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Thursday, September 21, 1989 / University Daily Kansan
Board asks KU to give math test to state's schools
Kansan staff writer
By Kate Lee
Students in three grade levels will have their basic mathematic skills tested in Spring 1991, said John Poggio, co-coordinator of the center for education testing and evaluation
The State Board of Education has asked the University of Kansas to develop and administer the test, he said.
Poggio said that at this point the plan called for third, seventh- and
tenth-graders to be tested.
"In third-grade, the students are just ending the primary grades," he said. "In the seventh, they are either ending the elementary education or getting their sixth-graders, there are still two years left to correct any problems."
The state could decide to test other grades. Poggio said.
He said there would probably be 35,000 to 40,000 students tested. Students tested in 1991 will continue to be tested on a yearly basis.
Lee Droegemueller, commissioner of education, said the testing was just one part of the state's plan to improve mathematics education.
"If you attend an accredited school in the state of Kansas and are in one of the grades to be tested, you will be," Poggio said.
The plan includes defining mathematics standards for the state, staff development for instructing teachers, and building a partnership between schools, businesses and parents to define and correct problems, Droegemueller said.
'We want to go to businesses and industry and ask them, "What skills do you need?" he said.
Poggio said the plan would be unique because it would involve not only identifying student weaknesses developing plans for improvement.
He said there were other states that have testing, but if students did not meet the minimum standards they would not be advanced to the next grade level.
"This program places a premium on feedback," Poggio said. "If you're going to take the initiative to make a test, then you should make an equally strong commitment to guide the instructors. This is using testing to best serve education."
Droegemueller said KU was chosen to develop the test because of its excellent reputation in test design.
The University has been developing competency tents for 10 years. Peggy
"Our work has been good work,"
he said. "We've received state recognition and national acclaim for what we do. We're committed to quality education in the state."
Poggio said that the Legislature voted last year to discontinue its testing program, hick had been mandated beginning in the 1979-80 academic year. The board took the initiative for this program, he said.
"I suspect the board will ask the Legislature for funding to continue the program past this year," he said.
Congressman wants removal of pesticides
By Derek Schmidt Kansan staff writer
A Kansas congressman yesterday introduced legislation to expedite the removal of potentially dangerous pesticides from the market
Rep Pat Roberts, a Dodge City Republican, proposed amending the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act to allow the Environmental Protection Agency to more quickly 'ban potentially hazardous chemicals,' said Fred Zillinger, Roberts' press secretary.
During last summer's concern about the health dangers of Alar, a chemical used to treat apples, EPA Director William Reilly told the House Agriculture Committee that legal barriers prevented the EPA from quickly banning Alar or other chemicals. Zillinger said.
Roberts said his legislation would hasten that process.
"EPA officials have testified that under current pesticide laws, cancelling a potentially dangerous chemical can take eight years or longer." Roberts said in a statement. "The EPA uses on and removes many of the lethal chemicals that prohibit the EPA from moving quickly against problem pesticides."
Robert's bill also the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act by slightly increasing the allowable causing risk from pesticide residue.
The FFDA currently requires a zero lifetime cancer risk from pesticides in foods'. Roberts' proposal modifies the so-called Delaney Clause, which establishes the zero risk standard, to allow a negligible risk of 1 in 1.000.000. Zillinger said.
"M
IVy bill helps to assure a continued safe, plentiful and inexpensive food supply for all America.'
- Rep. Pat Roberts
In 1988, the EAF adopted the negligible risk standard, but environmental groups have said that contraction of the law's zero risk requirement.
Roberts said, "The Delaney Clause has come under intense scientific criticism as being an unworkable regulatory mandate. A National Academy of Sciences study recommended that the EPA apply a negligible risk standard and move away from the scientifically obsolete concept of zero risk."
The congressman said that his legislation was designed to balance the interests of environmentalists, farmers and consumers.
"My bill helps to assure a contin-
ance, safe plentiful and inexpensive
food."
The bill now will be debated by the House Agriculture Committee. Roberts said he expected the committee to pass it unanimously.
Firemen frequent University buildings on false alarms, leaving the city vulnerable to real blazes.
False alarms pose real danger
By Bryan Swan Kansan staff writer
False fire alarms at KU housing facilities pose a potential danger to Lawrence because the city owns only one ladder truck to fight structural fires, said Jim McSwain. Lawrence fire chief.
poses a problem and a threat to the community."
"If a ladder truck is on a false alarm, it is the only piece of equipment like that in the city," he said. "With the staff and equipment not available, it certainly
However, McBwain said that ongoing programs at residence halls and cooperation from University housing officials had significantly reduced false alarms during recent years.
"Beginning in the fall, we have a program in all the halls that emphasizes how to react if there is a fire," he said. "Obviously, we spend time discussing false alarms in residence halls, and the
have declined dramatically."
Sgt. Schuyler Bailey, KU police spokesman, said the Jayhawker Tower was the only campus buildings to have recurrent false alarms reported this semester.
McSwain said it was difficult to emphasize the cost of false fire alarms in terms of dollars.
"Money is not really a factor," he said. "People are still going to pay the same taxes."
KU applies for FCC license to broadcast television courses
Kansan staff writer
By Travis Butler
Some KU students might be able to attend their class lectures through the television by next year if the University installs a new set of low-power broadcasting stations.
These stations have been planned in conjunction with a closed-circuit TV network linking the Lawrence campus, the Regents Center in Overland Park, and the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas High School. The education director of media services for Continuing Education.
"We have a need to deliver cass instruction in a greater quantity than usual."
Many students are wanting classes
Richard Poindexter, Leawood senior, said he would appreciate not having to commute.
that are difficult to get into in Kansas City and Overland Park because there aren't enough faculty to teach them. Marion said.
"If they offered any of the undergraduate business classes at the Regents Center, it would be great," he said. "Especially some of the higher-level business courses."
Many engineering students are working full-time and don't have time to spend half a day commuting to school for a one-hour class, Marion said.
"What we are looking for is to provide instruction at the students' grade level."
To do this, the University has
If the FCC approves the licenses, the University will build stations at the Lawrence campus, at the new Regents Center location at 127th Street and Quivira Road, and at the Med Center campus. Two stations will be built in Bonner Springs.
applied to the Federal Communications Commission for five low-power television broadcast licenses, he said.
If the FCC approves the licenses, the University will build stations at the Lawrence campus, at the new Regents Center location at 127th Street and Quirai Road, and at the Med Center campus. Two stations will be built in Bonner Springs, Marion said.
Each station would have a range of about 12 miles, he said, and the actual reception at any point would be different in conditions in the surrounding area.
The programs will not be scrambled, Marion said. Anyone in the area of coverage will be able to view them.
The Regents Center station will be UHF channel 68, he said. The Med Center will have channel 68; the
Bonner Springs stations, channels 23 and 57; and the Lawrence station, channel 14.
"Look at the programs offered at the Regents Center, and you'll see the type of classes we have a need for." he said.
Each station should cost about $100,000. Marion said. However, he said that it was only a rough estimate.
"The costs will be determined by the specifics of construction at the site." he said.
For example, there are three types of towers that could be used for the stations' broadcast antenna, Marion said. Which kind to be used at each site will depend on the aesthetics of the site, the ground characteristics and other factors, he said.
Watkins participates in medication experiment for sprains
By Melanie Matthes
Kansan staff writer
If Danny Manning had known that knee injuries meant cash at Watkins Memorial Health Center, maybe he would have hung around Mount Oread a little longer.
The injured Manning could have participated in a knee and ankle injury study taking place this semester at the University of Kansas.
Participants will be paid $100 to take part in the study, said Debbie Ellis. registered nurse at Watkins.
tion for treatment of acute ankle and knee sprains, she said.
They will be given either the medication being studied or a pain killer with codeine and a placebo medica-
The study is part of an attempt by Syntax Laboratories, Palo Alto, Calif., to have naproxen sodium, a pain-killing medication, approved for over-the-counter use, said Charles Vockey, Watkins' chief of staff.
The medication is similar to over-the-counter pain killers such as Advil, Motrin and Nuprin, he said. It has been used as a prescription drug for depression, but it may be approved by the Federal Drug Administration for over-the-counter
A placebo is a nonmedicated pill or tablet administered as a control substance in medical research.
it's like the difference between a Buick and an Oldsmobile. The drugs are very similar but not the same.'
"It's like the difference between a Buick and an Oldmobile," Yookey said. "The drugs are very similar but not the same."
Ellis said that naproxen sodium was used for pain associated with arthritis and post-surgery conditions.
use.
Charles Yockey, Watkins Memorial Health Center
Yockey said Watkins began the study in May and had about 15
participants so far.
He said Watkins was required to have 100 participants by December. If they do not have the participants, may be withdrawn from the study.
Ellis said that participants should come to Watkins as soon as they were injured. They will be examined by a doctor and a physical therapist and will be given the medication for seven days.
"It's not because students aren't willing to participate." Yockey said. "It's because we haven't seen that many sprains and strains."
Participants will evaluate the effects of the medication and investigators will determine how naproxen sodium compares to Tylonel, sheila
Ellis said that students who were allergic to asparta, Tylenol, codeine and phenobarbital.
The study is called a blind study because neither the investigators nor the participants know what drug they are getting, she said.
KU student film debuts on campus 2 from University play leading roles
By Tracy Wilkinson Kansan staff writer
The lights dimmed at exactly 7:38 p.m. last night in Dyche auditorium.
The film premiere was preceded by the short comedy, "Melvin Loses Weight," which won first place last October at the Kansas Film Institute Awards.
About 200 people became silent, waiting for the film to roll on KU movie night. Did Yonan's latest feature "Fragments," a 50-minute psycho-drama.
This is easily the biggest thing we've ever done. It is also easily the most laborious thing we've ever done. It is the easily the best-looking and also the most expensive thing we've ever done.'
T
— David Yonally
Overland Park senior
Between the welcoming of the audience and the introduction of his film, Yonally, Overland Park senior, walked from the stage to the projection room and back again.
"This is easily the biggest thing we've ever done," he said, clasping his hands together and planting both feet on the floor. "It is also easily the most laborious thing we've ever done. It is the easily the best-looking and also the most expensive thing we've ever done."
Daniel Soderberg, director of cine-
mographed films on the film
inaugurated December.
"We shot in nine days, on weekends," he said. "Sometimes we worked up to 20 hours a day, until three or four in the morning."
Njon Nicum, director of sound, said Yonally planned to use "Fragments" to finance his next movie. He said the film was intended to sell the film to cable television.
Yonally's next movie has been tentatively titled "Black Magic," and a large scale budget already has been secured, Niccum said.
Soderberg said "Fragments" was presented by Fonab Films, written and directed by Yonally, and had a cast an crew of about 20 people.
The film was described by its disgruntled director, both a thriller and a pabvbc-dram.
Will Carpenter, Ballwin, Mo,
senior, and Jan Chapman, Lawrence
senior, played the leading roles of
Chris and Tonya, two KU students
who were thrown together as room-
mates because of financial need.
The storyline follows the relationship between the mentally unbalanced Chris and his female roommate Tonya. Chris seems to hate all women and often verbally abuses Tonya.
Chris' disturbance stems from a childhood molestation and, subsequently, from the psychic gift he believes God gave him as a consolation for having to go through the torture and humiliation of the experience.
Former Kansas politician aspires to shape public health policy
By Derek Schmidt Kansan staff writer
By Derek Schmidt
A former Kansas congressman has retired from his Topela obstetrical practice, but he hopes to have an impact on public policy again.
Bill Roy, 63, plans to work with public health policy, including the campaign for national health insurance. He is also organizing a course in health policy law. He said he would be willing to teach the course at the University of Kansas but intended to teach it at Washburn University of Topeka because his contacts there were stronger.
"I'm probably going to get the chance, and I'll probably do it, and I'll probably wish I hadn't tried it." Roy, who also holds a law degree,
Roy, who represented the 2nd district from 1971-74, said he wanted to spend more time with his family, especially his eight grandchildren.
Jim Parrish, chairman of the state Democratic Party, said he had asked Ronald Reeves re-entering public life, but Ronald neither accepted nor declined.
"I'm retiring because I want to go out while I'm still vertical," Roy said.
Roy left the House of Representatives in 1974 and ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in 1974 and 1978. Lawrence was not part of the 2nd district during his term in office.
"On bad days I have up to a dozen people ask me to run for governor." Roy said. "On good days I don't have anybody ask me."
Roy said he had no such plans.
The Vietnam War prompted him to enter politics in 1971, said Roy, who
I'm probably going to get the chance, and I'll probably do it, and I'll probably wish I hadn't tried it because it won't be easy.'
"
Bill Roy
Former Kansas senator
former Kansas congressman
had never before held a public office.
"The Vietnam War was just tear-
ing."
Roy said he changed from a Republican to a Democrat after the 1968 election because he "was prescient about Richard Nixon."
Only one piece of political memorabilia adorned Roy's Topea office when he retired; a framed letter of congratulations for his work in developing health maintenance organizations, which are designed to keep health costs down. The letter was signed by President Nixon.
"I think he brought a new chapter in grass roots politics that this part of the state hadn't seen." Parrish said
Parrish described Roy as a piece of, "political history in Kansas."
Burdett Loomis, chairman of political science at KU, said Roy was part of a trend among politicians of that era to spend more time in their
districts.
"He and she were roughly similar in their liberalism." Loomis said.
Loomis said Roy helped pave the way for the election of his successor, Martha Keys, a Manhattan Democrat, who Farrish said was the first woman elected to Congress from Kansas.
Roy may not again hold public office, but he continues to hold strong opinions on public policy.
Roy said he did not see any current issues that would prompt young people to take up public service.
"Perhaps the major problem today is one that's insidious and subtle," he said. "We're borrowing and spending, and spending our birthright. As a result, the country is in many senses broke, and it's hell to be broke."
"The greatest problems are the social problems," Roy said. "And
they're difficult for individuals to become crusaders about."
Nevertheless, he expects a change. "I'm optimistic about the '90s," Roy said. "I think there's going to be a greatly increased environmental consciousness. I think there's going to be a looking to government again to solve some of the social problems."
Abortion will be a divisive issue, Roy said. And it is one with which he has experience. In the 1974 senate race against Sen. Bob Dole, Roy lost by 18,500 of the 793,000 votes cast. Supporters attributed his loss to a campaign that targeted groups in the campaign's last days that publicized Roy as pro-choice.
The proliferation of drugs also worries Roy.
"We have a social underclass in our inner cities," Roy said.