoke is
because they know they are lying. Nicotine and cigarettes are
Regional Pacemaker 3 times
The North Texas Daily is published Tuesday through Friday
during the spring semester. The Daily, a non-profit newspa-
per, provides information, commentary and entertainment
for the NT community. It serves as a laboratory experience
for reporting, editing, advertising and photography students
in the journalism department. Daily reporters receive grades
according to the quality of work performed for The Daily.
Comments about advertising should be directed to the adver-
tising manager at 565-2851, and questions about news or
commentary should be directed to the editor at 565-2353, or
write to NT Box 5278, Denton, TX 76203.
about...mental illness. Instead of ous nerve endings, is a chemical jected the suggestion of Prozac for human nature.
more outgoing" personality be-
cause of this drug, as some claim
Almost any smoker will tell you it is almost impossible for
them to quit. Those who have quit will tell you how difficult it was
to give up the cravings and go through the withdrawal symp-
toms. I
If nicotine is not addictive, and they can take the nicotine out,
why don't the tobacco companies simply remove it from the
cigarettes? They cannot. Because if they did, the companies
would lose smokers and therefore lose profits and possibly go out
of business.
Recently the tobacco companies have come under fire for
allegedly controlling the amount of nicotine in the cigarettes to
keep customers addicted. The companies say they only use
different blends to make the cigarettes taste better. But, this
altering does control the amount of nicotine customers consume.
Company executives also blocked the results from a study by
a Philip Morris researcher on addiction from publication. If the
executives honestly believe nicotine does not cause addiction,
then what do the companies have to lose by letting this research
be released?
The Food and Drug Administration has the authority to regu-
late cigarettes as drugs if it can be shown that they are addictive.
It is time for these regulations to be placed. With effective regu-
lations many of the problems cigarettes cause may be solved.
The dangers of cigarettes outweigh the pleasure they offer a
few people. People need to be protected from themselves. They
need restrictions or otherwise they will continue to harm them-
selves.
Good times
inheriting a disease that is socially called serotonin. Serotonin keeps five more weeks because of the
acceptable, which is what "normal" the nerve endings moist, which negative press. Instead, I tried an-
people do, my family's genes pass enables impulses to be transmitted other type of anti-depressant drug,
on mental illness. Medical research smoothly and consistently. In clini- which caused side effects that were
has been able to increase life ex- cal depression, there is an inad- worse than the depression.
pectancy for people with heart dis- equate amount of this chemical and I do not see Prozac as a "wonder
This drug may very well be pre- changed: My sister was hospital- sants. Simply put, Prozac works by helps those of us who do. The nega-
scribed to people who do not need ized for trying to commit suicide; a preventing the serotonin in the tivity the media have been display-
it—but it must be kept in perspec- cousin suffered three mental break- brain's nerve endings from drying ing toward this drug may actually
tive that there are many people out downs within five years; another up. deter those people with depres-
The Fry Street Fair returned home to Fry Street Saturday for the there who are actually being helped cousin was diagnosed with severe I struggled with depression for sion from seeking the help that is
first time since 1989. The fair's return home generated excitement by it. clinical depression. Then, an <
and anticipation among Fry Street business owners and students.
Delta Lodge members who organized the fair promised a safe and
clean event. They delivered on their promise.
The Delta Lodge should be commended for a well organized
and safe event. After five years away from home, the fair's return
was a welcome one. The fair just doesn't seem the same away
from Fry Street.
by it. clinical depression. Then, an aunt 10 years before I saw a counselor. I available.
People are never asked to admit remembered,a second cousin who feltlike a weak, useless person who Not everyone can or will want
that heart disease or cancer runs in committed suicide in the early'70s. could not handle life, even though to understand mental illness. If
less people who take Prozac. I am most complicated organ of the normal amount of serotonin and are its effects. I am the person I was
notproudofthis,noramlashamed. body. We know very little about it. therefore, problems within the lOyearsago — Ihavemy self back
It is just a fact of life. However, in many ways, my family was brain result —just like some fami- and feel in control of my life. Only
lately the media has had more than typical—there were a lot of us, and lies' blood tends to run too quickly my closest friends and family know
their share of fun by categorizing we all loved one another. We all through their arteries and heart about my illness — they are the
Prozac as being the "feel good" grew up to marry and have chil- disease results. ones who can clearly see the differ-
drug of the decade. It has been the dren and to nurture them as well as ence. I only know I feel happy again,
butt of jokes of everyone from we were nurtured. We had family Prozac is the first anti-depres- I enjoy life, and the people I love
David Letterman to the penguin in reunions where we reminisced sant drug that goes directly to the again.
the comic strip, "Outland." The NT about our childhoods and enjoyed synapses of the brain. There are no It is possible this drug is being
Daily also printed an article that each other's company. side effects from this drug as there overprescribed to those who don't
insinuated its misuse. Within a period of 12 years, it all tends to be with other anti-depres- need it. But, at the same time, it
You put THE nomine (N
You WE THE NICOTINE our
You MAkE TEM CRAVE x C(GREPE
AND IT SHAKES 'EM ALL Agouti I
Kinesiology chairman defends curriculum
I have read with interest the re- PHED1000 students will also com- is simply not the case. Recent re- and types of physical activity that
cent series conducted by The NT plete three laboratory sessions each search conducted by the National are suggested to have a health ben-
Daily regarding the university core week. The laboratory sessions are Association for Sport & Physical efit.
requirements in the College of Arts similar in nature to laboratory ses- Education on more than 643 insti- These guidelines suggest that
and Sciences. The issue of univer- sions assigned through other pro- tutions nationwide indicates that individuals need to be physically
sity core requirements is one that grams on campus (e.g., biology, "physical education is a require- active nearly every day. One of the
has been debated throughout uni- physics, etc.). Thatis, reduced credit ment for graduation for all stu- importantobjectivesinphysicalac-
versity communities for years and hours are earned from laboratory dents in two-thirds of the four-year tivity courses and the Wellness
will continue for years. However, a sessions when compared to hours institutions in the United States." Skills orientation is to develop
fair amount of misinformation has spent in lectures. - The "Physical burden" edito- lifestyle behaviors that are con-
been presented and I believe that As suggested by Dr. Nora Bell, rial suggests a "self-paced format ducted throughout adulthood.
enough is enough. the rationale behind the require- to make them (physical education Based on the above comments,
The series might, I believe, cause ment of such courses is because of courses) more convenient." A small it appears that curriculum com-
students to make decisions on in- the national focus on preventive amount of research by The Daily mittees are taking "note of student
accurate information. The "Physi- health and the ever-growing would have resulted in learning concerns and needs when review-
cal burden" editorial on April 6, epidemiologic evidence of the re- that the department of kinesiol- ing the core," though The Daily
cannot go unaddressed. My corn- lationship between physical inac- ogy, health promotion and recre- suggests otherwise. Your editorial
ments deal directly with the poten- tivity, lifestyle and a wide variety ation is currently developing a com- suggests that physical education
tial misinformation generated by of debilitating diseases (e.g., car- puterized delivery mechanism for courses are "too lengthy and in-
The Daily regarding NT's core diovascular disease, hypertension, PHED 1000. volved." Learning and improve-
physical activity requirements. Sev- stroke, diabetes, obesity, etc.). Once completed, students will ment, whether in an academic class
eral pieces of misinformation have -Some of the reports on physical be able to individually complete or physical activity environment,
been published by The Daily. The education/activity requirements lecture sessions through an inter- takes time and commitment,
following are the facts. throughout Texas are inaccurate, active computerized system that Lastly, all of the comments by
- The current NT University For example, The NT Daily re- will eventually be available The NT Daily about the current
Course Requirement is four semes- ported on April 5 that the Univer- through the general access labs on and/or future physical education
ter hours of physical education ac- sity of Houston has no physical campus. Students will still be re- requirements were made without
tivity courses. education requirement. This is in- quired to attend three laboratory any input from my office nor from
- Once the new core curriculum accurate. The University of Hous- sessions per week in addition to anyone in the kinesiology, health
is instituted (fall 1994), physical ton undergraduate students are the completing the computerized promotion and recreation depart-
education activity courses will not required to complete two semester version of the lecture. ment. It would be in The Daily's
be required of students entering hours of physical education, from - The "Physical burden" edito- and student's best interests if origi-
under the new catalog. Rather, stu- which they may choose a course rial said that "while physical edu- nal sources were contacted before
dents will be required to complete similar in nature to N's PHED 1000. cation is necessary and important, dissemination information to the
two semester hours of Wellness This requirement has been in effect it does not require the amount of university community.
Skills. This requirement can be met for more than 20 years. time students are forced to spend
through PHED 1000 (Scientific The NT Daily suggests that on it." The American College of James R. Morrow Jr.
Principles and Practices of Health- physical education/activity re- Sports Medicine and The Centers Chairman of the kinesiology,
Related Fitness.) quirements are not common for Disease Control published new health promotion, and recreation
In addition to weekly lectures, throughout the United States. This guidelines July 1993 for the amount department
SUBSCRIPTION RATE - $20 annually or $10 per long
semester and $5 per summer session.
their family. After all, they have no My family had to take a hard look I had read that medical research you're one of the lucky ones, you
control over their ancestors' genes at themselves and realize that there indicated a possible heredity fac- will never have to face it. But don't
or the diseases they may get — was something wrong, something tor. I was also coping with the life- unfairly criticize the first drug on
that's in the hands of God, right? that was out of our control, "a medi- threatening illness of my child the market that enables those of us
My family has no history of early cal problem." though, which compounded the afflicted, a change for a normal,
heart disease or cancer, stroke or Between the synapses of the depression. happy life. Human nature tends to
Alzheimers. We have a tendency brain, the neurological area where Six months into counseling, poke fun at things which cannot be
for the disease no one can talk impulses transmit through the vari- Prozac was recommended. I re- understood — try to rise above
about that organ than ever My otherwise normal, healthy fam-
3/2
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
The North Texas Daily (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 76, No. 102, Ed. 1 Wednesday, April 20, 1994, newspaper, April 20, 1994; Denton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1410459/m1/2/: accessed July 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.