CAMPUS AND AREA
University Daily Kansan, May 1, 1985
Page 3
NEWS BRIEFS
West German profs to speak
Two professors from the architecture and construction engineering department at the University of Dortmund, West Germany, are scheduled to present lectures at the University of Kansas today and tomorrow.
Stefan Polonyi, dean of the department, will speak on "A New Conception of reinforced concrete." at 3:30 p.m. today in 2028 Learned Hall
Harald Dielmann, a former dean at Dortmund, will present the second lecture, "Post-War Architecture in Germany," at Spencer Museum of Art and the Auditorium of the Spencer Museum of Art.
Polonyi and Dielmann will deliver a joint lecture on the integrated education of architects and engineers at Dortmund at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow in room 315 of the Art and Design Building. They will be at KU the rest of this week.
The professors' visit is sponsored by the School of Architecture and Urban Design Department.
Greeks promote ALS research
The Phi Delta Theta fraternity donated $19,500 this year to the Kansas University Endowment Association for the research support of the University of Kansas Medical Center.
ALS, commonly known as "Lou Gehrig disease," is a neuromuscular disease that causes atrophy of the muscles in the hands, legs, neck and respiratory system.
For the past six years, the fraternity has sponsored the Keith R. Worthington Memorial Basketball Tournament to raise money for the research. The annual event has brought in about $75,000 for ALS research at the Med Center.
Twenty men's fraternity teams from seven area universities participated in this year's tournament, conducted from Feb. 8 to 10.
Worthham, an alumnus of the Phi Delta Theta chapter at the University of Missouri, died in 1984 after suffering from leukemia. He was the president of the AJS Society of America.
Revue chalks up $15,000
This year's Rock Chalk Revue, a variety show features skits written and produced by KU living groups, made about $13,000 the show's executive director said yester-
In April $7,500 of that was donated to the Lawrence United Fund, said Dave Smith, the director.
The performing groups will be given 40 percent of the $1,500 to cover the costs of the productions, and 10 percent will go to fund for next year's show. Smith said.
Visiting prof to exhibit photos
More than $45,000 was raised from sales of tickets, concessions and sweatshirts, Smith said.
Bill Ryan, professor of mass communications at Briar Cliff College and a spring 1985 Mellon Fellow, will examine photography taken by the Farm Securities Administration during the Great Depression and Anderson Auditorium in the Kansas Union.
The lecture, which is free and open to the public, will outline the history and purposes of the FSA and its role in graphing scenes from the Depression.
Weather
Today will be mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of thundershowers and a high around 70. Winds will be northwest from 10 to 15 mph. Tonight will be increasingly cloudy with a low in the low 50s. Tomorrow will be partly cloudy with a high in the mid 70s.
Compiled from Kansan staff and United Press International reports.
Correction
Because of a reporter's error, yesterday the Kansas incorrectly reported the penalties the parking service may impose upon students who have not paid parking fees. The department would have a student's transcript or enrollment materials withheld for failure to pay fines.
Director's 'tough love' helps alcoholics
By MICHELLE T. JOHNSON
Staff Reporter
Sitting in his office in Strong Hall, Fred McElhene sees dozens of students coming in and out each day seeking advice on University housing.
The students' questions cover a range of topics, from complaints about roommates to health issues.
But away from the office, McElhenie deals with housing of a different kind. He helps run a halfway house for men who are trying to recover from alcoholism.
Fred McEilenhain, director of the office of residential pro- office. McEilenhain also helps to run a halfway house for men grams, laughs at a joke made by one of the secretaries in his trying to recover from alcoholism.
Veda Owens/KANSAN
MeEhlenie, director of the office of residential programs, dedicates a special part of his life to this house and the men who work there he understands the daily battle they face.
McElhene is a recovering alcoholic. Three years ago, he helped establish the halfway house for men trying to regain control of their lives in an afflicted disease that he grappled with 15 years ago.
PROTECTING THE privacy of the men is important. McElhenie said, so he doesn't divulge the name or address of the halfway house.
Six men usually live at the halfway house at one time. The names of the men change, but the problem that brings them there doesn't.
MeElhennie views the halfway house as a place to build self-confidence and to get back on track both psychologically and emotionally.
McElhenny never lived in a halfway house when he was drinking, but he thought trying to help alcoholics who needed and wanted help was important.
BEING COMPLETELY detoxified is the most stringent requirement for men who want to enter the halfway house, McEhbene said. Prospective residents must have at least made an attempt to stop drinking and they can be considered for the halfway house.
A committee, including McElhenny, interviews the men before they are allowed to live in the community.
The men must spend their days working or looking for a job. McEllenne said, paying what they can for rent and attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
The length of time the men live at the house varies, McEhlenie said. The minimum stay is 90 days, but some men have stayed in the house up to a year. However, a resident who drinks alcohol during his stay at the house, in front of the house, may be expelled immediately.
"I can truthfully say that the worst day I have today is 100 times better than the best day I ever had when I was drinking." McElhiem said.
THE MEN WHO live in the halfway house have to abide by strict rules, but the rules follow a theory McElheni calls "tough love."
"It's a rigorous regimen that we put these men through." McEhlenie said. "We try to give them hope, but some of them are not ready."
More than 15 years ago, said McElhennie, now 48, he began to overcome a drinking problem that threatened to destroy his marriage, his health and his career.
As director of residential programs, McElhene is directly or indirectly in charge of hundreds of people. His office oversees the staff of all of University housing and is the first contact students usually have with the housing staff. The office is responsible for contracts, room assignments and guidance for students in housing.
JOYCE CLUFF, assistant director of residential programs, describes McElinie's job as a lot of "advising and morale building."
A native of Leavenworth, McEhlene graduated from Rockhurst College in Kansas City. Mo., with a degree in education and business, and graduated in Kansas in 1958 to obtain his graduate degree.
He has been at KU since then. As a graduate student, McElinie worked part-time in what is now called the office of financial aid. He became part of the staff of the dean of men and eventually became dean until, upon the position was eliminated in 1978.
McElhene then became the director of the newly created office of residential programs. One of his first acts as director was to hire Ruth Mikelsen as his associate director.
MIKKELSON SAID she considered McElhene the best supervisor she had ever worked for because of the way he kept life in order and brought humor, even when faced with a load of work.
One way he fosters a supportive atmosphere is by encouraging an open discussion of problems in the office. Mikkelson said, "We have many presentations, but they've never been disagreeable."
KEEPING THE world in perspective is a practice that not only makes McEhline's own job easier, Cliff said, but also makes easier the job of the others in the office.
His experiences with alcoholism, she said, has helped to shape his tolerance for people and is helpful.
"He takes a lot of criticism for things that
are not his fault." Cliff said. "But Fred is not one to say 'that's not really my fault.'
As an administrator who has to deal with a number of students, Cliff said, McElhene exhibits an abundance of understanding and generosity.
Chiff said she had seen occasions when McEllenie had lent money to students for emergencies or had offered to store students' shoes in his garage during the summer months.
WHEN HE IS not in the office, McElhene spends his time jogging, reading, giving talks on alcoholism and alcohol abuse and devoting time to the halfway house.
MElennie said spending time educating students on plebiscite awareness and abuse was important.
McElhenie said young people often thought of themselves as indestructible. In his talks, he tries to stress the consequences of unhealthy drinking behavior.
McElhene said he was concerned about the opportunities University housing seemed to offer.
The decision was made so that students wouldn't be forced to go out to drink, and also so that the amount of drinking could be more easily controlled by the staff, he said.
"We eventually decided that 3.2 cereal milk beverages could be consumed in the bus," he said.
THE YEARS OF drinking may have taken their toll and left painful lessons in their wake, but McElheenie said the suffering had just made him appreciate life more.
"When you face death cyebell to cyebell, you take an entirely different approach to life."
MeMelien came from an Irish Catholic family. During family get-together, family members would make drinking as much a habit as passion as eating is in some families, he said.
"I don't blame anyone at all, because no one ever poured a drink down my mouth," he战
MelEliene's wife, Marilyn, has seen the effects of her husband's drinking. She considers herself enthusiastically based on the husband and the drinking problem he conquered.
She said that after her husband stopped drinking it was like "meeting another person for the first time."
McEhenie's alcoholism came to a head after he had been hospitalized six times in a nine-month period for medical problems aggravated by drinking, she said.
WHEN THE CHOICE was between continuing to drink or dying, she said, her husband made the choice that has kept him alive today.
Pat, a KAU sophomore, said his father was always busy, always involved and always smart.
One part of their life together that she values is the time McEihenhe has devoted to his family. The McEihenhes have three children: Tim, 25; Erin, 24; and Pat, 19.
"I really don't know what to say to round out Fred's personality, because he's just a very caring person," Marilyn McElhenie said.
He vaguely remembers the period when his father was drinking, Pat said, but he regards quitting as the greatest thing his father has ever done.
GM selects KC as site for $750 million plant
By United Press International
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — General Motors officials at the Fairfax plant, along with Sen. Robert Dole, announced yesterday the planned construction of a $750 million plant in the industrial district.
"GM will continue operating the old plant (in that district) until the new facility is ready to go," Dole, R-Kan., announced from Washington about 45 minutes before GM executives told employees at the Fairfax plant. "Therefore, they don't anticipate any layoffs during the transition."
The long-awaited GM decision came after months of lobbying and negotiating with local, state, and federal officials.
Nen. Nancy Kassebaum, R-Kan, Rep. Jan Meyers, R-Kan, Kansas Gov. John Carlin and Kansas City, Kan. Mayor Jack Reardon are among the public officials who have worked to persuade GM to locate the plant in Kansas City.
GM officials at the Fairfax plant made their announcement about 9:45 a.m.
The 2.3 million-square-foot automobile assembly plant will be finished in time to produce 1988 GM-10 midsize models. The expected date of opening is late summer 1987.
KANSAS AND MISSOLI are among several states seeking GM's Saturn assembly plant. A decision on that project is expected later this spring.
"We are obviously delighted that all of the final obstacles were overcome," said Dole, the Senate majority leader, who had been appointed to a possible environmental problems at the site.
Kassbeau said, "The word today from General Motors is great news for Kansas City. GM's investment of $750 million will help sustain growth in the region. And employees will be relieved to know that a solid employee base will remain in the metro area."
Carlin yesterday hailed GM's decision.
"This is an exciting day for Kansas City and for the entire state of Kansas," the Democratic governor said. "Today's announcement by General Motors to build a new plant to assemble the GM-10 is important because it is an expression of confidence by that company in our state, particularly the Kansas City area."
Carlin said the investment, which has been dubbed the largest in state history, means jobs and development for Kansas City, Kan. "Certainly I want to comment the officials of Kansas City, Kan," he said. "I also want to thank the congressional deliberation."
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