THE FAR SIDE
University Daily Kansan / Wednesday, November 4, 1987
5
By GARY LARSON
Campus/Area
No random testing for employees, but no one will be hired without test
Local hospital to begin drug tests
"Speak of the Devil."
By AMBER STENGER
Staff writer
Lawrence Memorial Hospital is one of the few hospitals in the area to institute a drug testing policy for all new employees and for current employees who exhibit suspicious behavior.
Judith Hefley, director of community relations at the hospital, said candidates would not have to take the test but will not be hired unless they do.
The hospital will require drug and alcohol tests of employees when there is reasonable suspicion that the employee is under the influence while at work.
Beginning Dec. 1, all final candidates for employment must take drug tests.
Donna Brewer, assistant executive director for personnel resources, said that employees would be tested only if the hospital suspected they were impaired. The director of the employee's department would confront the employee and request testing.
"There will be no random testing of employees," Brewer said.
Brewer said the hospital was starting the policy to assure the public that health care and treatment at Lawrence Memorial were
Employees are also asked before they are tested if they use any medications, including illegal drugs. That way, if the employee is on a medication, we have a better idea what we are looking for.'
Donna Brewer
— Donna Brewer assistant executive director for personnel resources, Lawrence Memorial Hospital
safe. She also said that it would help control the drugs of drugs from the hospital's supply, although that has not been a problem.
users from trying to work here," Brewer said. "Sometimes hospitals attract people who use drugs because they think it is more accessible."
The initial drug test is a urinalysis. If candidates for employment or employees test positive, then a more extensive test, thin layer chromatography, is conducted from the same urine sample. If that test is positive, employees can choose to have the sample tested again at a laboratory of their choice at their expense.
The tests screen for the presence of illegal drugs and controlled substances. Brewer said it was unlikely that a test would come out positive if an employee had not used drugs. But, she said, some medications can result in a positive result in the initial test.
I think it will discourage drug
"That is why we do the chromatography," Brewer said. "Employees are also asked before they are tested if they use any medications, including illegal drugs. That way, if the employee is on a medication, we have a better
idea what we are looking for."
Blood alcohol tests will be given to employees suspected of use of alcohol while working. An alcohol level of .05 percent will be considered positive.
If employees' tests are positive, they will be placed on suspension. Employees will be offered the Employee Assistance Program, which provides a free initial visit to Douglas County Citizens Committee on Alcohol.
Employees can either enter treatment programs or lose their jobs. Brewer said the hospital would not hesitate to rehire them after they had gone through treatment programs successfully.
Students act as D.C. interns
Hefley said employees might be concerned about confidentiality.
"Records will have to kept confidential; that's all there is to it," Hefley said.
Another hospital in the Kansas City area, Providence-St. Margaret Health Center, requires drug testing for all new employees.
By VIRGINIA McGRATH Staff writer
Staff writer
For some KU students who are interested in politics, Washington, D.C., is the place to be during the summer.
One way to spend the summer in Washington is as an intern with a Kansas senator or congressman. Although the pay isn't great, the experience is, students say. But obtaining one of the coveted positions isn't easy.
Amy Buchele, Topea senior, spent 10 weeks last summer as an intern in the Washington office of U.S. Rep. Jim Slattery, D-Kan. She submitted a writing sample, a resume and three letters of recommendation to the Topea office, where she was interviewed.
Jeff House, intern coordinator in Washington for Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole, said that about one-third of the applicants for internships were accepted.
Gayle Stephens, Topeka senior,
spent four weeks as an intern in
Dole's office. She said that half of the
fun of the internship was being in
Washington. "Washington is a fun
city." Stephens said. "And I was
there during the contra hearings, so
there was a lot going on."
Most of the Kansas senators and congressmen require prospective interns to fill out an application which provides basic information about themselves. The applications can be obtained by writing to the legislator's Washington office after the first of the year.
Applications for an internship in Slattery's office can be obtained from his Topeka office.
Some legislators pay their interns and some do not; payment usually depends on the budget for the year.
Georgetown University, George Washington University or American University. However, housing of any kind in Washington is expensive by Midwestern standards, the students said.
Interns must arrange for their own housing, but the legislators' offices help the students find housing. Most interns stay in residence halls at
Interns do everything from answer mail to write official statements to research information for the legislative staff.
Buchele, a journalism major, was able to work with Slattery's press team on the cover of *The New York Times*.
House said that Dole's office had four separate month-long internships during the summer, with space for nine or 10 interns at each month-long session.
House said that when Dole and the staff selected the interns, they did not look for students with one specific major or kind of experience. Writing skills, however, are important, he said.
Studio offers privacy for bands
By JULIE McMAHON Staff writer
Residence hall and apartment living is noisy enough without a punk band practicing next door with three electric guitars, a drum set and a gong.
A dorm room or apartment may be the only place a student band can practice.
But a new music studio, the Music Shack, 1003 E. 23rd St. offers rehearsal space for local bands
"A studio would mean peace of mind," said Don Murphy, Chicago, Ill., junior. He is in a band and practices in his room at Hashinger Hall.
"There'd be nobody knocking at my door telling me I'm too loud," he said. "The nearest private studio I know of."
The owners of the Music Shack are University of Kansas students, Joe Comparato, Chicago, III, senior, and Brian VanCompernolle, Topeka senior, met a year and a half ago at a party. VanCompernolle hired Comparato's band, the L.A. Ramblers, to play at the party, and the two discovered a mutual love of music.
The Music Shack also offers promotional packaging for bands, recording of demonstration tapes, band promotion, accessories for musicians and tape of recording and sound equipment. The Music Shack has hourly, weekly and monthly rental rates.
Three months later they formed a sound equipment rental business called L.A. Sound. They saved about 90 percent of their profits from that business, Comparato said, and bought the small building that now is the Music Shack.
"We pretty much have all our pennies in here," he said. Comparato and VanComponello have been remodelied, but the house is still a bit of a mess.
"All we have left to do is lay the carpet. When we first came in here it was just a room with yellow walls and dirty brown carpet." Comparato said.
The interior now has a wall with a window that separates the lobby from the studio, which is acoustically designed. A darkroom in the building is sub-contracted to a photographer who will help with promotional packages. When not in use, the studio will be a display room for sound equipment and other equipment for sale.
Comparato said the store was now open for band practice, sound equipment rental and help in booking bands. But he said the owners still were waiting for some of their merchandise to arrive.
"Our merchandise will be trickling in this week." Comparato said. "We'll plan a grand opening then."
Comparable sales. "We in plaid at a grand opening that "There is a lot of talent in Lawrence, and it needs to be pushed," he said. "I think everyone should have a chance to rock out."
Take one dose of the Doctor's good humor, tonight at Gammon's. This special comedy show starts at 9:30 —Dr. Gonzo
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