Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1977-1989 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1988)
AIDS Clackamas Community College AIDS policy drafted by Heleen Veens tra Staff Writer The Clackamas Community College AIDS policy draft is now completed and approved by President’s Council. The policy now will go into the package for the Board members, so they will have the chance to look at it befor the next Board meeting. The policy was “developed to provide proper protection for college students/staff and to assure sensitive response to the needs of any individual with AIDS (Acquired Immune Defi ciency Syndrom), ARC (AIDS Related Complex), and HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infections.” The policy was written by Debbie Baker, student activities director, and Rusty Painter, personnel director, and review ed by the alcohol and drug com mittee before it went to Presi dent’s Council. The policy is consistent with all current medical evidence, and with the handicap discrimination laws. When there are. changes in the medical and legal information, the policy will be updated. Each situation of one Of the three above men tioned infections will be handl ed on ah individual basis. • The policy draft consists, of. six^ements which, are: 1. All staff and students ■ shaiLbe allowed to participate in eluding classes, programs\ ac- vitjeg, and employment conSis- tent with established College policies. 2. The confidentiality con cerning employees and students is protected from public disclosure. Self-disclosure is voluntary and should not result in harassment. 3. The College will not re quire employees, applicants or students to be tested for the AIDS virus; Testing can only be done with voluntary informed consent. 4. Coverage under benefit packages for college employees will be consistent with bargain ing agreements. 5. Any employee who refuses to work with' another employee or a student who has or is suspected of having AIDS or a related condition will be provided with educational in formation in an attempt to allay those fears. If the employee still refuses do work the employee may be subject to other disciplinary action up to and in cluding dismissal. 6. The College recognizes the importance of information and education relating to AIDS for students arid employees. As such, an education program will be implemented. The education should emphasize information about the AIDS virus and how it is and is not spread; policy guidelines and employee/stu- dent rights and responsibilities.; resources for. information and assistance. .NOTE'. This draft has been accepted by President’s Coun cil, but it hasn’t-been approved by the Board of Education yet.. Is there a cure for AIDS? There is presently no cure for AIDS. Medicines such as AZT have prolonged the lives of some people with AIDS. There is hope that additional treatments will be found. There is also no vaccine to prevent uninfected people from getting the infection. Researchers believe it may take years for an effective, safe vaccine to be found. The most effective way to prevent AIDS is avoiding exposure to the virus, which you can control by your own behavior. The difference between giving and receiving blood 1. Giving blood. You are not now, nor have you ever been in danger of getting AIDS from giving-, blood at a blood bank. The needles that are used for blood dona tions are brand-new; Once they are used, they are destroyed. There is no way you can come into contact with the AIDS virus by donating blood. everyone’s at risk by Stephani L. Veff Opinion/Copy'Editor AIDS (Acquired Immuno deficiency Syndrome) seems to be on everyone’s mind in recent years and it is impor tant to realize exactly what are the risks and what ways there are to protect yourself from contracting the fatal disease. The most common myth is that only gay people are at risk, this is a very dangerous mistake because people may not be pro tecting themselves when they should be. The two groups of people at the highest risk today are gay/bisexual men and drug users who share needles. But this means that sexual contact by a “straight” person with either of these- two., groups of people puts him/her at risk even if he/she does not realize that the person with whom he/she is having sex .belongs in one of these groups. 2. Receiving blood. The risk of getting AIDS from a blood transfusion has been greatly reduced. In the interest of making the blood supply as safe-as possible, donors are screened for risk, factors and donated blood is tested for the AIDS antibody Call your local blood bank if you have questions. Three ways to protect yourself from AIDS are abstinence, monogamy and use ofa _______ i during sex. Which of the following can give you AIDS? □ a. sex with more than one partner □ b. partners with more than one partner □ c. sex with prostitutes □ d. IVdruguse □ e. all of the above Last Question: Can you five with your answers? For the right answers, call 1-800-777-AIDS. In Portland, call 223-AIDS. “AIDS is spread through both sexual contact and through contact with an infected person’s blood” Sharing knowledge and understanding t’s important for each of us to share what we know about AIDS with family members and others we love. Knowledge and understanding are the best weapons we have against the disease. Check the boxes. Answers below. 1 2. The AIDS virus is not spread through A. insect bites. □I B. casual contact. □ C. sharing drug needles. □ D. sexual intercourse. List all of your partners’ partners since 1982. Be specific. Page 5 Avoiding AIDS: 1. If you are not in a “high risk group,” you still need to be concerned about AIDS □ True □ False □ c. 10-20 □ d. more than 20 June 1,1988 3. Condoms are an effective, but not foolproof, way to prevent the spread of the AIDS virus. □ True □ False 4. You can’t tell by looking that someone has the A ids virus. □ True □ False 5 . If you think you’ve been exposed to the AIDS virus, you should get an AIDS test. I—I True □ False 6. People who provide help for someone with AIDS are not personally at risk for getting the disease. □ True □ False 1. TRUE. It is risky behavior that puts you at risk for AIDS, regardless of any “group* you belong to. 2. A&B. The AIDS virus is not spread by insects, kissing, tears, or casual contact. 3. TRUE. However, the most effective preventive measure against AIDS is not having sex or shooting drugs. 4 . TRUE. You cannot tell by looking if someone is infected. The virus by itself is completely invisible. Symp toms may first appear years after you have been infected. • • • i, u u ■ 5. TRUE. You should be counseled about getting an AIDS test is you have been engaging in risky behavior or think you have been exposed to the virus. There is no reason to be tested if you don’t engage m this behavior. 6. TRUE. You won’t get AIDS by helping someone who has the disease. blood. It cannot be spread through casual . contact like shaking- -hands. And although the person may be infected for years before symptoms begin; infected persons without symp toms can still transmit the virus to others.. . Some of these symptoms of AIDS are: fever, chills, night sweats lasting for weeks (not due to other illnesses); weight loss not due to dieting or exer cise; diarrhea for over a month; swollen glands on neck, under arms, or groin area; and purplish blotches on the skin. AIDS symptoms usually last for a long time - even months - and cannot be cured by usual medicines. Some AIDS prevention tips are: 1. Stop using drugs. Seek treatment for your addiction. 2. Never share needles, razors, or tattoo instruments. 3. Do not use shooting galleries or secondhand works or cookers. 4. Use safer sex: wear con doms, select safety partners, the more partners you have, the greater risk. 5. Stay healthy with a good diet, plenty of rest and exercise. Learn more about AIDS/prevention. With these simple guidelines you can avoid getting infected. It is tiie misconceptions that can lead to putting yourself at risk.