Older students face
‘different’ difficulties
By CHARLENE BELL
Of Iha Emerald
The University's “older
student" population faces dif
ficulties not widely encountered
by the “average" student
For example, most students
don’t have to worry about find
ing a babysitter nor are they
fazed by a class full of acne
blessed 18 year-olds
However, as the University's
population of older students
continues to swell, these prob
lems undoubtedly will become
more prevalent
Staff at the University's
Lifelong Learning Center, an
organization designed to advise
"older than-average" students,
have noted a steady increase in
enrollment of older students at
the University since the center
opened in 1973 Currently, there
are 5,839 students over the age
of 25 enrolled in the University
The largest group is made up of
898 students between 35-44
years of age
“We are just beginning to
really define the function of the
center," says Tom Nelson,
center coordinator "Right now
we offer peer advising, and ad
vocate personal problems like
difficulties "
Nelson has learned that the
greatest need older students
have in adjusting to college life
lies in finding opportunities to
share similar problems and ex
periences with students of the
same age
In answer to this need, the
center has started a support
group to aid older students in
establishing social contacts A
typical group session provides
an older student with the
chance to relate personal ex
periences and problems or
simply to let off some steam
In some of these bull sessions
a number of older students
point out that they resent being
treated like teen-agers by
professors who are used to
handling classes dominated by
those under the age of 25
"I was in a large class and I
came down with the flu and the
professor wanted a signed note
from my doctor I resented be
ing treated like a kid I mean, my
God, I'm 31 years old." says
Jean Schauerman, a staff
member at the center
Although the average
student s social life may center
around the University, for older
students the campus is just a
' stop'' along the way home to
their families
What do families of returning
students make of the situation?
Mark Albrecht, returning to
school after teaching high
school English for 13 years,
says "My family is very suppor
tive, as a matter of fact, I spend
more time with my family than I
did when I taught I liked teach
ing but I grew frustrated with
administrative pressure to do
"busywork" like monitoring the
halls tt was no fun for my family
to deal with a bear around the
house
"Now I'm doing something I
feel happy doing "
Dentistry defeats decay
By BRENDA THORNTON
Of Vm EmaraM
For some people, a trip to
the dentist is as enjoyable
as well, an impacted wis
dom tooth
They dread dental check
ups and put them off year
after year, believing that they
are saving themselves a lot of
pain, anxiety and money
However, according to Dr
Tom Westfall, 509 E 13th,
these misguided folks usual
ly end up requiring major
dental work, which translates
into tension, trauma and high
bills
"Decay spreads as rapidly
as one millimeter every three
months," says Westfall "We
recall our patients every six
months in an effort to prevent
complications, which could
result in nerve involvement,
root canal work or even tooth
extractions "
Westfall stresses that
preventive dentistry is pain
less
"Routine check-ups are
stress-free," says Westfall
"And preventive dentistry
will save patients money in
the long run. Fees are scaled
by procedure
"Preventive dentistry is
more than a check-up twice a
year,” adds Westfall "The
patient must develop his or
her own daily dental rou
tine "
‘ Brushing well — com
pletely cleaning every
once a day is better than
brushing sloppily numerous
times a day,” says Westfall.
"It's a good idea to use a
fluoride toothpaste and fol
low brushing with flossing.”
A good diet also com
pliments conscientious den
tal care.
‘Students especially
should be aware that nutri
tion plays an essential part in
maintaining healthy teeth,”
says Westfall. "They tend to
be more into junk food than a
balanced diet."
If the ballpark figure of $20
per visit sounds too high for
your pocketbook. Lane
Community College offers an
alternative to private check
ups
Sharon Hagan, coordina
tor of dental hygiene at Lane
Community College’s Dental
Clinic, points out that the
clinic does not advertise its
prices, "but ours are less ”
"Although we aren’t as ex
pensive, our patients may
pay with their time,” says
Hagan "Because we are a
learning institution, patients
may wait longer for our ser
vices than they would in a
dentist’s office."
Dental hygiene students,
supervised by a trained den
tal hygenist and a staff den
tist, clean teeth, take x-rays
and instruct patients in home
dental care.
"Our services are open to
anyone,” says Hagan
Graphic by Max DeRungs
"However, patients are
evaluated in order to expose
our students to a broad
range of dental needs
Anyone who is willing to be
placed on a short call list is
welcome to make an ap
pointment.”
Hagan also welcomes any
one interested in dental
hygiene as a profession.
"Anyone considering the
dental profession is invited to
visit the clinic to observe. I'd
love to talk to them.”
1
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