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Show Dedication despite cancelation Michael Sharp photo/michaelsharp@cc.usu. THE NIGHT ON THE QUAD activity Friday night was canceled due to inclement weather, but that didn't stop a few dedicated Aggies from camping out anyway. Typically during Night on the Quad, live bands entertain while students take part in other activities including a cardboard structure building contest. KRT A wave of experimental vaccines against sexually transmitted diseases could revolutionize the prevention ;of such infections during the next few years, but there's a catch: The shots likely will work best when given to children as young as 11. The first such vaccine to prevent human papillomavirus — the leading cause of cervical cancer — could be submitted for approval to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by year's end. Another vaccine against genital herpes is in advanced clinical trials, and shots for gonorrhea and chlamydia are in the works. Already the injections have drawn moral opposition from some conservative groups, who fear such immunizations could give young teens a green light to have sex. Medical experts who are helping develop the vaccines conceded that some parents might find the idea of shielding their young children from future STDs hard to accept. But they said the overriding goal is to save lives by boosting children's immune systems before they are exposed to the viruses that cause such diseases. "For most parents, the moral decision is to protect their children," said Dr. Gregory Zimet, a professor of pediatrics and clinical psychology at Indiana University School of Medicine who has studied parents' views on the immunizations. Julietta Bolivar, a mother of three adolescents — ages 10, 12, and 15 — said she does not know how she feels about the vaccines. "I would have to think about it," Bolivar said. "I want to learn about it before I make a decision. I guess I would have to talk to my doctor about it first, then talk to my kids too and hear what they think." Bolivar's uneasiness may foreshadow the challenge ahead for public-health officials. Some parents say that at an age when most children are content playing video games or sports, preventive measures against sexual activity should be the last thing on children's minds. "I appreciate a parent's concern that their kid is not sexually active. They may not be now, but they will be in the future," said Julie Morita, medical director at the Chicago Department of Public Health. "The point is we are not assuming that all 11- or 12-year-olds are having sexual relations, (but) we assume they will be in the near future." Guarding children against such diseases is not a completely new idea. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention already recommends the hepatitis B vaccine for adolescents 11 to 15 years old. Although generally not considered an STD — infection can be passed from mother to baby during birth or through use of dirty • needles — hepatitis B primarily is spread through unprotected sex. The new vaccines are fueling a moral battle as conservative groups promoting abstinence say they will fight recommendations that children get the shots. "Sexually transmitted diseases in the United States will not be contained by USU. Katie Walker, ASUSU's performing arts chair, said she didn't know what to expect when she first heard about Shimabukuro, but now can't wait to see the show. "The more I found out about him, the more excited I got," Walker said. "This is a really good chance for (students] to see something that they normally wouldn't have access to." Walker said Shimabukuro's skills are a lot more than expected from a ukulele player. "He's figured out all kinds of creative things with the ukulele," Walker said. "He even uses a wah-wah pedal." The ukulele was introduced into Shimabukuro's life at age 4 when his mother started to teach him how to play. "When I played my first chord, I was hooked," Shimabukuro said. "I fell in love with the instrument." Since then, Shimabukuro has been entertaining audiences all over the world. He just became the first ukulele player from Hawaii to sign with Epic Records International, which is a division of Sony Music International. Critics have argued that he has "done more to advance the capabilities of his instrument than anyone before." "He has fingers faster than the best rock guitarists," the Yomiuri newspaper in Japan said. But although Shimabukuro has said he hopes to widen the perspectives of people about the ukulele, he also shares others' emotions about the instrument. "A lot of people think of the ukulele as a toy," he said. "I certainly do. When I'm on stage, I want people to see that it's fun to play. I'm having a ball, I hope they do too." Shimabukuro will kick off the show at 7 p.m. Monday in the Kent Concert Hall. Tickets are $10 or $3 for students. WHAT YOU Witt B€ IF YOU MISS FAU SEMEffiR Now I'm sure some of you out there are laughing at me, saying that such a Battle is unnecessary, seeing as how there hasn't been a verified boogeyman-related attack since at least the Carter administration. To you I say: If you were attacked by the boogeyman, would you tell anyone? That's not the point though, after I'm through with him, there won't be anymore little boys getting abducted because he didn't stay under his blanket for a very long time. That's why I'm doing this, for the children. Because they deserve to be able to stay up late — so that they, too, may geek on. Steve Shinney is a junior in computer science and is currently training for a fight with Count Chocula and his big rematch with the chupacabra.Comments can be sent to steveshinney@cc.usu.edu Line of vaccines to protect kids from STD's now in development BY TRAN M. PHUNC NERD. • BOOGEY BATTLE From page 6 HUMOR NIGHT. TSC 8ALLR0M, FRIDAY, 7.30. $2 "I didn't have to worry about a thing! ^.Professional Quality Printing ABusiness Forms ^Thesis, dissertations AWedding Invitations & Accessories Square Be Sexy • Be Unique injecting vaccines into preadolescents in anticipation of promiscuous behavior," Scott Phelps, executive director of Abstinence & Marriage Education Partnership, wrote in a recent statement. Generally, schools do not teach sexual education until junior high. By then, however, immunizations against STDs may be ineffective. Research on the vaccines has shown they work best when administered before Pre-Order Halloween Costumes by October 1st and receive 25% off •VACCINE see page 8 King Hair Styling Salon HAIR CUTS PERFECT NA&S HAIR COLOR Men.Women Kids over 9 Full Set Complete Starting At: $ 00 10 $ 00 35 $ 00 30 PERMS Includes Shampoo, cut & style. Special wraps & long hair slightly more. $ 00 40 The Locals' Choice In Hair Design • 752-9390 118 North Main • Downtown Logan • Monday-Saturday 8 am - 6 pm ^ UKULELE From page 5 heart." He frequently visits schools around Hawaii and is the current spokesperson for the "Music is Good Medicine" program. Shimabukuro's Japanese heritage also has helped elevate him to stardom in Japan, and in 2004, he was named Hawaii's Goodwill Ambassador to Japan. With such credit to his name, ASUSU said they were excited to bring the star to Media relate photo UKULELE PLAYER, JAKE SHIMABUKURO will bring his extreme musical style to the Kent Concert Hall tonight at 7 p.m. Tickets are $3 for students. —bmnehon@cc. usu. edu LOVE ROCKS Store Hours: Monday - Friday 9:30 * 8:00 Saturday 'til 6:00 141 N. Main 752-7149 www.seneedham.com Middle of the block at the & |