Monday, March 9, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section A • Page 9
International women interact
By Emily C. Forsyth
eforsyth@kansan.com
Kansas staff writer
Farahana Afroz, Bangladesh, India, PhD candidate, listens to the conversations as she enjoys some refreshments. Afroz was in the Malotti Room yesterday afternoon to take part in International Women's Day. Photo by Geoff Krieger/KANSAN
Women from around the world gathered yesterday at a reception in the Malott Room of the Kansas Union to commemorate International Women's Day.
About 20 women attended the reception from 2 to 4 p.m., which was co-sponsored by International Student Services and the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center.
Women who attended the reception mingled and talked to one another about cultural similarities and differences. Several women were dressed in clothing that represented their countries or cultures.
Rachel Lee, graduate assistant for the center, said the celebration was part of the observance of March as Women's History Month. She said the reception was an opportunity to honor international students for the enrichment they added to the University of Kansas.
"One of the wonderful aspects about being in a university community is the diversity of people that you meet," Lee said. "They also kind of help educate all of us and connect us to the world of women outside of the United States."
"I'm really happy that some people chose to wear their outfits," said
Daphne Johnston, interim director of International Student Services. "Several of them said that they hardly ever get a chance to do that, outside of maybe a cultural celebration that their nationality group might be doing."
Yuan Zhao, Shanghai, China, graduate student wore a Qi Pao, which is a traditional Chinese dress. She said the dress was too formal for most occasions.
Johnston said International Women's Day was much more widely celebrated in other countries.
"We cannot wear this dress every day," Zhao said. "We usually just wear T-shirts and blue jeans."
"Some students here would have been used to having something much more special going on today," Johnston said. "Whereas, it kind of just goes by most Americans, without them even knowing that it's a
day of importance."
Mariel Sinkov, Moscow junior,
said in Russia, International
Women's Day was similar to Valentine's Day in the United States. She said women in Russia received gifts and flowers. Sinkov said her husband took her out to dinner yesterday to celebrate the holiday.
"Since I have been here in the United States, the meaning of the eighth of March has sort of diminished for me," Sinkov said. "Women are not celebrating it in the United States as much as they are in Russia."
Johnston said in past years, International Women's Day had been commemorated by a panel discussion. This year, she said Barbara Ballard, director of the women's center, wanted to do something different and provide women more of an opportunity to interact.
"It's so often on a big campus like this that you get into your own department or your own cultural group." Johnston said. "Or, your group of people is sort of limited because of time."
For more information, see page 11A
County clinic offers vaccinations
By Graham K. Johnson
gjohnson@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Students and Lawrence residents looking for inexpensive immunizations for their children can visit the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department's immunization clinic.
The department, located at 336 Missouri Street, provides a clinic open to all Douglas County residents. The clinic offers many types of vaccinations, including childhood vaccinations, tetanus boosters and vaccinations for travelers.
Jodie Patterson, a registered nurse who works at the clinic, said that the clinic was not busy this time of the year.
"It is going to start to pick up and then by summer, in terms of vaccinations, we're pretty busy," Patterson said.
IMMUNIZATION CLINIC
The bulk of the clinic's business is providing young children vaccinations against diseases. The clinic is participating in a nationwide effort to have 90 percent of children up-to-date on their vaccinations by the year 2000.
Patterson said vaccinations would increase during the summer as a result of the advent round-up, which is the annual preparation and vaccination of preschool and kindergarten-age children.
Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department Immunization Clinic
The clinic is open: M-F 8:30 (9:30 on Tuesdays) to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 to 4:30 with the exception of Monday and Thursday (open until 7 or 8 p.m.)
The clinic also is open from 10:00 a.m. to noon on the first Saturday of each month.
Jodie Patterson, registered nurse, prepares a syringe for a vaccination shot. Patterson works for the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department's immunization clinic, which provides low cost vaccinations for children. Photo By Graham K. Johnson/KANSAN
The clinic offers children's immunizations for Hepatitis B; diphemeria; whooping cough; Haemophilus Influenza Type B; polio; measles, mumps and Rubella; chicken pox; and tetanus.
The clinic offers vaccinations for these travel-related diseases:
Yellow fever, Hepatitis A, meningitis, typhoid fever, cholera, and malaria.
Children should have most of the major vaccinations by the age of two, said Barbara Schnitker, director of nurses at the department.
The nationwide effort is being aided by a federal program established by the Clinton administration in 1994. The federal program, Vaccines for Children, subsidizes
the cost of the vaccines.
Schnitker said that although the clinic charged parents a $6 administrative fee, the service was essentially free.
The clinic also provides many vaccinations for vacationing students or Lawrence residents.
"No one is denied for lack of funds," she said.
"It does seem like we get a lot just before spring break," Patterson said.
to foreign countries cost up to $60, but it is worthwhile for several reasons. Patterson said.
She said that it was important because of the obvious health benefits, but that it was also important because many countries require certain vaccinations.
Vaccinations for those traveling
She said it was important that travelers came in for vaccinations early. She said that once kindergarten and preschool-age children came rolling in, students might face a 30-minute wait.
Check Out The New Bars In Town
Full Slab...$10.99
Half Slab...$5.49
BBQ Pork Spare Ribs
Slab...$8.99
Half Slab (Big End)...$3.49
Half Slab (Short End)...$5.49
includes choice of BBQ beans, cole slaw or potato salad,pickle and tater curls piled high to the sky,free with every order NOW THROUGH MARCH 31st!
9th & Massachusetts