Thursday, October 9, 1997
My buddy and me…
Best Buddies links students with
mentally retarded youths
By Carol McKay
Daily Bruin Staff
Dan LeCover remembers the first time he and his buddy, Mike
Warren hung out together. It was five years ago, and the
Bo-Holyfield fight was on the big screen in a Westwood restaurant.
The two tell the story together.
"A guy with a parachute fell into the ring, and they had to take
a break," recalled Warren, sandwich in hand, outside of Sepi’s
Submarine shop. "Members of the audience beat the guy up. It was
some kind of promotional thing."
LeCover remembers too. He has a poster of that night’s fight at
home to remind him of the event. But perhaps it is not the fight
that is memorable, as much as is the friendship between the two
which began that night.
LeCover and Warren are two participants in Best Buddies, a
community service outreach program that connects college students
with mentally retarded students. Warren is a member of UCLA’s
chapter of Best Buddies, and the story of his friendship with
LeCover is a testimonial to the program itself.
"The first year was hard on me," Warren, a fifth-year history
student, said. "Dan was very shy at first. I was thinking, ‘He
hates me. I should get a new buddy.’ But his parents told me that
he was just beaming when he came home after (we hung out)."
Warren continued meeting with LeCover, who has Fragile X
Syndrome, several times each month, and their partnership has
lasted for Warren’s entire time at UCLA.
The Best Buddies program, which is about to start up again for
the 97-98 year this week, does not focus on service as its main
function. "We’re not a mentor program," explained Warren. "We’re
about having fun."
Buddies attend sporting events, go shopping and watch television
together. Students who apply to become buddies are matched up with
students from Santa Monica High School and Education Resource
Service Center (ERAS) based upon similar interests. According to
LeCover’s parents, Steve and Deborah, the shared interest factor is
one that can add a great deal to the buddy relationship.
"If they share a common interest, it’s an added bonus. There’s a
common meeting ground," Steve LeCover said. The LeCover family has
found that the Best Buddies program has made a positive difference
in all of their lives.
"It connects our family to society," Deborah LeCover said. "The
program is a way of integrating our different lifestyles." Deborah
said that simple activities such as bringing Dan to a movie or a
restaurant have greatly helped him socially.
After buddies from UCLA and the high schools are paired off, it
is up to them to plan their activities. The entire chapter of Best
Buddies meets for occasional social events, such as a Halloween
party, but most of the activities are one-on-one.
"The commitment can seem huge because you can’t be flaky,"
Warren said.
Yvette Mori, a fourth-year psychology student who has been a
buddy for four years, agreed. "Your buddy is counting on you. You
don’t want to hurt their feelings. But at the same time, it’s up to
you. There’s no set time schedule," she said.
Last year, Mori was given two buddies, who happened to be best
friends outside of the program. They went shopping together and saw
movies.
"It worked out really well," said Mori, who hopes to continue
her interaction with the mentally retarded after she graduates,
perhaps by becoming a special education teacher.
The Best Buddies chapter at UCLA is one of 20 other college
organizations in the Los Angeles area, according to Julia Terbush
of the Western Regional Office.
The program, which was started in 1987 by Anthony Schreiber at
Georgetown University, is one of several Best Buddies programs.
Others include Best Buddies High Schools, Best Buddies Citizens,
and Best Buddies Jobs, which seeks employment for people with
mental retardation.
Outside the United States, chapters exist in both Canada and
Greece.
"Best Buddies provides opportunities for socialization," Terbush
said. She added that the program aims to enhance the lives of those
involved, creating "more of a real college experience."
Many volunteers are grateful for the rewards they’ve gotten out
of being a part of Best Buddies.
"You feel like you’re really getting to know an individual. It’s
more than meaningless ‘what’s your major’ conversation. It really
brings you out of our little world here," Warren said. He also
added that the Best Buddies program helps to break down stereotypes
associated with the mentally disabled.
"Stereotypes misrepresent the person. Their social perception
keeps them down," Warren said.
This year, goals of Best Buddies include gaining more community
support. Warren, Mori and other directors of the program have began
to seek sponsorship from local Westwood merchants.
Sepi’s, for example, is one local business that displays the
Best Buddies sticker in their window, and customers are offered
discounts or special deals when on Best Buddies outings. Other
merchants who have agreed to offer discounts include Baskin’
Robbins and Capt’go.
Best Buddies also aims this year to encourage more male
volunteers to sign up. According to Warren, female buddies usually
outnumber males.
"That’s just the way it is. A lot of girls come out. You’re not
a wuss if you volunteer," said Warren. He hopes to see more male
buddies this year, as the recruiting and orientations happen
soon.
To find out more about the Best Buddies program, introductory
meetings will be held today at 2:00 and 3:00 pm at Ackerman 2408,
and tomorrow at 4:00 and 5:00 pm at Ackerman 3508.