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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 16, 1998)
iHBirsday • April 16, 1998 The Battalion .11 1E1 !FE Cn^ 1 ^ There’s something V r pi Piq la te-summer season Lrinq irritatinq aiierqies By Rhonda Reinhart Staff writer stroll through the park on a breezy spring day might sound like a lovely afternoon. But for -allergy sufferers, it may seem more like a ightmare, especially when one ragweed plant can ‘lease as many as one billion grains of pollen. Seasonal allergic rhinitis, otherwise known as ay lever, is one of the most common allergic dis- ; : Bs in the United States. It usually occurs only , Jk or twice a year, in the spring and late summer, tee and grass pollen are the most common caus- sejif allergies this time of year. Dr. Barry Pauli, an allergist at St. Joseph Region- 1 Health Center, said there may be 40 million hay jver sufferers in the United States alone. He said ay lever is only second to colds in reasons for lissing school and work. According to the Allerdays Web site, allergy suf- 2rers lose three million days of work and two mil- ion days of school every year and spend an esti- a|ed $500 million each year on allergy treatments. An allergy is an exaggerated response to sub- Tces such as pollen, dust, mold and animal dan- |An allergen is the substance that causes the al- y. Allergy sufferers succumb to the discomfort Jllergies because their immune systems overre- jto an allergen. this overreactive immune system is a result of jetic composition. Hay fever is likely to be in- Jited. Gand is passed on 65 percent of the time, iiteven though allergies run in families, a child is ^not automatically sensitive to given allergens. A tiildwith only one allergic parent has a 25 percent auce of developing an allergy, while a child with two allergic parents has a 66 percent chance. Other factors contribute to the development of an allergy besides gene inheritance. A person must be exposed to at least one allergen to which he or she has a genetically programmed response. He or she also must be exposed to the allergens at a great enough concentration and for a long enough time period to trigger a reaction. Similar to the common cold, the symptoms of al lergies are sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, itchy watery eyes, itchy throat and sometimes coughing and wheezing. Pauli said it may be hard to distinguish allergies from a cold without an al lergy test, but he said colds generally clear up with in five days. Also, allergy symptoms begin almost immediately after exposure, while cold symptoms may build over a few days before they hit full-force. Pauli suggests three treatments for allergies: avoidance, medication and allergy shots. He said even though avoidance may be unrealistic for some allergy sufferers, mild allergies can be treated with medication, and more severe allergies can be treat ed with shots. For allergy sufferers, spring and late summer may bring months of misery. A survey done by Louis Harris and Associates during the the 1996 al lergy season revealed that 89 percent of the re spondents were allergic to pollen from trees, grass and plants. Nearly one third of the respondents said that they frequently or sometimes find themselves in embarrassing social situations (such as sneezing in church) because of their allergies. Please see Allergies on Page 5. Sisterhood on stage ia a play cufto&e, 4t&uf details tied t6e 6emt and t6e dfctcyfie life (fetwem By Stephen Wells Staff writer F rom the art galleries to the polo fields, A&M of fers a great deal to stu dents who make the effort to pull themselves off the couch and away from the confines of a TV lounge. The Texas A&M Theater Arts program is offer ing a gem of such opportuni ties tonight with the opening of “Dancing at Lughnasa.” Penned by Brian Friel, “Dancing at Lughnasa” is a memory play centered around five single women, the Mundy sisters, and the trials they face both individually and as a fam ily. From illegitimate sons to un employment to trials with long- lost relatives, these sisters try to make their own in Ireland in the summer of 1936, during the pa gan festival of Lughnasa. The sisters must struggle to keep their faith in family and their re ligion despite the pagan culture which surrounds them and threatens to tear them apart. Susan Kelly, coordinator of the Theater Arts program at Texas A&M, said she wanted to produce a play featuring women playing the lead roles as part of a tradition she has made for herself. “Each spring I try to do a isaii* MBHiBr f Jfe ' imm M The bond shared between sisters is piece that centers around women,” Kelly said. “I started this four years ago when I put together a play that features women playing lead parts for Women’s Week.” However, the play is more than just a women’s feature. “Dancing at Lughnasa” already has gained critical and popular success. “Brian Friel is a very strong playwright,” Kelly said. “This particular play was actually on Broadway a few years ago. We have some good female ac tresses in the program and found a good play with strong women’s parts.” As befitting a play touching on so many sensitive moral is sues, the plot of “Dancing at Lughnasa” is driven by charac ter development, a challenge even for professional actors. “The actors have really loved working with this script be cause this playwright really fo cuses on the dialogue and tells the story through words and a little less action,” Kelly said. “We’re still discovering little nu ances in the script and the char acter’s lines tying in together.” With a production this SPECIAL TO THE BATTALION the focus in “Dancing at Lughnasa.” large, the set has to be just as impressive as the acting. “This is a very complex set,” Kelly said. “The walls of the set are as thick as they would be in real life. It took a long time to build the set, then fill the walls with styrofoam and put dry- wall putty on the outside to make it look more realistic. This is our largest set this year; it will probably take weeks to take it down. "We’re still tweaking things and trying to get everything just right. It’s been a real chal lenge to get older props and older-looking props to keep that period look." Even the smallest detail is not overlooked. Though the music is never on for more than a few seconds at a time, the selection process was as meticulous as any other facet of the production. “With plays like ‘Riverdance,’ the whole Celtic music awareness is so much greater than it has been in the past, so we had to get the music just right. I must have gone through a dozen CD’s.” Please see Lughnasa on Page 5. [0> Parents Weekend • April 18 Honor Thy Father, Thy OTHER...AND Thy’RE PALATE. Bring them to Messina Hof’s Unforgettable Parents Weekend Wine & Roses Gourmet Dinner Saturday Evening, April 18 You’ll all enjoy a delectable, multi-course gourmet feast in the European ambiance of our Vintage House restaurant. It’s only $30 per happy person and includes a fresh wild green salad, your choice of three sumptuous gourmet entrees, a fresh vegetable medley and our famous Port ‘n Cream sundae. It’s mind-boggling...and that’s without the wine. Space is limited, so please call for your reservations today... (409) 778-3138 The Vintage House at Messina Hof 4545 Old Reliance Road • Bryan, TX Come Home To Melrose ^ r» i i m — I" *?: .)« O- % TV Private bedroom/bathroom suites, in furnished or unfurnished 2-, 3-, and 4-bedroom/bathroom apartments. Individual leases. Your rent includes no utility deposits, cable TV, local phone service, 24-hour monitored intrusion alarm, entrance gate video screening from your apartment, full-size washer and dryer, and all kitchen appliances including microwave. Enjoy unparalleled amenities: resort-style swimming pool, fitness center, sports facilities, computer lab, fully fenced perimeter and gate courtesy officers. “ Come out today! ” 409 • 693 • 9432 Redeem your coupon at 201-B Holleman «? 601 Luther St. West • College Station, TX 77840 • www.melrose.com ^ Parents’ Redeem this coupon at )2 Weekend MfMM \ Melrose for your key card ’ i and your chance to win ' -J* O Special JKSaUWS r „ O Months Free Rent Saturday, April 18 only Need a Job For The 1998 Fall Semester? 'Tvk College Station CMomuniiy edv^aon • Are you a fun person? • Do you enjoy working with kids? • Looking for valuable work experience? 1 ’ Are you available Mon.-Fri., 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.? ’ If you answered yes to any of these questions, we may have a job for you. Applications are now being accepted for the Kids Klub After School Program at Central Park Office until April 21 For more information call: 764 - 3486 WAlh Campus Tux Party atWings n’ More Across from the campus on Texas Ave. Starts Today from 11am to 4 pm -7 > ‘ T fwVW ■ j DJ, Barb Fiores will be broadcasting li\/e 11-1 Visit Al’s Mobile Tuxedo Store for on-site rental reservations until 4pm. It's easy & fun...or come to the Harvey Rd. store. Outfitting Aggies Since 1957 FORMAL WEAR ffOO Harvey Rd. next to Post Dak Mall.... 409-693-0947 WA\b See store for details. Some restrictions apply, expires 4/25/98 Win Register to the Ultimate Ring Dance Datt • A Tuxedo from Al’s Formal Wear • Dinner at Outback Steakhouse • Flowers by University Flowers • Hair by Dana at Couffieurs • Nails by Nails Magnifiq
