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Show The Signpost - Friday, May 26, 19S9 3 Indians fight diabetes, shun help from white doctors By Kathleen Montoya Staff Reporter The high rate of diabetes in certain American Indian tribes is made more difficult because many Native Americans view the attempts of doctors to treat their disease as one more intrusion of the white man on their society, according to Dr. Pat Albers, an Anthropology professor from the University of Utah, who spoke at Issues Forum on Thursday. Albers said that the rate of diabetes among one tribe, the Pima, is almost twice that as among society as a whole. But many of the diabetic Pima refuse to follow the directions of doctors, such as a rigid diet, that are necessary to control the disease. "It is the height of rudeness in Indian society to tell someone else what to do," Albers said. To these Native American patients the behavior of white doctors, who ask highly personal questions and try to control the daily habits of their patients so closely, is coarse. The Native Americans view the actions of the government to counteract the spread of diabetes, which they call the "white man's disease," as a metaphor of their alienation in society, Albers said. The medical technicians ignore Native American approaches to the treatment and try to control their patients without any regard as to their views of what medical care should entail. A major problem Native Americans have with diabetes treatment is that doctors explain the disease to them in purely physical terms, Albers said. "To the Pima, the concepts of spirituality, sociology and physiology are closely related," Albers said. "The idea that you can treat one aspect of a person separately in order to treat an illness is incomprehensible to them." For this reason, the Pima cannot accept the premise that obesity is the major cause of diabetes. To them, the humiliation of being controlled by the white race is just as much a cause of the sickness as diet, according to Albers. Those Pima who are able to control their disease (stay on their diets and keep their insulin levels stable), do so by compartmentalizing their medical care from other aspects of their life, Albers said. They believe in the autonomy and dignity of the individual just as much as those who will not adhere to their diets and control their diabetes, she said, but rather than reject "modern" medical care, they combine it with herbal and spiritual cures. Albers suggests that medical people who are trying to treat Native Americans for diabetes, take into consideration the Indian culture, and include sociological and spiritual healing in their treatment Speaker gives clues to mystery writers By Kathryn Arbuckle Staff Reporter "Mystery reading is appealing because it' s like a game or crossword puzzle," said Sally Arway, M.A., during her Brown Bagger presentation Wednesday. Arway highlighted three different women mystery writers, telling about their lives and books. She chose P.D. James, Ruth Rendell, and Patricia Highsmith. "I think I read these three authors for the same reason anyone reads good fiction, the stories arc very good. You can get lost in the story with the characters." All three authors live in Europe. The only American born author is Patricia Highsmith. P.D. James got her start working in a theater. Later she was forced to go to work for the British Civil Service, after her husband returned from World War II and developed skizophrenia. She lived a modest life working full time, writing when she could and caring for her family, until one of her books was bought by a book of the month club. She became a m illionaire two years after her husband died. James resides in England, and continues to write. Ruth Rendell had only a minimal education, yet started writing books and poetry at the age of 16. After many rejection slips, she finally sold one book for around $150. Now she write two or three books a year and is extremely successful. (see MYSTERY on page 5) Campus Update... Friday, May 26 Campus Crusade for Christ CCC Prayer group will meet at 12:30 p.m. in UB 347. Women's Bible Study will meet Tues., May 30, at 10:30 a.m. Prime Time Mtg. will be Thurs., June 1 , at 7 p.m., in the Wasatch Hall basement. Call John at 626-6373 for info. ...and Beyond Sign Language Ciub Sign language performance, Tues., May 30, at 7:30 p.m. in the Browning Center. Tickets: S2, available at the door, or call Kirsten at 626-6413. Tau Kappa Epsilon The next regular chapter meeting will be Fri., June 2, at 6 p.m. in the chapter house. There will be no regular meeting on Sun., May 28, or Sun., June 4. Special announcements... Veterans Upward Bound The following workshops are available FREE to veterans: Math: MWF, 12:30 - 1:20 p.m., and TWTh, 5 - 5:50 p.m. Writing: MWF, 4:30 - 5:20 p.m. Study Skills: MWF 5:30 - 6:20 p.m. Speed Reading: MWF 1:30- 2:20 p.m. All worshops are held in the Business Bldg., rm. 1 12, and will run through Spring Quarter. For more info, call 626-7173. Native American Emphasis Week Native American Emphasis Week will beMay 22-27. Events are scheculed daily. For more information, contact the Native American Council. Deadline for Campus Update: Friday at noon for Monday's edition, Tuesday at noon for Wednesday's edition and Thursday at noon for Friday's edition. Deadlines are enforced. ; : Announcements should be typed, precise and kept to 25 words or less. All entries are subject to editing. For consideration leave copy at the Signpost offices. Union Building room 267. SCHOLAR OF THE YEAR and the finalists are . . . J 1 Troy Rex Child Honor student in clinical laboratory sciences Student representative for Utah Society for medical technology Lois Graviet Artist Outstanding art student Jeffery Sorenson WSC football team Jim Summers Nationally ranked debater ASWSC Supreme Court Chief Justice Vivian Talbot Outstanding student from the school of Social Science r " . . -A .- O STANLEY II. KAPLAN EDUCATIONAL CENTER LTD. 515 S. 700 E. Suite 2E, Salt Lake City, 84102 This summer take the heat off fall. Prepare for: Sept. 23rd LSAT Course begins July 8th Oct. 21st G MAT Course begins August 1 2th Oct. 14th GRE Course begins July 29th Mkl Sept.16th MCAT Course begins June 17 & July 18th Oct. 7th DAT Course begins August 5th Gall Collect 363-444 |