THE UNIVERSITY HALY KANSAN
THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2008
NEWS
3A
TELEVISION
Associate dean to discuss book on 'The Daily Show'
BY CALEB SOMMERVILLE
cammerville@kansas.com
c. jommerville@kansan.com
A journalism professor will be on "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart tonight.
Perlmutter
David Perlmutter, the associate dean for graduate studies and research in the journalism school, will be on the show tonight at 10 p.m. to talk about his book, "Blogwars: The New Political Battleground."
Perlmutter said he didn't know exactly, what his appearance on "The Daily Show" will entail, or if he'll get to talk to host Jon Stewar. He may be interviewed by Stewart or another correspondent.
"I'm happy to do either one"
Perlmutter said.
He only knows that he'll be interviewed about his book, which was published in February.
"I hope I'm not important enough for them to make a fool out of me." Perlmutter said. "I'm just a professor."
"The Daily Show" called him last week and confirmed his appearance on the show.
Perlmutter has also appeared on CNN, MSNBC and other networks to talk about public affairs, so he isn't too nervous about being on the show.
Perlmutter said he enjoyed watching "The Daily Show," even though it doesn't necessarily take everything it reports on seriously.
"I think it's hilarious," he said.
He said it was a good source of information for people who didn't necessarily read "five print papers a day" or pay attention to political news.
"I do think it serves as a quasieducational function," Perlmutter
said. He also said "The Daily Show" made political news readily available in an accessible manner.
He began writing "Blogwars" after he noticed the effect interactive media, like blogging, had on the 2004 presidential race and the attempt to get people involved in caucuses, especially among supporters of former candidate Howard Dean.
During this year's election, interactive media will play an important role, especially for young people, Perlmutter said.
He said the University had some connections to "The Daily Show." One of the show's correspondents, Rob Riggle, graduated from the University with a bachelor's degree in theater and film. Another University student, Nathan Rodriguez, is writing his master's thesis about his time as an intern on the show.
Perlmutter said he took a lot of Final Four and NCAA Championship hats and t-shirts for the crew. He said he would try to give one to Jon Stewart.
Edited by Madeline Hyden
COMMUNITY
JayDoc offers care to the uninsured
BY ANDREW WIEBE
awiebe@kansan.com
Left to right: Congressman Dennis Moore, Sushant Govidan and Laurel Witt, JayDoc co-directors and KU medical school students. Photo courtesy of Lindsey Rule
Photo courtesy of Lindsey Rule
Patients begin filing the waiting room at a quarter-to-five every Monday and Wednesday. They have no money or health insurance to cover the cost of their visit, treatment or medication. They don't have an appointment, and they may not even have proper identification.
None of that matters at JayDoc, a free clinic operated almost entirely by University of Kansas medical students that has treated about 1,800 uninsured and underserved patients in Kansas City, Kan., each year since its inception in 2003.
At 340 Southwest Blvd., first through fourth-year medical students work alongside volunteer physicians from the community. They serve illegal immigrants, the poor and anyone in need of medical attention from 5 to 9 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday, although volunteers often work as late as 10 p.m. The clinic also holds specialty sessions every other Tuesday in areas such as prenatal care, diabetes and physical therapy.
The services that the clinic provides help alleviate the financial strain on the estimated 335,000 Kansans who do not have health
insurance according to U.S. Census figures from 2006. That figure continues to rise as health insurance prices increase.
Susan hant Govindan, a second-year medical student from Shawnee,
Govindan said the clinic's patient base continued to grow as more and more people became aware of its presence. He said JayDoc helped as many patients as possible despite its limited capabilities and supplies. Patients in need of more attention are referred to other clinics
"There is always something more you can do for your patient that you can't afford. That's just the reality of the way things work."
served as the clinic's finance director for 2007. He said operating JayDoc required around $75,000 raised entirely from donations, grants and fundraisers, not to mention the more than $175,000 in labor volunteered by students and doctors.
SUSHANT GOVINDAN JayDoc finance director
or physicians that can assist them.
Laurel Witt, a first-year medical student from Kansas City, Mo., and one of the clinic's three executive co-directors, said it was frustrating to see people suffer from illnesses that could be prevented with proper medical care.
"There is always something more you can do for your patient that you can't afford," he said. "That's just the reality of the way things work."
She said as Americans' health continued to decline with the rise in diabetes and other ailments, people who could not afford health insurance would continue to fall through the cracks of society.
Govindan said approximately 50 percent of the patients treated at JayDoc were either illegal immigrants or considered Spanish their first language, but that a wide range of people took advantage of the clinic's services.
Although many of the patients at JayDoc can be treated in some manner at the clinic, Witt said it was devastating to see the financial and emotional burden people with more serious or immediate injuries could incur.
"I think the major frustrations come when we see the pain, exhaustion and frustration on the faces of our patients," Witt said.
Despite the challenges they face, she said the instances when staff were able to create some sort of relief and hope in their patient's lives made the work worthwhile.
uninsured
With the cost of health care forcing many Americans to do without health insurance, KU medical students are helping bridge the gap. Every week KU medical students help provide free medical care to patients who couldn't afford treatment elsewhere at JayDoc, a completely free clinic in Kansas City, Kan.
She said effective and affordable health care was a need that everyone would face at least once in their lives, making even stop-gap solutions like JayDoc valuable.
"It seems to me that disease is universal," Witt said. "Life breaks down, aging happens and disease happens to everyone."
Edited by Samuel Lamb
THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS May 8, 2008 SENATE STUDENTS
ATTENTION STUDENTS!!!
DON'T FORGET TO PAY YOUR CLASS DUES DURING ENROLLMENT. CLASS DUES CAN BE FOUND UNDER THE LIST OF OPTIONAL CAMPUS FEES. THESE CLASS DUES HELP TO FUND THE BOARD OF CLASS OFFICERS, WHICH DISTRIBUTES THE H.O.P.E., C.L.A.S.S., AND CAMPANILE AWARDS AT KU AND HELPS TO FINANCE MAJOR CAMPUS EVENTS. GRADUATING CLASS OF 2009- YOUR SENIOR DUES HELP TO PAY FOR THE SENIOR CLASS GIFT, SENIOR MOTTO, AND SENIOR BANNER, SO MAKE SURE TO CHECK THESE DUES OFF UNDER OPTIONAL CAMPUS FEES.
BO C O THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS BOARD OF CLASS OFFICERS
Students for Global Awareness
EVENT: Want to be a tutor?
Do you know a foreign language?
WHY: Earn weekly community service hours.
Diversify your resume.
arn points towards GAP certification
If you have experience in a foreign language and want to get involved with a great, student-led group, apply to be a tutor through Students for Global Awareness.
CONTACT: sga@ku.edu
2008 "Picture the World"
Photo Contest
sponsored by the Phi Beta Delta honor society for international scholars
See the Winning and Noteworthy Photos at Tea Time in the Kansas Union Thursday, May 8th 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Traditions Area
http://www.international.ku.edu/~olp/pbd/photos