6B
Friday, January 15, 1988 / University Daily Kansan
Kassebaum asks for Soviet help with alcohol research
By Kim Lightle
Kansan staff writer
Although the United States and the Soviet Union don't share many of the same opinions, they do have something in common — a high incidence of alcoholism.
The seriousness of the problem and the commitment that Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has expressed about the issue led Sen. Nancy Kassaebaum, R-Kan., to propose last month a joint alcohol research program involving Soviet scientists and researchers at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
Kassebau suggested the plan in a letter she gave to Raisa Gorbachev, the Soviet leader's wife, during the U.S.-Soviet summit in Washington, D.C., in December. The letter outlined research done at the Med Center and proposed that both countries work together to research alcoholism.
Donald W. Goodwin, chairman of the psychiatry department at the Med Center, said the project could give U.S. researchers a new perspective and a better chance at finding a remedy for the problem. But, he said, there are many cultural differences in drinking habits.
Goodwin served as the director of the Addiction Center at Washington University in St. Louis before he came to the Med Center in 1976.
The Med Center is now conducting research on fetal alcohol syndrome and the connection between heredity and alcoholism, he said.
Goodwin said he had observed firsthand the drinking habits of Soviet citizens. He has been in the Soviet Union and studied alcohol treatment centers there.
"The Soviets have no concept of social drinking. When they drink, they drink to get drunk," Goodwin said.
The Soviet methods for treating alcoholism vary greatly from methods in the United States, he said.
"The Soviet's method of treatment is modeled after Pavlov's approach. Patients are given a drug to make ill when they drink alcohol," he said.
Goodwin said that the Soviet Union had about one treatment center for every 6,000 people, compared to one for every 10,000 in the U.S.
Both Goodwin and D. Kay Clawson, the Med Center's executive vice chancellor, said they were optimistic about Kassebaum's proposal. Both said they had doubts that the program would become a reality.
Larry Shainman, an aide to Kassbaum, said the senator would follow up her proposal with a letter to the Soviet ambassador to the United States in the next few days.
"we want to keep the ball rolling on this," he said.
School
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school good marks, not everyone is enthusiastic at first. Gauna said his father thought he should stay at the high school and make F's rather than go to the extension.
"He thought it was a place for flankes," Gauna said.
Gauna's father decided to let him try the extension after talking to Meyers. Gauna said his father was much more enthusiastic about the school after seeing the dramatic change in his son's grades.
"A lot of people think it's a cop-out I did." Percell said.
She decided to give the extension a try after an automobile accident caused her to miss several weeks of school.
She quickly changed her mind about the extension, she said. Now she would rather stay at the extension than go back to the high school.
The reaction isn't unusual. Many students resist being placed back into the high school although that is the program's main objective. Meyers said.
Often, students will purposely do poorly in classes so that they can remain in the program. Meyers said.
There are no misses, ma'amis,misters or sirs here; it's first names only. There is a sense of friendship among both teachers and students.
Not only do the students like being at the school, but they are also working to change its image from a place for flunkies and misfits to a normal place, like any other school.
The students talk about ways to improve the program's image in their weekly group meetings with Linn Suderman, the school counselor.
Currently, the students are working on an exchange program with another extension school in Topeka.
But the extension already has a good reputation among educators. Administrators recognize the program as one of the best.
Don Richardson, associate professor of education at the University of Kansas, said that the program was highly regarded.
"I think it's an excellent program," he said.
The students agree that the school serves its purpose in keeping students from dropping out.
Sarah Schockley, a senior, said that if her older sister had been able to attend the program, she probably would have finished high school.
Not only is the program making it easier to stay in school, but students also can receive one credit hour for every 180 hours they work. Both Gauna and Purcell have part-time jobs, and they said that the little extra credit is nice.
of food and they prepare the school lunches.
The students also may take classes to give them work experience. There are two food-preparation classes designed specifically for this. One class runs a non-profit cookie order business. The other class teaches students how to cook large amounts
Enrollment is high
Those on-the-job-training classes are a big attraction and help boost the program's enrollment, Meyers said.
The program can handle a maximum of 72 students and has been full by the second day of classes for the past couple of years.
The board that reviews students' requests for admission to the program receives requests for admission from the smaller areas in Kansas that lack such programs. But the board must turn them down because there is a long waiting list within the district.
Administrators never expected the program to be so popular when they started it seven years ago. The project was considered experimental, but it soon was apparent that there was a need to provide a place specifically designed to help potential dropouts.
There is no doubt in Gauna's mind that the program is important.
With help from the program and his teachers, he's going from cutting classes to college.
Janine Swiatkowski/KANSAN
When all was calm
The Robinson Center pool awaits the return of students for the beginning of the spring semester.
Kansan Fact:
KU students spend over $4 million a month on discretionary items
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