The Battalion jjrsday • March 12, 1998 No a? .CaK fretocic 4- && faicy/it, *1 y&t&z cve&i 46&cte|protect fragile eyes and look cool under the sun’s rays By Rhonda Reinhart Staff writer 1th Spring Break just around the corner, thousands of college students will stop the Bn* W hitting the books and start hitting the >es end the beaches. These vacationers will i with them various kinds of protection — !re '*' n sunblock to condoms to traveler’s checks, whnt about sunglasses, those pieces of pro- ive eyewear that are often more fashionable n fupctional? S3! - 5uying the right pair of sunglasses is an art that uires time and knowledge. Although dashing he $3 clearance rack at the local drug store y sound like a good way to pick up a pair of ap, new shades, shoppers may want to invest tie more time and money. Here are a few tips telp you choose the right sunglasses for you. • Blocking the Light vlways buy lenses that have 100 percent UV :raviolet) light protection. According to Liz ;re, in “Contact Lenses & Sunwear: Are You 'V. ;sing the Connection?” sunlight can harm eyes t as it can harm skin. The same rays that cause iburn also can bring on keratitis, a painful ir- tion of the cornea. This can especially be a problem for skiers. UV s are stronger in the atmosphere at high alti- lesfand a severe case of keratitis known as snowblindness may plague skiers. Luckily, snow- blindness is temporary and heals at about the same rate as sunburned skin. UV light also has been linked to blind ness and cataracts, a cloudiness that de velops in the focusing lens of the eye. Sunglasses are more than a fashion statement, and lenses with 100 percent UV protection can help to shield eyes from the dangers of UV light. ^ ^ • Framing Your Face ^ ^ According to Sun Class ’97, Ray-Ban’s retail sales train ing program, finding the right frames depends on your facial shape. “Determine whether your face is square, oblong, round, triangular or oval,” the guide states. “Then, refrain from ^ repeating that shape in the frame you select.” To complement a square face, choose frames that are slightly curved. The top of the frame should sit high on the face to downplay the jawline. Much like square faces, the chin and cheek of the oblong face are almost the same width. Shop pers with oblong faces should choose frames that cover as much of the center of the face as possi ble. But be careful not to let the frames overpow er the face. To minimize the fullness of a round face, se lect frames with straight or angular lines. Shop pers with triangular faces should avoid large frames, heavy nose bridges, bold colors and square frames. To help balance the bottom part of a triangular face, choose thin- rimmed frames that do not sit too high on the face. Oval faces are the easiest to fit. As long as the size of the sunglass is in proportion to the face, any frame style can complement an oval face. • Staying Fit Comfort may be the most important factor in choosing a pair of sunglasses. In a 1994 Sun and Sport article, Rick Good writes that many products available today emphasize style over fit. “One of the biggest client complaints is discomfort caused by the frame it self,” he writes. “Many times this comes from misuse by the eye- wear owner, which requires al most daily adjustment to en sure a proper and comfortable fit." [f your sunglasses are not comfortable, ^ # you will not wear ^ P them, and if you don’t wear them, they can not protect your eyes. So make sure you select a pair of shades that fits properly and is com fortable. Looking good is as im portant as feeling good. • Paying the Price Steven D. Carhart, in "Sunglasses: They’re More Than Dark Lenses,” writes that price is not always a predictor of merit. “Quality, as we’re all well aware, doesn’t neces sarily always increase in proportion to cost," he writes. “For example, a $40-$50 pair of sunglass es can offer the same UV protection and optical clarity as a $250 model.” Please see Sunglasses on Page 4. set for March 27,28 By James Francis Aggielife editor len Friday rolls around, stu- |dents at Texas A&M University I (those who are fortunate to be ||sts . om working at a job) will official- |(t ;t their Spring Break. The bad news 3^'ing Break never seems to last as . ts students would think. It p e i March 23, when students start up t8J : daily grind of classes and tests again, it can be predicted that the ma jority of students will say things such as, “I wish I had one more day of vacation,” or “If only we had a three-day weekend coming up to recover from going back to school after having so much fun on Spring Break.” Fear not, because March 26 thru the 28th will bring College Station’s first North By Northgate Music Festival, packed with an eclectic variety of music and multiple venues in which more bands will play than a record label could shake a stick at. As for Spring Break, one student’s ski trip, another’s hot and sunny beach gathering and still another’s quiet time to enjoy a good book is over. On the brighter side, consider North By North- gate a city-wide party invitation to check out some local and out-of-town talent sure to rock the house until the music lovers cannot scream anymore. Cost for the festival is $20 per person (18 years of age with a valid ID), and tick ets are now available for purchase at Ma rooned Records, all four Double Dave’s Pizzaworks, DoubleQuick Food Stores, Rother’s Bookstores (on Harvey Road), Fitzwilly’s, Crooked Path, Cow Hop, Shadow Canyon and Copasetic Cafe. Beginning March 26, tickets can be redeemed for wristbands at Marooned Records or Fitzwilly’s. Some proceeds from the festival will go toward the Brazos Food Bank and Junction 505. Thursday’s pre-show for the music festival will be free, and although the two days following will showcase some familiar faces and some that are not as well-known, it’s all about music. And with that in mind, the strum of a guitar, the beat of a drum or the trill of a voice can unite just about anyone. For more information, check out the North By Northgate Web site at http://www.nxng.com. e j\ /\ in MUiniiiiw Jm HI Hi jHF HI Mm ^Hk Hi «MH The G^mistry of New Ideas Congratulations to Sherry! Smyer, a junior chemical engineering major from Albuquerque, New Mexico who has been selected as Eastmans most recent Chemical Engineering Scholar here at Texas A&M University. Although the majority of her time is spent on studies, Sherryl seems to find time for other activities. She is a member of the Memorial Student Center Hospitality Committee and Wesley Foundation. These are community service organizations where her responsibilities include tutoring for College Station elementary students, puppet shows and hosting A&M tours for groups such as Aggie Moms and corporate visitors. She is also a member of the Engineering Scholars Program. When time permits, Sherryl enjoys dancing and her friends. After graduation, Sherryl hopes to work in industry for a few years while deciding whether she will pursue a masters degreee in business or chemical engineering. Her anticipated graduation date is May 1999. Eastman Chemical Company welcomes Sherryl into the select group of student scholars. Congratulations Sherryl! Company Information: Eastman Chemical Company is an international chemical company headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee with 1996 sales of $4.78 billion globally from continuing operations. We are the tenth largest U.S. Chemical Company and are currently constructing several new plants in Europe, Latin America and Southeast Asia. Eastman is the world leader in polyster plastics for packaging applica tions as well as a leading supplier of many coatings, fine chemicals and fibers. TEXAS QUALITY AWARD 1994 Recipient Texas Eastman Division