I I� !I' I".! 1IIIIIl ut.u v , '\. n cr -. \ i, \\ .... ROOTSO C 'I1Ie ... bCMlIU.· d to a number of fadon, Iy the loss of units due to deterioration and the OOIlVe1rs1(l' • of reDtai units into I coado . . Th' 'H1_ GR.! .. u: T f ��i'-T f),� �. .. ....-.ro u ed of aying Bartend is ngby 06 lirat , W Edd It is a little unusual for teenage men to stay up past midnight talking about h not to get a girl pregnant, bu that's exactly what happeoed at a late­ rulllliDg teen pregnancy preven­ t' conference aimed at young men, sponsored by the AJpha Phi AI Fraternity. To date, at least 100 of the &aternifYs chapt�rs have held similar con­ ferences, often 'th the Ip of the March of Dimes, in com- lJIun" around the country. The conferences attract anywhere from 3S to 200 high school boy . Youths are en­ couraged to elp p� the con­ kun�, etthe �nda,and help with the hard k of stag­ ing the even . The conferences have three simp eg accord­ ing to Michael Price, director of communications and programs a( Alph Phi Alpha: ina ing (he young men's kno ledge about sexuality and the conse­ quences of teen pregnancy, get­ ting them to think bout their values and goals, and encourag- ing them to teach what they learned to others, especially their peer . . "There is a tremendous amount of ignorance- amo young men about basic h health, sexuality, and hpoe, says Price. Young men are even­ less familiar with their bodies and how they work than are young gir he discovered Yet young men also have, he says, • a tremendous thirst for this information." That is y every such coeference begins With a talk by a healty profes­ sional, who tells the young men about their reproductive system and the consequences of sex. The second section of every . conference tries to get the young men to understand that the>1 have control over and responsibility for the choices they m e in their lives. A mini- er or a youth worker I ds discussion, giving the you a lesson th l, in too many families today, parents no longer leach. The young people are a ked what th ir goals are and wit t Hi an y they are doing every day to fur­ ther those goals; "If you want to be a doctor tomorrow, what are you do' today?" FmalIy, the young people are eDCXMIJ"a8Cd to carry the mes- they have received to their homes, chools, and com­ m 1bey do. After attend­ ing such conferences, says Price, kids are fired up." Youth's folio -up activities have included school as­ semb.lies, ne paper articles, 'and continuing contact with . fraternity members. If your fraternity· king for a way to join our oommunity' efforts to f t teen pregJWlcy, tim is a fme lace to start. Contact Michael Price, Alph Phi Alph Fraternity, Inc., 4432 . Martin Luther King, Jr. Driv , Chicago, IL 60653 (313) 373-1819. Mtvion Wright Edelman is Pruidolt of th Children � INfense Fund, a nalionaJ voice for cJaiJdIm.