Determination and Selflessness, A Student's Story.

One year ago, Ethan Kenney lost his mother to an aggressive form of Lupus, but now, Ethan believes he found the perfect way to honor her short existence.

In memory of her life and to bring awareness to this often disregarded disease, Ethan plans to 52 miles straight in hopes of glorifying his mother, His heavenly Father, and contributing all his earnings to support the Lupus Foundation of America.

“Anyone can accomplish amazing feats and help in a worthy cause, I felt like I had a purpose to help…why not start now,” Ethan states.

On November 22nd, when Ethan and his brothers of Sigma Nu hold their annual philanthropy, the Gameball Run, which supports Multiple Sclerosis, Ethan will run 52 miles in support of the South Carolina Chapter for the Lupus Foundation of America. This idea came to him during last year’s Gameball Run. “It was only a few weeks after my mother’s death, I said a prayer and asked God to help me bring glory to Him and my mother through the run. And now this year I have been able to train for the whole race.”

In preparation for the race, Ethan typically goes to Centennial Park for 1 long run a week, but you can still find him at the Strom multiple times a week running shorter distances or weight training.

According to the LFA, Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which affects various parts of the body, including the skin, joints, heart, lung, blood, kidneys and brain. In an autoimmune disorder like Lupus, the immune system cannot tell the difference between foreign substances and its own cells and tissues.

Typically, Lupus us a mild disease affecting only a few organs. For others, like Ethan’s mom Leslie, it may cause serious and even life-threatening problems. Studies suggest that more than 16,000 Americans develop Lupus each year.

Kenney went on to describe his mother’s condition. “My mother had systemic Lupus which attacked much of her body but primarily her liver and kidneys. I think the number of people diagnosed with Lupus is going to spike up in the next few years...I just want to help people become more aware of this disease.”

90% of people with Lupus have been found to be women, and symptoms typically occur between the ages of 15 and 45. The cause of Lupus is still unknown but may be connected to hereditary, environmental, or hormonal factors.

“A lot of people can still live active lives,” Kenney adds. “My mother worked about five to seven hours a day, but some days she never got out of bed afterward. She worked just enough to pay for her insurance.”

According to Ethan’s brothers in the fraternity, he has been an inspiration to many of them. Being an active member in his fraternity, a pre-medical student, and taking care of his family all at once commands respect. “It had to have been really hard for him here at USC and at home. Going through college as a pre-med student while taking care of his mother is not easy,” states Tray Janney, a second year Sigma Nu.

Ethan’s experiences solidified his mission in life to become a doctor. “Even though I was forced to grow up fast and missed a lot of the college experience, I am thankful to have my head on straight and be where I am today.”

Ethan contributes much of his happiness to the great group of friends who have supported him through difficult times. He advises people in similar situations to have a strong support group, keep occupied, and pursue what matters most to them.

Before November 22nd, Ethan’s goal is to generate awareness and gain support towards raising money for the South Carolina chapter for Lupus, as well as continuing to support his fraternal philanthropy. “The more involvement, the stronger I will feel about the race. I am really thankful for some of my friends in Kappa Kappa Gamma who have already asked if they could bike with me throughout the race.”

Ethan Kenney’s determination and selflessness reminds us that anyone can accomplish the impossible if they truly set their minds and hearts to it.

If anyone would like more information about Lupus, visit the LFA’s website at http://www.lupus.org/newsite/index.html. Or talk to someone from the South Carolina Chapter by calling: 864-269-2887, or 877-895-8787.

To contact Ethan Kenney, sponsor him, or make a donation call: 727-4196 or e-mail him at flcncc1719@aol.com.

"Is that Going to be on my Permanent Record..."

“Is that Going to be on my Permanent Record…”
By: Lauren R. Cohen

BUSTED! During the month of August you may have been one of the 196 underage youths that received a startling visit from the new Alcohol Enforcement Team. In a daze of confusion and the sudden image of you and your parents having a friendly conversation from the local jail pay phone, you decided to run and nonchalantly toss your drink into the nearest set of bushes. Little did all 196 of you know that a new underage legislation was put into effect this past July. Under this new law, youths under the age of 21 can be charged with a ticket if they possibly were drinking and were caught with alcohol. Similarly, assumption can be implemented if there is enough alcohol on the premise to supply for all the attendants of the party. Previously, the law only addressed those who had direct possession and made the purchase. As you and all your friends listen to the officer raffle off all the consequences of your actions of engaging in underage drinking, you realize that a, your checking account will now be negative $465, b, you will be walking to class tomorrow because your drivers license is now suspended, and the big one…c, all that does not even matter because due to that first citation back in freshman year, you will be catching the first flight home now that your scholarship is nonexistent.

So now what? Yes, the conversation with the family may not be the happiest, but there is a way to fix this dreaded situation. So for all 196 of you, and the rest that have been caught since August, take out a pencil because you might just be able to reschedule that flight home! Sophomore, Taylor Solemn (name changed for security purposes) empathizes with all of you out there because she too, was the victim of the new enforcement team. After Taylor was distributed a ticket earlier this year, she quickly found out how to expunge the citation off her record.

“ I was ticketed for underage possession, since this was my first offense I decided to pay for ADP (Alcohol Diversion Program). It was a total fee of $500 but that included my class and all the court fees. It was so much easier to do it this way. I just went to the Courthouse filled out the paper work and I was done. They also gave me the option of taking one- eight hour class or breaking them up into smaller sessions.” Taylor went on to explain some of the other scenarios her friends were in. “Some of my friends weren’t as lucky, the owners of the home went directly to jail and had other charges, others who had been given tickets previously were not allowed to take ADP and had to take IPT they too had other more severe consequences. I did have a friend who was confident in her case and initially requested a jury trial, I’m not sure what came of her situation, but I know she wasn’t allowed to take ADP since she initially requested the trial.”

As Taylor commented on, repeat offenders do not have it as easy as the first timers. For people with a previous record, they risk loosing their LIFE, Palmetto Fellows, HOPE, and any other scholarships applied for. Scholarships are still supplied if the defendant pleads guilty and or is convicted, but that person is ineligible for the following year.

“If I could give any advice it would be to make sure that everyone understands the ramifications of drinking underage, the officers are just doing their jobs, but they are out patrolling. The new laws are severe and the officer are enforcing them,” Taylor states.

It may be difficult to resist the temptation of going out with friends, but now that everyone is more aware of the consequences, hopefully you wont become the 197th offender.

To learn more about these new regulations and enforcement team visit the following helpful sites:
www.lradac.org
www.cofc.edu/.../Drug_and_Alcohol_policies_files/South%20Carolina%20Laws%20Related%20to%20Alcohol%20U
www.sa.sc.edu.adp/resources.htm