Section A · Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Wednesdav. September 3,1997
Journal offers new view
'Perpetual Fix' targets culture
By Rachelle Detweiler Kansan staff writer
Without any journalism experience or a college degree, Derek Hogan, Lawrence resident, decided to launch a magazine this summer.
Hogan, editor of "Perpetual Fix," Lawrence's new arts, entertainment and literary magazine, said that he had wanted an alternative publication to the "Lawrence Journal-World" that would represent a variety of opinions.
Aside from money generated through advertising, Hogan personally provides all funding for the magazine. With the publication of the fourth issue, which came out Friday, he said he expected to break even for the first time.
Hogan said that he was not overly concerned about losing money because he already had started a successful business.
When Hogan moved to Lawrence three years ago, he opened the Java Break at 17 E. 7th St., thinking that he could attend college while running the business. When the coffee shop became a full-time job, he found himself being pulled away from college and into the life of a downtown business owner, he said.
"I've been a little entrepreneur since I've been in diapers," Hogan said. "I have very creative friends, and workers from The Java Break have helped me. It's a labor of love."
But loving the magazine business can be trying, he said, especially with problems beyond his control.
Without permission, "The Leavenworth Times," which printed the magazine's first four issues, placed a black circle over the genitalia of a male Greek
"It was a perfectly flaccid male penis, but they decided it was offensive to them."
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Derek Hogan
statue in the most recent issue of the magazine. Hogan said his broker was looking for a new printing firm.
"It was a perfectly flaccid male penis," Hogan said. "But they decided it was offensive to them."
The new issue, which was available throughout Lawrence Friday, contains an insert explaining the censorship of the artwork.
Even though censorship occurs from outside sources, the magazine receives little censorship from within.
Mike Silverman, a 1995 KU graduate, contributed an article on the decline of gay and lesbian
culture in Lawrence. He said that other publications may not have accepted the article. The "Fix" printed the piece exactly as he wrote it, without editing a single sentence. he said.
Other less controversial, yet frequently under-publicized topics also receive coverage through the publication.
"It's a great community outlet," Silverman said. "As long as I'm a citizen of Lawrence, I'll stay with it. It really fills an important need of filling entertainment and political needs."
Keith Gardner said that younger residents of Lawrence seemed disenfranchised. His article on student voter registration suggested that students unite and form a voting bloc.
Twenty-four-hour voter registration at The Java Break offers a practical outlet toward political involvement. Hozan said.
Hogan encourages reader response and guest writers. For now, contributors receive no compensation for their work.
Foreign students diversify housing
International news brought closer to home by students
By Sarah McWilliams Kansan staff writer
A bulletin board in Tower A of Jayhawker Towers shows dozens of flags from residents' hometowns. A few flags represent places like Kansas, Nebraska and California, but the majority are from places like Thailand, Taiwan, Argentina and Cameroon.
Housing statistics for this year will not be ready until late September, said Daphne Johnston, associate director of International Student Services.
When international students come to the University of Kansas and live on campus, more than half live in the towers or Stouffer Place.
But Mike Sifter, complex director of the towers and Stouffor Place, estimates that this year more than 60 percent of Tower A residents — about 100 students are from foreign nations.
Johnston said 123 international students lived in Stouffer Place last year and 117 lived in the Towers. Almost 200 international students lived in the residence and scholarship halls.
The rest of the 1,607 international students lived off campus, Johnston said.
Sifter said that the most of the international students in the towers and Stouffer Place tended to be upperclassmen or graduate students and liked to live in an apartment setting.
That is part of the reason Anjum Aziz, Dhaka, Bangladesh, graduate student, lives in Tower A.
Aziz said she liked the large number of international students
in the tower, and she already knew of other students from her country who live in her building.
"Whenever I pass by somebody, they say hello," she said. "It gives me some comfort that I'm not the only one here from a foreign country."
Aziz also chose the towers because she wanted to cook rather than to eat in a dining hall.
As a Muslim, she has eating restrictions which include not eating pork. Aziz said she was not comfortable eating in the same place in which pork was prepared.
Johnston said this was a major reason international students chose apartment living rather than residence halls.
Whether international students choose on- or off-campus housing, International Student Services helps students find the right housing, understand contracts or deal with problem roommates.
International students
The number of international students living in on and off-campus housing are not yet available for this year, but 1996 numbers include:
Off-campus housing: 1,169
Jayhawker Towers: 117
Residence halls: 160
Scholarship halls: 38
Straufer Place: 123
Stouffer Place: 123
Sifter said that living with international students also was good for the American roommates and neighbors.
"You can read about international issues, but when you can go down the hall and talk to a student from Bosnia, it really brings that issue to your doorstep," Sifter said.
Insurance plan raises some rates
By Sarah Chodwick
schodwik@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Health insurance never was meant to be cheap. And the University of Kansas insurance rates for students 26 years old and older are rising. On the flip side, rates for those 25 and younger are lower than last year.
In the past, University insurance rates were the same for all ages.
Health care costs increase with age and Watkins spent more than it brought in last year, he said.
Students not covered by parents' or employers' plans are eligible for the University plan.
According to the Office of Institutional Research and Planning, 18.142 students younger than 26 attended the University last year. Students older than 26 numbered 6,707.
"The older you get, the more health care costs," Boyle said. "So that the group that costs the most will have to pay more. We're trying to attract as many people as we can to the plan and keep the costs competitive."
The monthly rate for students older than 26 is $81.67, while students under 26 pay $42 per month. The basic rate for all students last year was $69 per month.
"Our option was to raise fees considerably for everyone or to have the split," Boyle said about the rise in prices for older students. "I'm sure they're not very happy about it. We're trying to get the plan to where it supports itself. Last year we spent more than we brought in."
In the past, 1,200 to 1,500 students signed up each year for the $69-per-month plan.
"It's the first year we've had the split," said Jim Strobl, Watkins director. "We're trying to boost the younger crowd. We try to publicize, but a lot of people still don't know it's available."
The insurance is available for students enrolled at the University during the fall or spring semesters.
Insurance information
Students 25 years old and younger will pay $42 monthly for health insurance
Students 26 years old and older will pay $81.67 for the same service.
The fee was $69 for all students last year.
For more information, call G.M. Underwriters at 1-800-521-2623, the Watkins business office at 864-9520 or Jim Boyle at 864-9525.
Undergraduate students must be enrolled in a minimum of nine credit hours and graduate students need be enrolled for at least six hours.
"It's a real value, a plan designed to use the health center," Boyle said. "For any services used here, the insurance pays 100 percent of the costs. If you're seen here and need a referral elsewhere, the insurance pays 80 percent of the cost."
Insurance will pay 60 percent of the cost of services outside of Watkins if the student does not have a referral from Watkins.
The deductible for services outside of the health center is $250.
If a student is enrolled at the University, the plan covers the student wherever he or she goes.
"If a student goes home to California and has a fall or unexpected illness, the plan still covers him as long as he's enrolled," Boyle said.
Students can sign up for the plan any time. The insurance will take affect on the first of the month after the insurers receive enrollment and payment, including a 10-day grace period, Boyle said.
"It's a good deal because your plan has one of the most comprehensive, far-reaching plans," said Chris Nowland, account executive for G-M Underwriters, the University's insurance contractor. "An outside plan premium could be up to six times as much. You have one of the lowest prices for the most coverage."