THE FAR SIDE
University Daily Kansan / Friday, October 16, 1987
5
By GARY LARSON
Giraffe beach parties
THE 6 East 9th ALLEY 749-0202 POPPER
Drinking Myth of the Week
It's about as good a stimulant as ether. Alcohol acts as a depressant on the central nervous system.
The Student Assistance Center
MARGIN OF EXCELLENCE
Budiq: Time for commitment is now
By MICHAEL HORAK AND NOEL GERDES
Hancellor Gene B. Budig is certain that state legislators will give a thumbs up to Margin of Excellence this spring, but even so, he's not about to leave anything to chance.
"It is important that we continue to be aggressive," Budig said last week. "We can take nothing for granted."
rest would go to academic support, including libraries, research programs and student services
Margin of Excellence is the Board of Regents three-year budget request that the Kansas Legislature will consider this spring. If it is approved, KU would receive $1.8 million during fiscal years 1989 and 1991. Hearing money would enhance faculty salaries, and the
"We are making 4n all-out effort, devoting countless hours to theMargin of Excellence," Budig said.
Part of that effort includes seeking endorsements from faculty and students, business and news reporters, newspapers and influential politicians such as Gov. Mike Hayden, he said.
"The Margin will be successful. There is no reason to speculate it won't." he said.
"The time for commitment is now, and that is the message we are carrying to the people of this state," he said, sometimes reading from prepared statements. "I have no doubt that the people of this state want a first-class institution.
"It is important that they understand that the future of this institution is at stake," he said.
He said Margin of Excellence, although it carried a $47 million bill, was reasonable and therefore could be easily sold to legislators.
Margin Continued from p.
Continued from p.1
That future could be bleak without revenue from Margin of信誉. Budig said. He predicted an exodus of faculty if it failed.
Despite his support for Margin of Excellence, Budig said that the plan was not perfect. For instance, it was the Regents decision to ask to bring KU's budget up to only 95 percent of the average at its peer institutions, he said.
"We will lose a certain amount of our more able researchers," he said. "These individuals are marketable. They are in demand. They can move, and they will move if not treated fairly."
eral, is one of those who said that the windfall money should be returned to taxpayers. He said that the Regents schools were financed adequately under the current budget.
Legislators don't think that KU's image as "Snob Hill" will be much of a factor in the struggle.
"In the long pull, we must do better. This represents movement in the right direction," he said. "It is concrete progress."
"I think we're rocking along fairly good under the limitations we have." Frey said.
as much as others.'
Barkis said, "There will be people in the state who'll say, 'they've got a big endowment, a good lifestyle, a good academic level, they don't need this money
"That theme is out there, but it's not a majority," he said.
"Higher education has waited long enough. It is our turn. Those states doing well economically are investing in institutions of higher learning. Kansas must do the same."
Winter also said that theory existed. He said that some state legislators come from areas with 20 percent unemployment. University education isn't their highest priority, he said.
"KU has fared relatively well in higher education. We rank high in spending per capita and per student among states. There's a huge budget at KU. They are all students are great at KU. So some legislators have the attitude of 'Where's the fire? There's no smoke.'"
Dependents to get hospital discount
By MICHAEL HORAK
Staff writer
WICHTA — The state Board of Regents gave approval yesterday to a plan proposed by Chancellor Gene A. Budig that will extend a discount hospitalization program at the University of Kansas Medical Center to the dependents of state employees.
The Regents endorsed the plan at their regular monthly meeting, at Wichita State University.
The discount hospitalization program is similar to a plan that has been in effect at the Med Center since October 1985. Previously, the plan had included many state employees. Now it will include their families.
that contract, negotiated by the state Health Care Commission earlier this fall, has angered many KU faculty and classified employees because it calls for first-time user fees based on salary and smoking habits.
Budig told the Regents that extending the program would help employees who were facing premium increases under next year's state health care contract.
"This discount plan represents a significant benefit for University employees." Budig said. "We continue to be deeply committed to our mission and we have the discount plan reflects that commitment."
The plan will take effect Jan. 1 and will apply to all state employees and their dependents.
Under the plan, the Med Center will absorb that part of the cost of an insured employee's hospitalization not paid by insurance. That excludes a policy deductible.
An employee with a traditional Blue Cross and Blue Shield insurance policy would save about $750 over a five-day stay. Hospital bills that would have cost an employee $950 after the insurance company paid its share would cost $200. Dependents would pay slightly more.
The amount of savings from the new plan will vary depending on policies.
Budig said that discussion about the change began two weeks ago. The chancellor's office will be sending a memo to all KU employees today about the plan.
Mel Dubnick, KU University Council president,
attended the Regents meeting.
"We knew he was up to something." Dunbick said. "This shows that he is really concerned."
Also at the meeting, Stanleykopil, Regents executive director, said he would be willing to compromise on his plan to make two years of foreign language a high school requirement for admission to some Regents schools
Koplik讲 the Regents that he would be willing to let high school students take art, music or language classes.
The same unit compromise would gain support for selective admission in rural parts of the state, where foreign language often is not taught. Curriculums at national school districts don't teach foreign language.
"With this kind of accommodation, we ould find many more school districts receptive toward the idea of minimum high school standards," he said.
Last month, Kopik included foreign language in a selective admissions proposal for the University of Kansas, Kansas State University and Wichita State University.
CHECKERS PIZZA
CORDIALLY INVITES YOU TO DINE IN WITH US FEATURING OUR:
ALL YOU CAN EAT SALAD AND PASTA BAR Only $3.99 (regularly $4.99)
Nightly from 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
- Offer good only with KUID*
* Offer expires 10/25/87*
CHECKERS 2214 YALE RD. 841-8010
© Anheuser-Busch, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri