The Battalion
OPINION
Tuesday, June 12,1990
Hol^ICN ?D&r
Overexposure to sun can be deadly
It’s summer, a time to enjoy the
weather, the pool and the sun. But let’s
be careful. Sun overexposure can have
serious consequences.
According to the Skin Cancer
Foundation, half a million Americans
develop skin cancer every year: That is
approximately one of every 128
Americans, a 93 percent increase from
10 years ago. While physicians usually
used to see skin cancer in patients over
age 40, people in their 20s are now
being treated for this disease.
The sun’s ultraviolet (UVj rays are
the main agents of skin cancer. Ozone
depletion contributes to the harmful
effects of sunbathing by letting U V rays
pass unfiltered through the
atmosphere.
There are two types of UV rays: UVA
which penetrates slowly and deeply in
the skin causing premature aging, and
UVB which produces tanning and
burning.
The “California” tan look is no longer
considered healthy. Over the years, the
sun can irreversibly damage the elastin
fibers in the skin, causing wrinkles, a
weather-beaten look and the real
danger: skin cancer. Ninety percent of
all skin cancers occur in parts of the
Erika Gonzalez-Lima
Health Columnist
body not usually covered by clothing,
such as face, hands and forearms.
There are three types of skin cancer:
squamous cell carcinoma, malignant
melanoma and the most common of all,
basal cell carcinoma. If detected early,
skin cancers have a 90 percent cure rate.
Attention should be paid to any
change in size, color, shape or thickness
of moles and birthmarks, and to any
skin region that itches, hurts or bleeds.
Methods of treatment include surgery,
electrical current, freezing, radiation
and chemotherapy.
How can skin cancer be prevented?
The American Cancer Society
pamphlet entitled Fry Now Pay Later
recommends the following:
1) Cover-up: use a hat, sun glasses
and clothing.
2) Try to avoid the sun’s rays between
11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
3) Use sunscreens, which work by
absorbing or reflecting the UV rays,
thereby reducing the amount that
reaches the skin. To improve
protection, apply sunscreen 30-60
minutes before sun exposure. New
sunscreens are manufactured
waterproof, hypoallergic, oil free and
without PABA (or para-amihobenzoic
acid, a sunscreen chemical that may
irritate the skin and produce itching
and redness).
The Food and Drug Administration
has determined the sun protection
factor (SPF) of sunscreens. For
example, a SPF of 10 protects a person
who normally sunburns in 30 minutes to
safely sunbathe for Five hours or 10
times longer than usual. If a person
burns easily, it is better to use a
sunscreen with a higher sun protection
factor (SPF).
What about an indoor tan? Indoor
tanning may be as harmful as outdoor
tanning. Sunlamps also irradiate UV
rays, thus increasing the chances for
skin cancer. In addition, UV radiation
can damage the eye’s cornea and retina,
leading in some cases to loss of vision.
Goggles can offer extra protection. Also
one should avoid tanning pills.
Have a question on a health issue? Write to the
Health Columnist, Dr. Erika Gonzalez-Lima, Student
Health Center, Texas A&M University, College Station,
TX 77845-1264.
Mail Call
ie Bat
Opinion Page Editor Damon Arhos
Tuesd
Low-rub ink keep
clothes, hands neat
Some of you have been seeing less of
The Battalion lately, and that’s a good
sign. It’s not that we want fewer readers,
it’s just that we want less of The
Battalion black ink on your hands and
light-colored clothing.
During the spring semester The
Battalion switched from standard ink to
a low-rub black newsprint ink. Flint Ink
Corp., which supplies ink for the Texas
A&M University daily newspaper,
claims the new ink is the most rub-
resistant on the market today.
Flint explains that the new ink does
not cause those irksome smudges
because it contains certain resins that
dry to form a cover over the ink
pigment.
Although more expensive, the low-
rub ink is touted to be less consuming so
that a 50-gallon drum should last up to
20 percent longer than conventional
ink.
One caution for all of our readers:
The Battalion is using low-rub only for
black ink, so still be careful of the
maroon and other colors which
occasionally show up on our pages.
Although the
Randy Hines
Reader’s Opinion
The Battalion has let Champic
know it will be a willing customero:
the product is available during the
of 1991.
The American Newspaper Pulj
Association has encouraged all
newspapers in this country to use
recycled paper for up to 28 percemj
their consumption by 1992.
Recycled newsprint capacity is
low-rub is now
available in colors,
it would be imprac
tical to order and
store a 50-gallon
drum with its lim
ited use.
Readers, who
used to complain
about the black
smudges on their
hands and clothing,
have not made an
issue about the ink
since the switch. But one of the more
recent concerns of students is in the
area of recycling.
Yes, leftover newspapers are recycled
by the Printing Center. In fact. The
Battalion office has recycling containers
for its own consumption of aluminum
cans and waste paper.
We would encourage more campus
departments and offices to do likewise.
The Battalion has talked with its
paper supplier, Champion
International Corp., about the use of
recycled newsprint. Unfortunately,
despite all the rhetoric, recycled
newsprint is not as readily available as
the industry wishes.
In trying to keep up with the growing
demand. Champion will be building a
much-needed newsprint recycling plant
near the greater Houston area.
expected to double in North Amen
between now and then, from 2.!
short tons to an estimated 4.6mi!|
short tons in 1992. But the demane:
two years will be approximatelyt
times the potential supply.
Much of this country’s recyded
newsprint winds up overseas or in
making boxes and paper bags.
Meanwhile, The Battalion woulc
to join other students in voicingapl [I
for A&M to develop a campus-widt
recycling pro
Small isolated
projects (suchai
our newsroom's
and the Univen
reuse of wooder
pallets) are not
enough.
A&M probah
generates enoup
paper every vro
to build a record
bonfire.
Faculty
mailboxes are
stuffed daily with multi-page
documents about a meeting or proJ
which interests perhaps one percer 1
the recipients.
Even if it is not economically
profitable now' for the Universitylol
attempt a massive recycling campai:|
is ethically responsible.
BRAZOS
All
NARC01
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CHRISTIi
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Randy Hines is a lecturer in the
Department of Journalism and the
manager of student publications.
As with all columns, viewpoints
expressed in Reader’s Opinions are
not necessarily those of The Battalion.
Persons interested in submitting a
Reader's Opinion should contactthe
Opinion Page Editor at 845-3314.
The editorial staff reserves the right
to edit Reader’s Opinions for style anil
length, but will make every effort to
maintain the author’s intent.
CHI ALP
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ASSOCI
tic
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Items fo
no later
the nam
a Battali
on a firs
have qu
China deserves Most Favored status
EDITOR:
The Battalion Opinion Page has recently retitled it’s more
lengthy submissions from “Guest Columns” to “Reader’s
Opinion.” Irwin Tang’s June 5th article was indeed an opin
ion, but is proved to be a very uninformed one. The “facts”
and information presented on Most Favored Nation (MFN)
trade status, U.S. support in Cambodia and the U.S. goals of
granting to China MFN status are specious, incomplete and
often just plain false.
Section 402 of the Trade Act of 1974, the so called “Jack-
son-Vanik” Amendment gives the president waiver authority
to grant MFN status to communist countries. The purpose of
this amendment (according to E.J. Derwinski, counselor of
the Department of State) is to “create important opportuni
ties for us to work successfully for improvements in other
countries’ emmigration and human rights performance.” It is
not to “help the elite bureaucratic class that controls the gov
ernment make more money.” Today there are 60,000
Chinese with approved visas waiting to enter the U.S. because
of MFN. Therefore, George Bush has not “defied the MFN
laws,” but rather, he has worked within the frame and spirit
of the law to aid the people of China. This part of the bill was
designed specifically to promote freedom in communist
countries.
If we halt relations with China, the precious example of
democracy provided by our interaction will cease as well. The
current power-brokers in China are now in their eighties.
The transition forthcoming can go in one of two directions:
(1) the way of enlightened reformism, or (2) the dead end
road of doctrinaire Marxism. Isolation of China is the only
thing that could drive the new leaders down the latter path. A
policy of sanctions would punish not the leaders of China but
the people. The ideas of inalienable rights and democratic
government would remain largely unknown in China today
had it not been for the bilateral bond between our nations.
Tang’s article also seems to suggest the U.S. supports the
genicide committed by the Khmer Rouge from 1975-1978. In
actuality, the U.S. supports Prince Norodom Sihanouk and
Son Sann, both non-communist leaders who are currently
part of an Alliance of Convenience with the Khmer Rouge in
order to contest the current Russo-Vietnam. backed commu
nist government. Bush supplied arms to the non-communist
factions, led by Sihanouk, not to the Khmer Rouge. In fact,
Sihanouk’s goal is to eventually “neutralize the Khmer Rou
ge” (“Time,” August 14, 1989). China has also been moving
toward the U.S. position that the Khmer Rouge be prevented
from regaining power in Cambodia thanks, in part, again to
MFN.
Calling his president ignorant and his vice-president illit
erate is very haughty indeed. It seems Tang has reached that
rarefied air occupied by himself and most obstreperous 13
year olds — he knows everything. What Tang’s article shows,
however, is his lack of ability to think through tough, complex
issues. We must not, however, let emotion and impulse dis
place responsible, considered positions to facilitate resolvence
of the China crisis. The Tiananmen Square massacre was a
tragedy and is anathema to all Americans. We should ap
plaud George Bush for insuring that the force of democracy
which made the world hold it’s breath as a lone freedom
fighter brought the line of communist tanks to a halt can live
... again.
Andy Keetch ’92
Have an opinion? Express it!
Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words in length. The editorial staff reserves
the right to edit letters for style and length, but will make every effort to maintain the
author’s intent. There is no guarantee that letters submitted will be printed. Each
letter must be signed and must include the classification, address and telephone number
of the writer. All letters may be brought to 216 Reed McDonald, or sent to Campus
Mail Stop 1111.
The Battalion
(USPS 045 360)
Member of
Texas Press Association
Southwest Journalism Conf erence
Associated Collegiate Press
The Battalion Editorial Board
Monique Threadgill,
Editor
Melissa Naumann,
Managing Editor
Damon Arhos,
Opinion Page Editor
Holly Becka, City Editor
Meg Reagan,
Lisa Ann Robertson,
News Editors
Clay Rasmussen, Sports Editor
Eric Roalson, Art Director
Todd Stone, Lifestyles Editor
Editorial Policy
The Battalion is a non-profit, self-sup
porting newspaper operated as a commu
nity service to Texas A&M and Bryan-
College Station.
Opinions expressed in The Battalion
are those of the editorial board or the au
thor, and do not necessarily represent the
opinions of Texas A&M administrators,
faculty or the Board of Regents.
The Battalion is published Tuesday
through Friday during Texas A&M sum
mer semesters, except for holiday and ex
amination periods.
Mail subscriptions are $20 per semes
ter, $40 per school year and $50 per full
year: 845-2611. Advertising rates fur
nished on request: 845-2696.
Our address: The Battalion, 230 Reed
McDonald, Texas A&M University, Col
lege Station, TX 77843-1 111. Newsroom:
845-3313.
Second class postage paid at College
Station, TX 77843.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes
to The Battalion, 216 Reed McDonald,
Texas A&M University, College Station
TX 77843-4111.
FAX
I'd First like To say
THANK You FOR TTUSdHANCe
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