Oregon daily emerald., January 29, 1973, Page 5, Image 5

Group counsels distressed youngsters
The Eugene community needs to know more about
Looking Glass, according to its coordinator, Jim Forbes.
Forbes talked with visitors Sunday at an open house
held at Looking Glass, 1960 Willamette St.
Forbes said the open house marked the beginning 0f
a campaign to get more people informed. The yotmo
people especially have to know what it offers and where
it is located, he said.
Looking Glass is a state-licensed project in
corporated as a nonprofit organization and it is a
member of the Lane County Department of Mental
Health.
It is presently partially funded by a Drug Education
Grant through the White Bird Clinic. Some donations
also come from parents.
Looking Glass offers an alternative to intervention
by the juvenile court system for non-criminal juveniles
who have run away or who are undergoing crises at
home, according to Chris Holstrum, one of the Looking
Glass co-directors. The primary goal, Holstrum said, is
to achieve family reconcilation whenever possible.
Temporary housing provides the person a place to
gather his thoughts, consider his or her alternatives and
their consequences, and to face the problem instead of
running away from it. It serves as a neutral meeting
ground for the family and housing is only offered when it
facilitates the counseling program.
The house is staffed 24 hours a day by either the
counseling staff or professionally trained houseparents.
Twenty persons make up the all-volunteer staff, four of
which are on call at all times.
Holstrum cited a drastic need for foster parents.
Single persons over 21 years of age can be certified as
foster parents, she said. Looking Glass desperately
needs couples also, but many do not apply because they
feel that they might not qualify. Persons interested and
who have questions about qualifying can call Looking
Glass, she said. Holstrum said “There is a need for
people who can communicate with these children.”
One staff member at the open house also cited a
great need for people to volunteer to help establish a
recreational component. Staff members said they are
interested in materials and people to teach crafts to the
Looking Glass clients. These services would be on a
voluntary basis and would not be on any resularlv
scheduled timetable.
Looking/Glass offers these services free of charge so
that they may be accessible to all children and adults
regardless of their ability to pay. Community assistance
is sought in the attainment of jobs for their clients and
the funding for the varied programs.
Chinese New
Year to he
4traditional9
Although the year erf the water
buffalo, 4671, will not be brought
in with firecrackers because of
local ordinances, the Chinese
Student Union’s (CSU)
celebration of the Chinese New
Year will remain traditional in
the spirit of the holiday.
“On new year’s eve in China,
the whole family gets together to
worship their ancestors. Our
families in China are celebrating
that way and we want to worship
the new year with our Chinese
and American friends,” said
Chung Tsai, president of the CSU.
The group is observing their
new year, which is based on a
lunar calendar with the first new
moon starting the year Feb. 3,
with a mandarin Chinese dinner
and entertainment. The dinner
will include sweet and sour pork,
spring roll, fried rice, roast egg
and roast chicken wing. "Hie
entire meal will be prepared by
members of the CSU.
After dinner, there will be
Chinese folk songs, dancing and a
costume fashion show showing
how traditional Chinese garb has
changed in the last 4000 years.
There will also be a demon
stration of Kung-Fu, a form of
self-defense and the Year or lion
dance.
The holiday lasts for ap
proximately 15 days. During that
time children collect “lucky
money” from parents and
relatives of the parents. “It’s a
lot like your Christmas. We get
lots of money and presents from
our parents and relatives,’’ said
Hing-tac Chen, member of the
CSU. “Before the holiday starts,
the house is cleaned all ova* and
lucky words are put on the door
posts (peace, prosperity, love). A
pot of rice is placed on the table
and it is always kept full. There
are flowers all over to symbolize
wealth and a good new year. It’s
like your Christmas tree,” said
Tsai.
The holiday is also a time of
freedom for the children. “We
were able to do what ever we
wanted," King reminisced. “On
the holidays people could only
talk well of others and wish
everyone a happy new year. No
matter what you had done, your
parents couldn’t punish you,”
Tsai added.
“You could never be too sure
that your parents wouldn’t
remember what you had done
after the celebration, though,”
Chen warned.
The dinner and festivities will
be on Feb. 11 with the dinner at
6:30 p.m. and the entertainment
at 8:30 p.m. Both take place at
the EMU Ballroom and tickets
can be bought at the main desk
for $2.50.
FINAL DAYS
CLOSI-OUT
SALB
FINAL MARKDOWNS HAVE BEEN TAKEN
ON ALL SALE MERCHANDISE. DON'T MISS
THESE GREAT BARGAINS. LIMITED TO
STOCK ON HAND.
RAINCOATS
1/2 PRICE
I DRESSES I
Reg 22°°
sale 14"
I. . . .1
Entire Stock Fall Co-ordinates
_ | Reduced to 1/2 Price
LONG DRESSES I
Reg *30
.ale 19” |
PANTS
Reduced 1/3
COATS
Reduced
I /3-1 /2
SKI PANTS
1/2 Price
(J 'Vw 880 E. 13th