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University Daily Kansan / Tuesday, October 15, 1991
Frustration levels rise among GTAs
Graduate student espouses unionization as means of solving problems
By Jerry Schwilling Special to the Kansan
Dan Murtaugh is frustrated.
Murtaugh, graduate teaching assistant in English, says he works 40 hours a week and is paid for 20. He has found additional work to help pay his bills.
Murtaugh is frustrated that he works so much for so little and thinks that a GTA labor union would help solve this and other problems that GTAs at the University of Kansas face.
"What is needed is solidarity among GTAs," he said.
"we need to get more people involved," said Murtaugh, chairperson of the Graduate Representative Assembly, a group of graduate students that represents graduate student issues to Student Senate.
Murtaugh has been teaching English at the University for four years.
This year, Murtaugh is instructing a total of 70 students in two classes.
"What is needed is solidarity among GTAs."
Dan Murtaugh graduate teaching assistant in English
Although he is paid for 20 hours of work a week, he works 40 hours a week managing those classes, and he cannot support himself on his GTA salary alone, he said.
he said.
Murtaugh supplements his income by working as a research assistant, teaching when he can at Baker University in Baldwin City. He also has taken part-time jobs and has taken out loans.
Frustration at the ineffectiveness of past attempts to improve wages, increase tuition fee waivers from 75 percent to 100 percent and improve
insurance benefits for GTAs has led him to believe that unionization is needed, he said.
It is important to get representatives from every part of the graduate student community, he said.
student attendance Participation has been a problem in the past. Murtaugh said.
Currently, there are 1,100 to 1,200 GTAs at KU, said Janet Riley, assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs.
Those GTAs are enrolled in the 55 doctoral and the 90 masters degree programs at the University, said Virginia Saylor, office specialist in research, graduate studies and public service.
Generally, only 20 of these programs are represented at assembly meetings, Murtaugh said.
Murtaugh is investigating the procedures for establishing a union of graduate teaching assistants.
A union statement of purpose and registration of the group with the Organizations and Activities Center would be an early requirement for
Murtaugh said unionization at universities in Wisconsin and Michigan resulted in improvements for GTAs.
establishing a union.
"Where it has gone through, I have heard nothing but good results," he said.
Ruth Hillers, assistant director of the graduate division of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, said organized GTAs could make a tremendous difference in bargaining for their requests.
"This is much better than the apathy I've seen in previous years," she said.
Mike Guemple, graduate teaching assistant, said he would support GTA
"Weneed more authority behind our representation when dealing with the Kansas Legislature," he said.
Guemple said he thought a union would add that authority.
The next Graduate Representative Assembly meeting is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Oct. 24, at the Walnut Room in the Kansas Union.
Keith Thorpe/Special to the KANSAN
Grim reminder
A car smashed in an alcohol-related accident sits between Lippincott and Dyche halls as a reminder to students not to drink and drive. Alcohol Awareness Week began yesterday and continues with activities scheduled throughout the week.
Commission considering proposals to increase rates for ambulance use
By Heather Anderson Kansan staff writer
The Douglas County Commission yesterday listened to proposals that could lead to another increase in ambulance service rates.
The commission received proposals on how to make the increases from Ted McFarlane, director of the county department of emergency medical services and emergency preparedness.
Increased costs and inflation have driven up the cost of operating the ambulances.
People who are transported by the ambulances must pay for the service. Most health care plans pay for at least part of ambulance services.
The commission will have a public hearing on the issue Oct. 30. The hearing is required by law.
The current cost for a routine service call that starts and ends in Douglas County is $98. If an ambulance crew has to perform paramedic care, the cost is $178, excluding the cost of the pharmaceuticals used.
For out-of-country routine service, the base rate is $132.50 and the rate for paramedic service is Out-of-charge; there also includes an extra charge depending on mileage.
change depending on the number. The average cost for ambulance service in and out of county was $201 each of the last two years.
McFarlane presented the commission with four options that included a variety of different rate changes
affecting all of the rates.
Under the proposed options, incount routine service rates could remain the same or be increased to as much as $121.
In-count paramedic services could increase to as much as $285.
Mcfarland also asked the county to consider establishing an origination fee that would add an extra charge if an insurance夹 had to go outside the county.
He also suggested that the county not charge an extra fee for service outside the county.
Commissioner Mike Amyx said he did not want the county's ambulances to be always out of the county in case they were needed in Douglas County
McFarlane said it was sometimes
better for Douglas County ambulances to go to another county if they could get to the patient before ambulances from other counties.
The ambulance use rates were not increased at all last year, he said.
McFarlane said Douglas County ambulance use rates were lower than those of some of the 16Kansas counties contacted in a survey by the department of emergency medical services and emergency preparedness.
He also said the cost was lower than what health insurance carriers Medicare and Blue Cross and Blue Shield would be willing to pay.
McFarlane said he suggested that the county increase the routine service call to $121 and the emergency base rate to $250.
Douglas County Average Ambulance Rates Since 1980
Ambulance rates for emergency service have increased since 1980. Four proposals have been made that would increase the rate again this year. There will be a public County Courthouse on October 30 at the Douglas County Courthouse to discuss the proposals.
1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991
Source: Director Department of Emergency Medical Service and Emergency Preparedness
Melissa Unterberg / KANSAM
ADVERTISE IN THE DAILY KANSAN FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS
TODAY
SPECIAL EVENTS AT KU
WEDNESDAY
Trike Race. South of Memorial Stadium Scoreboard, 4:30 p.m.
See the effects of alcohol on motor skills. Sponsored by GAMMA
Speaker from DCCCA * Oliver Hall
"Eddie Talks." Ellsworth Hall, 6:30 p.m., a video about someone like you who happens to have an alcohol problem
"Be a Kid." Hashinger Hall, Jello Sucking Fun
"Don't Become a Grouch." McCollum Hall, managing stress
- CONTACT HALL FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
For more details about Alcohol Awareness Week call Health Education at 864-9570.
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A PHILANTHROPIC EVENT FOR COURT APPPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES (CASA)
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SUN RUN
RUN TO GAIN HOPE FOR THE CASA CHILDREN.
Race Starts at 8a.m. at the Space Technology Building and Finishes at the Pharmacy Research Building on West Campus.
**Entry:** Entry Fees: $10 students *i* $12 non-students. Entry fees must accompany entry form and are non-fundable. Deadline for the entry forms is Oct 18 at 9 a.m. late registration and packet pickup will be held from 7 a.m. on race day at the Space Technology Building on West Campus. Entry fees for late registration will remain the same but a T-14 shirt is not guaranteed. Please make checks payable to Kappa Alpha Thuka.
*medicine:* Race begins at 8 a.m. Packet pickup and late registration from 7-8 a.m. on race Day 01, 1991. *breeding by Body Shape Fitness Club* at 7-4 a.m. Race will be held main or nain. Awards will be presented at the end of the race.
Awards: 100% cotton t-shirts will be given to all entrants. Plaques and prizes will be awarded to overall women's and men's champions in the both SK and MED. Medals will be given in division places 3 through 13 in both categories.
--in consideration of the foregoing, I for myself, my hairs, executes, and administration, wave and release any and all rights and claims for damage I have against the Akappa Alpha Theta Foundation, and any and all claim(s) in connection with the completion of this event, and verify that I am physically it and have sufficiently trained for the completion of this event and my physical conditioning has been verified by a licensed medical doctor.
Date
--in consideration of the foregoing, I for myself, my hairs, executes, and administration, wave and release any and all rights and claims for damage I have against the Akappa Alpha Theta Foundation, and any and all claim(s) in connection with the completion of this event, and verify that I am physically it and have sufficiently trained for the completion of this event and my physical conditioning has been verified by a licensed medical doctor.
Date
Name: Name
Address: Address
Phone: Phone
Student: Student
Size (in cm) (L x A)
State: State
ZIP:
Age Category: SK 1K M/F
M/F
Non-Student:
*or official use only. Rows number assigned*
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17 & under 18-29 30-49 40-49 50 & over
Signature Date