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Hockley County STD Rate Higher than State Average, SPCAA
Levelland Suggests Students Get Tested
by Jacob Tucker, feature editor
Classes, homework, and relationships have always been at the epicenter
of a college student’s mind. But at South Plains College, there is a
new worry lurking in the shadows.
Each year the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) releases
a report that states the number of sexually transmitted diseases in the
state. The diseases listed are HIV/AIDS, Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and
syphilis. The report also contains charts and graphs that total and
compare the number of cases received during the past two years.
Due to the state’s large size,
Texas
is divided into 11 different public health regions. Lubbock and Hockley
counties are located in Region 1.
“Chlamydia is the most common case that we receive from the college,”
said Diane Gillit, director of health services at the Levelland center
of South Plains Community Action.
Last year, the rate of cases for the Hockley County area was at an
average of 388.4, and in the
Lubbock
County
the rate was up to 526.4. These were astounding leaps from the state
average of 316.8.
“Due to the population increase at SPC, we have been seeing more and
more students coming over to get treated for these diseases,” said
Gillit.
Spring Enrollment Declines as Gas Prices Rise
by Amanda Hurt-Piercy, staff writer
Decrease Seen in SPC Enrollment
With the 2006 spring semester underway, South Plains College is seeing a
decline in enrollment numbers across all campuses.
As
of Jan. 30, SPC has enrolled a total of 8,583 students, down from the
9,308 students who were enrolled during the fall of 2005 and decreasing
4.1 percent from spring 2005. “It looks like we are seeing a slight
decrease at each of our campuses,” said Andrea Rangel, dean of
admissions and records.
(to continue story...click on heading)
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