Future doctors study cadavers with detachment
By Merilynne Cohen
Feature-Focus Editor
“Mv first thought was that the dead bodv Iving on the table just couldn't be a human being, nor could I comprehend it or respect it as such. I forced myself to become totally detached from the fact that I was working on a dead person's body."
This is a typical reaction for first-year medical and dental students who are required to work on cadavers as part of an anatomy course. During their time in the anatomy lab, students explore a whole cadaverduringanentiresemester todissect and identify organs, nerves and muscles of the body. There is one cadaver for every four students, who work as a team to familiarize themselves with the human body in preparation for the medical and dental professions.
"The professional schools at USC are unique in that they let small groups of students work with one cadaver, as opposed to a large group working with one. " said Gary Lowery, a first-vear medical student.
The cadavers used in the schools are obtained through the Willed Body Program, a university-sponsored service that signs up people who wish to donate their bodv to science upon their death. To become a donor, a written request is required and then placed on file until the time of death. I he body is then transferred to the university where it is embalmed, preserved with formaldehyde, and kept in a freezer until ready to use, said Marie Duncher, coordinator of the Willed Body Program.
For the program, only entire bodies in good condition are accepted. Bodies that were in car accidents, have gunshot wounds or undergone autopsies are not used. Most cadavers that come through the program have died from cancer, post
operative complications and other natural
causes.
"People are calling up all the time to donate their bodies, so we usually have a pretty good supply," Duncher said. "Our program on the average receives f>0 bodies a year."
When a cadaver arrives in the anatomy lab, the skin is usually tough, the color of the skin turns an ashen gray and most of the blood is drained from it, said Dave Mayeda, a third-year dental student.
"Although dentistry is primarily focused on the mouth, it is a part of the medical profession and that's why we work with cadavers. One has to under-
stand the entire bodv and how it works to practice medicine effectively. When we work with cadavers, we learn to treat the whole human being, not just a part of one," Mayeda said.
Dental students never work on a cadaver's mouth because the mouth is so distorted that it would not give an adequate example of a living person's mouth, Mayeda said. Many of the cadavers, many of which are elderly, are missing an entire set of teeth.
For many of the students, the gross anatomy course brings their first exposure to working with an actual cadaver. Although some experience feelings of uneasiness during their first encounter, as time goes on familiarity usually takes away the fear and apprehension.
'During my first day dissecting a cadaver, I felt strange but soon got used to it," said Chuck DeFreest, a first-vear dental student. "Students weren't running out of the room, so they generally took it well. The first few times the head and other parts of the body were covered, so it was not such a shock.'
"Once I saw the cadaver's face, I began to feel queasy," Mayeda said. "It is then that you can almost relate to the cadaver as a person, when previously it had seemed to be just a specimen to work on.
"After awhile, people get so comfortable with it that they even bring their lunch in while working, and the students sometimes throw around the bodv parts in fun. In this there is nothing dehumanizing or disrespectful; it is important for us to be (continued on page 2)
trojan
University of Southern California Volume LXXVI, Number 26 _Monday, March 19, 1979
Continued financial problems trouble Iranian students
Shortage of dollars cited in homeland
on
By Teresa Watanabe
Slaff Unti-r
Despite the restoration of financial stability in Iran, financial woes continued to trouble Iranian students here as the revolution's aftermath clogged the flow of cash into the United States.
Berthe Von Allmen, director of international student services, said a shortage of dollars in Iran, the huge backlog of requests for monev at banks and governmental red tape may be reasons why money is slow in arriving.
"Many, many students are still waiting for their money," Von Allmen said. "Some have received funds, but it's slow in coming."
Von Allmen said between 275 and 300 of the 1,(XXI Iranian students here applied for tuition determent.
Seventy deferments were granted, said Vance Peterson, director of academic relations.
Peterson believed the crisis had passed, despite some doubt and concern about the future. Von Allmen was not as optimistic.
"I think the real test will come in April, the deadline for tuition payment. We'll know then how many students can pay," Von Allmen said.
John Wasson, assistant director of international student services, believed the most immediate problem facing Iranians was whether they had to pav the Sl(X) late fee.
Ihe credit office has said the students must pay. But Wasson
LAND SITE SOUGHT
said most students don't believe thev should, since they had no control over events in Iran — such as the closure of banks and the mail embargo — that severed the flow of cash.
Vein Allmen said about 20 students — 10 of whom graduated in January — had returned to Iran. Some returned because of financial distress and concern for their family's welfare and others to support the new government, she said.
But the rest of the students have stayed afloat, finding employment or borrowing money from friends and the Iranian business community in Los Angeles. And despite continued barriers to cash flow from Iran,
the general situation appears to have improved over the past month.
"Things are settling down now," said Shahriar Mobashery, an international peer advocate and junior in biology. "The money is slowly coming through and students are getting over the shock. Many have accepted the problem."
Mobashery, who counsels foreign students, said he had to work extra hours during the height of the crisis in February to
accommodate the wave of students who came in with problems.
"Now, not manv people come in for help," Mobashery observed. "I haven't heard many
complaints."
But many students are still requesting letters of standing — (continued on page 5)
Senate drafts own center plan
I he Student Senate has proposed its own version of a uni\ ersitv center, one that differs from a student affairs division draft.
I he student affairs division called fora center that would utilize old facilities as well as new ones to serve the student's needs
I he senate, however, wants one big center that would cost an estimated S20 million to build.
1 hi*- center might include racquetball courts, places to eat, a dance floor, meeting rooms, a pub and music practice rooms.
I he Daily Trojan earlier reported that the senate would begin seeking funds tor the center.
I he senate, however, w ill make no attempt to raise monev until it has a firm land commitment from the universitv, said Jeff Gates, chairman of student affairs ot the Student Senate.
It is rumored that land near the Education Librarv has already been committed for a Richard Nixon center.
A universitv center should have priority oyer something like the Nixon center, which would make the universitv the central Watergate librarv. Gates said.
"Is this the kind of thing we want to be associated
with? With all the controversv the university has been involved with, iust the name, the Nixon Center, is enough to scare me," he said.
It the administration commits land for the center, the senate will approach trustees and alumni for funding.
"It will be a verv clean thing to donate to — straightforward and beneficial to students, Gates said.
The theory behind such a center is that it would bring students, administrators, faculty and staff together in an academic atmosphere, Gates said.
Ihe administration is concerned with quality — with improving the university's academic reputation.
" I he university is getting better facultv and better students but the two must interact more if it's going to move up to the tirst tier. Gates said.
"This means the universitv has to have an academic communitv — faculty that don't rush home at 4:30, students that don't take off when class is over . A university center would provide a place tor a student and professor to interact after class," he said.
(continued on page 3)
DT photo by John Klug
THE BRUSH OFF — A mime attempts to dust off a student at University Village. It seems the street clown's efforts were taken less than seriously as the students left him to approach other shoppers at the Village this weekend.