UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN Thursday. February 24. 1994 5 'Kansas-stan' lends a hand By Ashley Schultz Kansan staff writer "Kansas-stan." That's what officials in the Republic of Kyrgyzstan in the former Soviet Union call Kansas — a place halfway around the world. But Kansas and the University of Kansas Medical Center have teamed up with an international relief, organization to airlift medical supplies to the financially disadvantaged republic. The project kicks off tonight at the Med Center in Kansas City, Kan., and the nation's ambassador is expected to visit the Lawrence campus today. No longer supplied by Moscow, Kyrgyzstan has problems getting medical supplies on the international market because its currency does not trade internationally, said Jane Cooper, assistant director of development for Heart to Heart International, which is coordinating the airlift. Even aspirin is hard to come by, Coopersaid. "There are just no supplies," she said. "They are simply nonexistent." Heart to Heart became involved with the project through Fred Holmes, professor of medicine at the Med Center, who helped set up a physician-exchange program between Kyrgyzstan and the Med Center. The relief organization came onboard last spring, when Holmes began considering the supply problems Kyrgyz physicians faced. This will be Heart to Heart's fourth project with the former Soviet Union. Cooper said organizers hoped for about $5 million worth of supplies — roughly 35 tons. Barbara Moore, senior project manager for the organization, said the State Department was arranging the aircraft transport. A sea carrier will accommodate what does not fit into the aircraft. KU MED CENTER Kyrgyzstan Some quick facts about the airlift's destination: - declared its independence from the Soviet Union on Aug. 31, 1991 - has an elected president and a liberal democracy has an elected president and a fledgling democracy is almost exactly halfway around the world has an average monthly income of about $10 adopted the "som" for its currency; seven soms equal $1 wants to ease its entrance into the international market by teaching English to its people "Heart to Heart feels very strongly that we just do not send our contributions," Moore said. "We take it." - has a population of about 4.5 million - has a largely Islamic population - has 3,000 small glacier-fed Source: Rose Marino, general course! KANSAN Up to 100 people will help distribute the supplies, Moore said. Cost estimates for the trip, which lasts from July 16 to July 27, stand at $3,175 for each person, and the roster of volunteers is still open. Participants will unload and distribute the supplies. The organization typically uses its pharmaceutical connections to buy supplies at 10 cents on the dollar. It hopes to raise $130,000 to cover supplies not donated, operating costs and the renovation of a ward for cancer patients. Cooper said. Moore said hospitals in the former Soviet Union looked as if they were built in the 1930s. "I have been there five times, and I have seen that the second most powerful nation in the world is like a developing country," she said. George Woodyard, dean of international studies at the University and the Med Center, has visited the insti The KU Medical Center and Heart to Heart International are spartanning an effort to send medical supplies to the Republic of Kyrgyzstan of the U.S. as well as living groups will be putting out boxes for the collection of animals. KU for Kyrgyzstan S. A. Moore/KANSAN tutes of oncology and pediatrics and obstetrics in Kyrgyzstan. He also coordinates the Lawrence-Kyrgyzstan faculty ex-change program, which began in January. "The medical airlift will go in this summer and would provide enough medicines and supplies and the like to last them for some considerable time," Woodyard said. "We are talking about a small population base, so this should make a substantial contribution." Kyrgyzstan is about the same size as Kansas with about double the population, Woodyard said. Motorcyclist wrecks mandatory helmet law KU organized living groups plan to put out collection boxes for nonprescription medicines and books, said Jeff Weinberg, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs and coordinator of the effort. One group is planning to set up in the Kansas Union for a week to make it easier for students living off campus to contribute. The Collection will end April 1, the week after Spring Break. The Associated Press Sen. Phil Martin, D-Pittsburg, himself a motorcyclist, successfully blocked the measure from being advanced to final vote after arguing that helmets do not save lives. Martin is the leading opponent of helmet laws in the Senate. TOPEKA — The Senate yesterday rejected a bill that would have required all motorcycle riders to wear a helmet. The action was a victory both for bikers and for those who advocate state sovereignty. It is rare for the Senate not to advance a bill to final action. Even bills without much support usually are advanced to final action. The vote on advancing the bill was 19-20. It was not recorded. Some opponents objected to the measure because it was mandated by the federal government, under threat of loss of highway construction funds. The issue is hardly new at the State house. Measures to require motorcyclists to wear helmets have been introduced since the late 1970s. Currently, only people under 18 are required to wear helmets. Martin said that forcing bikers to wear helmets would not save lives, a contention that Vidricksen and others disputed. Seni. Todd Tiahart, R-Goddard, said the real issue was the federal government's encroachment on the sovereignty of states. He said 24 other states had not "yielded to the federal government" by passing a mandatory helmet law. ities include: • A contemporary Russian band, • the KU Slavic Folksong Ensemble • a poetry reading in English and Russian • Slavic folk dancing Activities include: Learn more about Russia,Ukraine Poland,and the former Yugoslavia. - and more! 842-3232 If You Don't Know That Number By Now Crawl Out From Under Your Rock And Get Yourself To KU Slavic Club PYRAMID PIZZA 1907 Sunday, Feb.27th 2:00-3:30 p.m. Union Ballroom, Kansas Union Pizza For Only$3.49 + Tax (order two or more for delivery) Thrifty Thursday Deal: Small 1 Topping Kansan Card Offer Good Carry-Out Only "We Care For KU" 14th and Ohio(under the Wheel) We Have Breadsticks Too invites you to come join us in a celebration of Slavic culture! Anonymous HIV Antibody Testing Where? Watkins Health Center What? The Test for HIV - the AIDS virus When? Mondays Cost? $18.50 cash (paid at initial visit) New? How? By Appointment Only "Anonymous Testing" means that you do not use your real name when being tested. Your test results will be provided to you in person two weeks after your initial visit. Testing includes pre- and post-test counseling. 864-9507 Serving Only Lawrence Campus Students IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER(R)(4.30), 7.00, 9.45 THE PIANO(R)(5:15), 8.00 Dickinson Cinema 6 4137 A100 2119 S000 H00 Reality Bites **Pg.13-4* 30**; 7:15, 9:50 'I'll Do Anything' **Pg.13-4* 7:10** Blink **R* 4:25**; 9:40 Blank Check **Pg.4* 30**; 7:00, 9:30 On Deadly Ground **Pg.4* 20**; 7:00, 9:45 Ace Ventura - Pet Detective **Pg.13-4* 4* 00**; 7:20, 9:35 SENIOR CITIZENS $3.00 **3** Primetime Show (1) • Wearing Baby **3** Senior Citizen Anytime • Imagined Stereo BEFORE & PAY ADULTS $1.00 TUNER RATINGS SENIOR CITIZENS $3.00 Crown Cinema VARSITY DUS MASSA WUELDS 421-5017 The GetAway $ ^{R} $ 5.00, 7.15, 9.30 HILLCREST 925 IOWA 841 S1V1 Philadelphia PG-13 4.45 My Girl 2 PG 5.90 6.45 My Father, The Hero PG 8.30 Mrs. Doubtfire PG 7.15 7.50 Blue Chips 13-14 7.10 9.30 CINEMA TWIN (110) IOWA 841-5791 $1.25 3 Musketeers PG 5.00, 7.20, 9.45 Addams Family Values PG 5.00, 7.30, 9.45 Eurocenters At one of 28 - French • Italian • German • Japanese • Spanish • Russian Courses from 3 weeks to 6 months. Teacher refresher courses also available! For more info. contact: For more contact Council Travel 1634 Orrington Ave Evanston, IL 60201 1-800-475-5070 Call for a FREE Student Travels magazine! The University of Kansas School of Fine Arts A New Directions Series Event "The Kronos Quartet is rooted in the classical-quartet tradition, but its members look and sometimes sound more like escapees from the college-music circuit."--Rolling Stone Magazine 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, 1994 Lied Center Tickets on sale at the Lied Center Box Office (864-ARTS); Tickets on sale at the Licee Box Office (864-3982); and any Ticketmaster outlet (913) 234-4545 and (816) 931-3330; public $16 and $14, KU, Haskell and K-12 students $8 and $7, senior citizens and other students $15 and $13; KU student tickets can be purchased through the SUA office, Kansas Union; phone orders can be made using MasterCard or VISA; all courses are required. Partially funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, Kansas Arts Commission, KU Student Senate Activity Fee, Friends of the Lied Series, and the Kansas University Endowment Association. Special thanks to this year's Very Important Partners: Hallmark Marks, Inc., Kief's Audio and Video, Payless ShoeSource and W.T. Kemper Foundation, Commerce Bank Trustee.