Editorial
Mental illness still
bears scarlet letter
Crazy, lunatic, psycho, nuts, wacko, looney. All of
these words are used to describe someone who has a mental
illness. This week was declared National Mental Illness
Awareness week by Congress, and perhaps when it’s over
fewer people will use these words to describe the more than
20 million Americans who are afflicted with a mental
disorder.
The words listed above reflect the stigma attatched to
being afflicted with a mental illness. Besides being
derogatory, they convey a sense of responsibility. The words
suggest that the afflicted people act differently on purpose:
as if they could change if they really wanted.
Words to describe people who are sick with other
disorders rightfully fail to acknowledge any responsibility
on the part of the affected person. The person is
euphemistically “under the weather." They “come down
with the mumps; and “pick up" or try to “shake” a cold.
The person is “ill" or “ailing." These words connote that
the person does not want to be sick,
lit addition when someone is sick with something other
than a mental illness, it is usually ..worded in a possessive
form to reflect that the person is separate from the disease;
for example: he has cancer, she has a cold, he has hepatitis.
When a person has a mental illness, however, the person is
often equated with the disease, as if the disease is an in
separable part of the person; for instance: she is insane; he is
mentally ill. Rarely would we hear: she is cancerous.
Also, few people have qualms about telling neighbors or
friends that a family member is sick or in the hospital. But if
a relative is affected by a mental illness, particularly if the
person is institutionalized, their condition is shrouded in
secrecy. Family members may say that the person is on vaca
tion or has moved. It is sad that it is difficult to imagine
someone simply reporting that the person has a mental il
lness and is being treated for the disorder.
Because of the distinctions between those who are af
flicted with mental illness and those afflicted with other
disorders, those with a mental illness are the subjects of
discrimination. Even a fully recovered individual or an in
dividual who can treat their illness with medication may
find that, similar to ex-convicts, they have been permanent
ly branded with a scarlet letter. They are discriminated
against on the job market; and they are discriminated against
socially.
Scientists and physicians aren’t sure what causes men
tal illness, but many believe that the condition is a physical
disfunction of the brain. Few would attribute mental illness
to a deep-rooted character flaw or personality defect.
Therefore, once it strikes, mental illness may be just as
physically oriented as any other disorder. But whether it is
entirely physical or not. a victim of a mental disorder may be
just as helpless against it as someone afflicted with another
disease. Because of this, people who have a mental illness
should be treated like anyone else who is sick.
Debbie McDaniel of the local affiliate of the National
Alliance for the Mentally 111 says that support from family
and friends is “absolutely critical.” She suggests that family
members educate themselves about the disease so that they
can know what to expect. Too often, those suffering from a
mental disorder are shunned by those close to them.
But things are changing. The AMI has 500 affiliates
throughout the country and helps and educates more than
30,000 families who are affected by mental illness. In addi
tion, in June of this year, the Supreme Court upheld a
Massachussets law that requires all state group insurance
plans to include mental health benefits.
We support efforts to educate people about mental il
Irifess, and efforts to alleviate discrimination against those
who have been afflicted with a brain disease. With these ef
forts, we hope that the stigma attatched to having a mental
illness erodes away.
Pa 0ft O
B0SE> *r
OM, NO AFTER YoU- NOplgtfF
^,hc,*>, Vow F*R$f • ' ^^ierYou.
Letters
"7
No justification
Apologists for Israel are really '
having to strain their brains to
justify the Tunisian bombing
Israeli Defense Forces killed .t>0’
people the Palestine Libera
tion Organization headquarters,
in response to a gangland style
execution of three Israeli
citizens. Unless one believes
that Jews are 20 times more
valuable than Arabs, one can
hardly call what happened just
retribution.
Israel justifies this new horror
by referring to the PLO as a ter
rorist organization. Ironically,
the PLO was indirectly involved
through the Jordanians in
negotiations over the West Bank
issue. A successful resolution of
the West Bank issue would do
more to reduce support for
violent attacks against Israel
than all the IDF military
assaults on Palestinian camps
put together in the last 20 years.
It appears that Israel prefers
state-supported terrorism over
negotiations. One can now ask
the question as to whether Israel
has any interest in settling
disputes in ways other than
violence or intimidation. The
bombing of Tunis really makes
this an open question.
Andrew Beckwith
Graduate student. Physics
Animal torture
Remember how you had to
write those, "what I did last
. summer papers?!*. I; washed
; windows for the U of O.
. .One of the. buildings was in
the Science Complex In order,
■to fVrid oul which moms had'
outside, windows; we had to.
open the doors of each room to
' check.' . . ■
There was one that we knew
had no outside, window. Its
edges were covered with black
"plastic tarp so that no light
could enter From within came
a clicking, rhythmic whir No
other sound could bo heard. »
If was the room they used for
their cat-eye torture. I thought
about the animals inside and
bad to leave the area. Another
time, upon opening a door. We
were greeted by the pleas of at
least 30 cats, Them wore several
to a cage, and one could see in
their eyes, a plea to be freed
One small kitten had an eye
sewn shut. I said, "hi." and left
wishing I didn’t need the job. In
another room. I washed blood
from a window. I doubt it was
human blood.
I know that these people are
not "animal people." but I
would like to ask them the ques
tion, "Do we re idly need your
clicking eye machine?"
I know l will never forget its
sound, and 1 am sure the cats
won’t either. Students should
go check it out for themselves.
Dan Suire
Senior, Gerontology
Verification
Asa concerned student. I feel
that the current drop/add
.dead) lilies need t o be
reevaluated. Iri looking at tin*
fall t lass schedule. . | noticed
that, the last day ip drop a class
without receiving a "W" on
one's transcript is Oct. it.
I can live with this new
deadline, hut what doesn't
make sense to me is the purpose
of a registration verification. If
no one can drop a class without
receiving a "\V” after Oct. 11
then what is the purpose of
registration verification?
For instance, if someone has
unknowingly registered for the
wrong class at registration then
they are screwed. They have ;t
grim options: receive a ”W,"
not worry about it and receive
an “F," or face the glorious red
tape of academic petitions, and
try to drop it without receiving
a "W."
It seems to me that the whole
purpose for registration
verification «s to la* able to dou
ble check that you're registered
for the classes you thought you
wore and if not. to correct the
situation. Now, these correc
tions become a hassle, and
registration verification is
useless.
It would be nice if students
could be sure of the classes they
are registered for before it is too
late to change their schedule
without a smudge on their
transcript.
Doug Kamsthel
Kugene
Oregon Daily
Emerald
The Oregon Dally Emerald is published Monday
through Friday except during exam week and vacations
by the Oregon Dally Emerald Publishing Co, at the
University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, 97403
The Emerald operates Independently of the University
with offices on the third floor of the Erb Memorial Union
and is a member of the Associated Press
The Emerald Is private property The unlawful removal
or use of papers is prosecutable by law
General Staff
Advertising Director Susan Thelen
Advertising Sales David Wood - Sales Manager, Michael
Gray. Robin Joannldes, Carlos Lamadrld, Marcia Leonard.
Julie Lewis. Brett Plckman, Laura Willoughby
Production Vince Adams, Kelly Alexandre, Shu Shlng
Chen, Judy Dierlnger, Storml Dykes, Manuel Flores, Steve
Gibbons, Jim Marks, Poss Martin, Mary May. Kara Oberst.
Charla Parker, Ken Parrott, Jennifer Peterson, Geoff Rain
ville, Michele Ross, Alyson Simmons, Peg Solonika
Gregory Tipps, Colleen Tremaine, Mary VanCura, Steven
Wall
Russell Steele
Vince Adams
Jean Ownbey
Classified Adverth
Assistant to the Pi
lislng
Publisher
Editor
Managing Editor
New* Editor
Editorial Page Editor
Editorial Page Assistant
Sports Editor
Photo Editor
Graphics Editor
Friday Edition Editor
Sidelines Editor
Night Editor
Julie Shippen
Diana Elliott
Jolayne Hoot/
Michelle Bronce
Matthew Dodson
Robert Collias
Karen Stallwood
Ross Martin
Shelia Landry
Allan L«o
Julie Shippen
Associate Editors
Higher Education
Community
General Assignment
Administration
Student Government
Student Activities
Gary Jimenoit
Scott McFotrldge
Linda Hahn
Kirsten Bolin
Mary Ltchtenwalner
Julie Freeman
Reporters Sean Axmaker, Frale do Gu/man, Kim Kaady.
Lisa Loving, Robert Massey. Barbara Shaw, Elaine Toh
Photographers Shu Shing Chon, Steve Gibbons. Rob
Hare. Jim Marks. Ross Martin, Steven Wall
News and Editorial 688-5511
Display Advertising and Business 688-3712
Classilled Advertising 886 4343
Production 686-4381
Circulation 686 5811
U_1_ n 1UHri