Nathan Weber was hiking when a trigger activated the lupus disease within him.

Lupus, a result of genetic miscoding, causes the excess production of antibodies. Weber explained that it usually takes a "trigger" such as physical or emotional stress to set lupus off.

The Lupus Foundation of America lists the most common results of lupus as skin rashes, kidney problems and arthritis, but it has been known to attack the lungs and brain.

Because one of every 500 University students may be afflicted with this disease, Weber was inspired to begin the first lupus support group on campus last August.

Weber (sophomore-art), diagnosed in 1983, designed the support group to give students with lupus a chance to meet and socialize. Although a Centre County support group operates, he said nothing was made available for students to meet on their own.

The group meets 2 p.m. every Saturday in 103 Willard.

Many students in the University have the disease but few have responded to the group, Weber said.

Since it is not a disease that can be seen and frequently goes into remission, many students with lupus may be trying to ignore it, Weber said.

"Students especially go through a stage of denial," he said, "but it's not something that can be ignored."

Weber currently stepped up a publicity campaign to encourage more students to recognize and treat the disease seriously.

Dr. Hattie Faison, an employee at Ritenour Health Center who also has lupus, has a special interest in treating students with the disease. The center offers regular monthly checkups for students with lupus.

"What we like to do is catch it early. We're seeing new patients who suspect they have it all the time," she said.

Faison advises students with lupus to avoid sunlight and non-prescription medications.

"You must rest a lot," she added.

Research shows that some people are predisposed to the disease, although symptoms may not show for years.

Lupus patients diagnosed early lead normal lives with the help of drugs and regular checkups, but ignoring the disease can have serious consequences and may lead to death, he said.