1995_03 Insight March 1995

              In Focus
MARCH 1,1995
Visitor Service brings
two generations together
♦ Social worker Libby
Clarke brings together
elders and students
By Summer Brown
Staff Writer
Libby Clarke, assistant director of
Friendly Visitor Service, never
thought she would make a career of
working with the elderly.
The nonprofit organization is designed to help ihe needs of students
and senior citizens.
Clarke recruits students from the
Gerontology Department, a cozy.
busy office located in lhc San Ramon
Building. There are 37 students on the
payroll and they receive $6.30 lo
$8.50 per hour.
It also helps those who are enrolled
in classes thai require community service. In return, students perform
simple tasks such as meal preparation
and transportation.
Most of lhc CSUF students she hires
initially lake the job because of ihe
flexible hours. Once the interaction
between young and old begins. Clarke
and Ihe students share a common discovery: working with seniors is a
worthwhile and needed service
Two years ago. Clarke deviated
from her main interest, foster care, lo
work at Friendly Visitor Service. She
soon discovered how intriguing i(
was. despite taking the position only
because it was "available." She said.
"Older people are real interesting
They have vast knowledge."
Last July she started working on
campus. Clarke serves as the go-between whose aim is to match the client with a student thai has similar interests. Joanne Laslovich. who
teaches Gerontology 160, recognizes
how serious Clarke lakes her job
"Clarke is dedicated lo her work and
enjoys it tremendously." she said.
While money and flexible hours may
be the first reasons students enter
Clarke's office, once they arc paired
with their elderly companion, a rela
lionship forms. Clarke says that many
college students are living on their own
for the first lime. She said that as a result, "when they meet seniors, they
Photo by Christine Marlglan/lnslght
Libby Clarke, assistant director of the Friendly Visitor Service, matches students with seniors.
er than required. Duslin said. "I
I ihink 15 or 20 minuies really
ers. I just slay here because I en-
"A lot of seniors are lonely and appreciate the help. They don't have
family or friends. Friendly Visitor
Service keeps people out of nursing
homes/'
Libby Clarke
Assistant Director
stay longer than ihe designated lime,    joy talking lo her."
Student Sherri Duslin visits stroke        Ihe program is successful
patient Dorothy Day and often stays     as Clarke puts it. "A lot of si
lonely and appreciate the help. They
don't have family or friends. Friendly
Visitor Service keeps people out of
nursing homes."
Clarke predicts ihe number of clientele will grow because people are living longer. "The focus on seniors is becoming more apparent it's opening up.
In 35 years, seniors will outnumber
children." she said. Reflecting on her
experiences so far with Friendly Visitor Service, hercalm. welcoming voice
becomes louder as she says. "I very
much enjoy.working w ith the program
and wilh ihe people."
Most of the elderly, people involved
are from the Fresno or Clovis area.
They reside in private homes, retirement centers or convalescent hospitals. Clarke and her executive director. Bev Esquibel. hope to expand services to rural areas like Kingsburg and
Selma, and include elders of different cultures.
Convention, from page 1
Photo by Lilian Moza/lnslght
worlds — a good time and an
educational experience.
"You not only have fun but
you learn a lot too." said Chris
Baxter, chairperson for USU
Productions and a philosophy
and English major.
Students like Baxter use the
convention to examine careers
in the student activity field. Thc
convention sponsors educational sessions, where students
can learn leadership techniques
and organizational skills.
And with representatives from
a variety of talent agencies in
attendance, the convention becomes like a job fair. Baxter
said.
CSUF student Michele
DePuy hangs out with "Attribute to KISS" members
between acts at NACA.
Foreign students
get special help at
English institute
Culture is a reality one needs to
cope with as an international student "You have to learn to live with
and understand a culture before you
can start to learn the language," said
Anne Speake. president and
founder of the institute.
The institute's I2-step intensive
F.nglish program is enhanced by its
"American Family Homestay Program." Students live with an American family to practice conversa-
er thought mydrcani actually lional EnP,ish and *'t0 blend in with
Id   come   through."   said    the American way." Speake said.
The program was inspired by her
w n experience as a foreign student
i Egypt
After she returned from Egypt,
er for the International En-    Speake got a job as an international
student adviser lor CSUI-.
"I started to realize that international students need more than just
academic advice. They need full
service." she said.
Her philosophy led to the establishment of the institute, which admits some 1.500 to 2.000 students'
each year.
Makiko Akiyama. a 32-year-old
student from Japan, was 25 when
she came to Fresno to attend the in-
♦ Family-owned institute
helps sharpen students'
English skills
By Hanne Bentzon
Staff Writer
Toshiro Yamazaki was a so-so student at his university in Japan. His
dream lo become a poet was rapidly fading.
"I always believed in myself, hi
In
Yamazaki. 35
Yamazaki's English skills were
very weak.
He said it was his luck lo
glish Institute.
Today. Yamazaki is a part-time
poet and part-time editor in New
York.
According to Judy Hardinge. director of admissions and a vice
president at the institute. Yamazaki
was "a very unusual student."
"He did noi fit inlo society's standards and he was judged by that.'
Hardinge said. "He came to our institute from Japan with little English communication skills. Since    s<'»_««e.
graduating from the institute.
"I had no English language skills
work has been published in several    wnen I ca
contemporary poetry journals.    order l0 'a'er be able to attend an
among them thc well-known jour-    American university." Akiyama
nal San Francisco City Lights
The institute, a family-owned
business founded in 1980. offers
said.
"My TOEFL |Tesl of English as
Foreign Language] score was way
courses in English reading, writing.    Mow average. I needed to raise
listening, grammar and conversa-    n>' 2(K) P"'nls to nave any chance
tjon to be admitted to a university here
Their programs are prim
-,l>
n America." she said.
aimed toward international students Akiyama graduated from ihe insti-
who are recruited from their home lul<-" si* months after she started,
countries. Courses are customized achieving a TOEFL score thai got her
to fit each individual's needs and admitted to Fresno City College,
level of English skills. *'Af,er struggling through some
Yamazaki's grades from Japan five TOEFL tests. I passed it. and 1
were far below average, according could finally start my college life."
to Hardinge. "Usually Japanese stu- Akiyama said,
dents average     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
between    A
and B. bul his
grade  point
reached C."
she said.
Hc completed thc
program four
months after
"He came to our
institute from Japan with little English communica-   linguistics ili
tions skills. Since   Akiyama ii
After one
semester at
FCC, she
was admitted
to CSUF.
She graduated with a
"Yamazal
graduating from   dv0°c.d
amazaki the institute, his   Jff
., _ . c k I y ' New
adopted our work   has   been
language." ...   ,       -   .
Hardinge published in sev-
SHe gradu eral contemporary
m^S dea poetry journals..."
gree in poetry
from the University of San
Francisco
when he was
27. after he
completed the
York
University.
"I will
never forget
the months I
spent with
the institute.
I had the best
time   ever.
Judy Hardinge
Vice President
great
with my
program. Later, he was the first future, I would not be where I am
Japanese student to earn a master today." Akiyama said.
of fine arts in writing at Columbia Students   pay   $695   tuition
University, monthly to attend the institute.
Today. Yamazaki is the bilingual Long-term students get a $50 dis-
editor at (he New York-based Japan count per month.
Society magazine. "Our goal in the future is to im-
"I have come far, but not far prove our innovative and creative
enough. It is not easy to be a sue ways to be able to give ihe students
cessful poet in this world, but my even more advantages." Speake
dream of becoming a full-time poet said. "Teaching is not a 9 to 5 job.
is still there." Yamazaki said.
Foru
a way of living."
March 1. 1995
St. Pauls Newman CenterJL*
A Catholic University Parish
invites you to join them in celebration of
ASH WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1,1995
Eucharist at 7:00am. 12:15 & 5:30pmI
T
Ashes blessed and given during
services
HUNGER AWARENESS MEAL
_ Q?2?!R — *—
For more info, call the Campus Ministers at
436-3434
1572 E. Barstow
ACROSS FROM BULLDOG STADIUM
Lenten Observances
[Weekday Masses (Monday-Friday) 7:00am & 5:30pm
Stations of the Cross each Friday. 7:00pm
Reconciliation Service Wednesday, March 22, 7:00pm|
Renewal with Father Emery Tang March 6-8, 7:00pm
UNIVERSITY STUDENT UNION
BOARD WANTS YOU!!!
The USU Board is now accepting applications for
seven voting positions for the 95-96
academic year.
We are looking for enthusiastic, dedicated,
hardworking individuals who want to gain valuable
experience working on the USU Board.
Applications available in USU room #306
Application deadline is March 31, 1995
Any Questions Please Call 278-2741