e w minority students taking up health studies
By Susie Reitz
Statistics indicate minority students are
improperly represented in Allied Health professional
training at the University of Nebraska Medical Center
(UNMC), according to Walt Buckner, instructor in the
Medical Technology Division and chairman for the
Minority Students Recruitment Committee (MSRC)
at the center.
Buckner said three and one-half per cent of the
students enrolled in the UNMC are minority students,
The center serves a community with a 10 per cent
black population alone, he said. He did not have
statistics on other minorities.
In the Omaha area there are six black doctors and
of those, one is in general practice, one is retired, and
others are on hospital staffs, Buckner said.
Have a chance
"Nationwide, the statistics are not much better
but we want to show minority students they do have
a chance in the professions and they are needed," he
said.
The general population is 1 1 per cent black, but
2.2 per cent of U.S. physicians are black, Buckner
added.
"We don't want a quota system, but there are just
as many blackstudents qualified and we want them to
know of the opportunities in the field," Buckner said.
His committee was formed in 1970 and
reorganized in 1973.
'We
working on a plan of
to r.
minority students and inform them of opportunities
in Allied Health professions," Buckner said. Allied
Health includes physicians, nurses, physical
therapists, medical technologists, and others, he said.
Hands full i.
The volunteer committee "has its hands full now
working with the Omaha Public School systems to
make presentations to students at various schools
throughout the city," Buckner said.
."We felt the first thing the committee should do
was talk with those young enough to start preparing
themselves in high school," he said.
"Students already in college usually either have
some idea what they are going to do, or are limited
by their educational background," he commented.
Ideally, he said, the committee members want to
provide information to all minority students in high
schools and colleges statewide, but that expansion is
too much for the committee of 38.
Coordinator needed
"What we really need is a full-time coordinator for
the program," Buckner said, "we could also do more
if faculty members, staff, and students at the Medical
Center would get involved, but everyone is too busy
with their own responsibilities to give much time to
vviuiuiivuit -
The MSRC program involves minority UNMC
students and professionals who speak to students '
about the Allied Health field.
Part of the program is a film titled "Code Blue,"
and is about an emergency room operation in a large
hospital. The film shows minority personnel in
aspects of health care and gives national statistics on
minorities in health care occupations.
1,500 responses
As a follow-up to the presentations, the committee
asks interested students to complete a questionnaire.
First semester this year, the committee received
responses from 1,500 students requesting more
information.
The committee also conducts tours of the UNMC
and assists in starting health profession clubs in
schools, Buckner said.
The committee hopes to inform students early,
particularly around ninth grade "when they are just
beginning to plan a high , school career study
program," Buckner said. "We want to show them that
we've made it and they can too."
Campus
Police
has job
openings
Gail Gade, UNL Campus Police chief, said that, presently, there
are openings for more campus police officers.
Gade said that Campus Police includes both men and women.
There are 43 persons, including five women, on the "force. The
campus normally has 45 officers.
Qualifications for the job of campus police officer, Gade said,
include a high school education or equivalent. The applicants must
pass a written examination, have a physical and psychological
examination and take a polygraph test.
"The lie detector test is used to screen applicants," he said. "We
ask them if they have ever been arrested for anything besides minor
violations. Any deception will come out in the polygraph test.
"If an applicant fails one part of the tests, they're disqualified
from consideration. If it comes down to three equally qualified
people, we'll pick the one we think is best suited for the force.
Previous experience helps."
Gade said that student security officers, who act as night
watchmen at dormitories, are hired at the beginning of the
semester. Most openings occur as a result of seniors being
graduated.
Qualifications for the student security job include above
freshmm level, a 2.5 grade point average, and no arrests.
Gade said Campus Police would not be hiring any students
during the summer because of the smaller enrollment. Student
security officers applications are handled by the housing security
office in Seaton Hall while campus police officers are processed by
administration.
Dentistry research
winners announce
The UNL College of Dentistry has announced the winners of an
annual clinic research competition and named several students to
act as representatives at dental conferences this spring.
Eugene Merchant, Assistant Dean of the College of Dentistry,
reported a total of 51 student presentations at the annual meeting
April 3, which was open to the public. Merchant compared the
meeting to the College of Engineering's annual E-Week.
The students represented two divisions, junior-year dental
students and senior-year dental hygiene students, and competed for
prizes in each division as teams or individually. Daniel McDonald
and Rogert Etzmiller were awarded first prize in the dental student
competition for their table clinic presentation of Lateral Canals in
the Dentition. The team of Marcia Johnson and Beth Pederson
took first prize in the dental hygiene division.
Merchant explained that projects were judged by a faculty
committee for completeness, accuracy and quality.
The college has also announced that student William Ursick will
represent the UNL College of Dentistry at the conference of the
International Association for Dental Research in London, England,
later this week. Waldemar de Rijk will be UNL's representative to
the Dental Student's Conference on Research at the University of
Michigan at Ann Arbor April 28 and 29. Both were selected on the
basis of research done under the guidance of a faculty member.
Call IRS toll free
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MAIN PERFORMANCE
SATURDAY APRIL 12 - 8:00 p.m. - Coliseum
TICKETS: $2 (with current UNL ID)
$3 (general public)
Tickets available at Union South Desk, East Union?
and Westbrook 1 1 3, Also at the door.
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SPONSORS: Nebraska Union Concerts
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W.GLRAM IS WOnRAUON Vl JH
braniff international ;
page 1 1
daily nebraskan
thursday, april 10, 1975
