Miami Herald; Monday, November 25, 1991
Kimberly Crockett and Anthony Faiola; Herald Staff Writers

In the two weeks since Johnson's announcement, there has been a dramatic increase in demands for information, testing, counseling and referral services, school health officials report.

The number of University of Miami students being tested for HIV has tripled.

Every sorority and fraternity at Florida International University has requested a workshop on AIDS education.

Calls into the Health Crisis Network hot line increased nearly 10 times in the first week.

"Johnson made people stop and think that HIV virus could be transferred heterosexually," said Lynn Simek-Morgan, director of FIU's student counseling center. "We've been saying it all along, and all of a sudden when Magic Johnson says it, heads turn around."

Dr. Eugene Flipse, director of UM's Health Service, estimates that up to 85 percent of college-age students engage in unsafe sex or inject steroids or narcotics with used needles -- putting them at risk of contracting HIV.

Flipse started an AIDS testing program on campus six weeks ago. At first, three or four students would show up for testing each day. Since Johnson went public, about 12 students a day come in.

Infected students can enter experimental treatment programs at UM's medical center. The school can help them get other treatment and assistance.

At other local colleges and universities, students seeking testing are referred to public health centers, family physicians or private testing firms. The schools provide counseling, education and other information.

At Barry University, a freshman orientation program offers college credit if students attend seminars on alcohol, sexuality, date rape, AIDS, race issues and nutrition.

Sex Under the Ignorance is an informational program offered by FIU's student counseling center. It stresses behavioral changes.

Abstinence is encouraged, but Simek-Morgan admits "we don't have a lot of takers on that."

Alcohol is a big problem, Simek-Morgan said. After a few drinks, students don't always make the best decisions.

"College students are healthy, young, vibrant and intellectually don't think it will happen to them," she said. "There is a lot of denial. It only takes one indiscretion and they can become HIV positive."

While condom use is highly recommended, counselors teach ways to become comfortable discussing and then practicing safe sex with a partner.

Although the number of students requesting AIDS tests is increasing, the stigma is still there.

At FIU, health workers noted an increase in students donating blood since Magic Johnson's disclosure. Blood is screened for the virus and infected donors are notified.

American Red Cross officials strongly discourage using blood donations to test for AIDS. People who donate for HIV testing, especially those engaging in risky behaviors, could jeopardize the blood supply.

"It's a very bad idea," said Dr. Bruce Lenes, Red Cross blood services medical director.

Screening procedures are "very, very close to being 100 (percent) effective," he said. "But they are not 100 (percent) effective."

The virus can live in the body for up to a year without being detected by routine testing. There is a 1-in-50,000 to 1-in-100,000 chance of being infected from a blood transfusion.

Blood contaminated with the virus is destroyed, but it is sometimes weeks or months before the donor is notified, Lenes said.

Notification "is not timely and it's not timely on purpose," Lenes said. "The blood center is not a site for HIV testing . . . or counseling. It is where people donate blood altruistically to save a life."

Lenes said college students are among the best and most committed blood donors, and he wants them to continue giving.

But he added: "We don't want students to donate to get a test result."

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