TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2005
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
3A
CORRECTION
♦ Thursday's University Daily Kansan contained an error. In the article, "Above Average," Marlesa Roney, vice-provost for student success, was attributed to a quotation that she did not say. The Kansan apologizes for the error.
CAMPUS
Nobel Prize winner, KU alumni to speak on world economics
Vernon Smith will answer a daunting question tomorrow. How should $50 billion be spent on the world's most pressing issues?
The 1952 graduate and Nobel Prize winner will discuss "World Issues and the Role of the Economist" at 7 p.m. at Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union.
a was
comers
ce was
age of
Smith received the Nobel Prize in economics in 2002 for establishing laboratory experiments as a tool in empirical economic analysis.
plain to
capabil
out the
to thes
— to that
He received his master's degree in economics from the University of Kansas in 1952 and taught in the department of economics for one year.
— Jason Shaad
KU Center for Applied Economics is playing host to the lecture.
talked ment to
Election violation decision postponed until next week
estions
ur sire
ir sire
ity," he
cussion
ssissue."
A decision regarding the Student Voice coalition and its recent elections violations is on hold.
A member of the Elections Commission had a family emergency and had to leave during the meeting yesterday.
the stu-
fice, 119
during the
holidays,
through
KS 66045
Stephanie Farley/KANSAN
As a result, the commission will not make a decision until next Monday, said Luke Thompson, chairman of the commission.
Student Voice was charged with two elections violations regarding campaigning outside Budig Hall on April 7.
Jack Connor, the Student Voice member who represented the coalition, said the organization was not soliciting. The group was passing out free pop to students the week before elections.
Student Voice did not register with the University Events Committee, which led Arthur Jones, a member of the KUinited coalition, to file a complaint to the commission.
If the commission finds Student Voice guilty next week, the coalition plans to appeal, said Jack Connor. Overland Park freshman.
"We've had good grounds for appeal every other time," Connor said. "And we have good grounds this time."
Thompson couldn't comment on any potential decision the commission may make.
Joshua Bicker
GTAs not satisfied with health insurance
HEALTH
BY TY BEAVER
tbeaver@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
The union for graduate teaching assistants at the University of Kansas wants another option for health insurance available to students.
Jennifer Foster, a religious studies graduate teaching assistant, is unhappy with the University of Kansas' insurance provider. The contract with MEGA, the provider chosen by the state for the University, expires in October. Negotiations for insurance might be looked at by the GTA coalition, Foster said.
Health benefits are one of the biggest concerns among GTAs, said Jennifer Foster, Leawood graduate student and member of the union. Improving those benefits has proved to be a challenge.
The policy is available to all students, but graduate students use it the most, and GTAs aren't satisfied with the quality of coverage the policy provides. Foster said.
"We don't pay much for insurance, but it sucks," she said.
Because the group of students who use the policy is so small, few insurance companies choose to bid for the right to insure students.
All Regents universities offer a health insurance plan through the MEGA Life and Health Insurance Company. The company was the only insurance provider to bid on a policy for students at the Regents universities, said Gavin Young, media relations director for the state of Kansas.
"From our perspective, this is a very narrowly defined market and there are only a handful of vendors available to bid," he said.
GTAs aren't satisfied with the coverage. however.
Preventive care, such as yearly physicals, are not provided for under the policy. The only preventive care paid for under the policy is one yearly Pap smear for women.
There are students, though,
that need yearly physicals due to
chronic illness or a family history.
Foster said.
After the deductible, the company will pay about 80 percent of the charges, with a cap of $100,000, depending on the amount of coverage that is purchased.
Emergency coverage is not acceptable either, she said.
Young said there were complaints about the company's speed at filing claims and not covering certain services.
There is a $2,000 deductible on emergency costs before the company will pay.
Though the structure of the company's policy determines what services are covered, the company has acknowledged
problems with processing claims and is working toward improvement, he said.
"It should be pointed out that complaints about insurance are not unexpected." Young said.
Contract negotiations for GTAs are being planned for October, Foster said. One proposal is to ask the University if students can approach insurance companies with a plan developed by students to provide more thorough coverage, even if it means higher premiums.
Edited by Kendall Dix
ON CAMPUS
The Center for Russian and East European Studies will sponsor a Laird Brown Bag lecture on "Central Asia in International Relations" by Kemal Babjanov of Turkmen State University at noon today at 318 Bailey Hall. Call 864-4236 for more information.
Bob Dole will lecture at 4 p.m. in the Dole Institute of Politics. Call 864-4900 for more information.
♦ The Student Alumni Association will host a Scavenger Hunt at 6:30 today in the Adams Alumni Center. Pizza and pop will be provided. Door prizes will be awarded to winning scavenger hunt team. Contact Gretchen Christenson at 933-9977.
The School of Architecture and Urban Design will sponsor a lecture by Michael Sorkin of the Sorkin Studio and City College of New York at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow at Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union. Call 864-4281 for more information.
Charles Stansifer of the history department will lecture on "Spencer Library Archives on Latin America" as part of the University Forum series at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow in Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 1204 Oread Ave. Call 843-4933 for more information.
- Nobel Prize winner Vernon Smith will lecture on "World Issues and the Role of Economists" at 7 p.m. tomorrow at Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union. Contact the School of Business at 864-4449 for more information.
ON THE RECORD
A 23-year-old KU student reported to Lawrence police $600 worth of DVDs and a $800 laptop stolen between 12 p.m. April 19 and 2:25 a.m. April 25 from the 2600 block of Moundview Drive.
♦ A 25-year-old KU student reported $500 damage to his BMW to Lawrence police around 3 a.m. on April 25 in the 1500 block of Legend Trail Drive.
♦ A 24-year-old KU student reported his 1997 Honda Civic stolen to Lawrence police between 10 p.m. April 21 and 11 a.m. April 22 from the 900 block of Ohio Street. The car is valued at $7,000, a stereo system inside the car is valued at $800 and a set of $900 wheels were on the car.
♦ A 34-year-old KU staff member reported his parking permit stolen to the KU Public Safety Office between 8 and 10:30 a.m. on April 22 from Lot 34. The permit is valued at $130.
THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS April 26, 2005 STUDENT SENATE
Interested in PR?
Jayhawk Communications
is the student run public relations firm.
You can have the opportunity to work for real companies & gain valuable experience!
Next Meeting:
Tuesday April 26th @ 8pm in room 100 Stauffer-Flint
This is a great way to get involved & network with professionals
Join us for a Benefit Concert with proceeds benefiting the Little Indian Nations Academy (Day Care facility for Haskell Indian Nations University)
Where: ABE & JAKES
When: April 28 6:30-9:30pm
With performances by:
Friday, April 29
7:00 - 8:30pm
Kansas Room, Kansas Union
contact: 785-766-4586
wwlew@hotmail.com
New Dawn Native Dancers @ 7:00pm
Followed by:
In Your Absence @ 8:15
$5.00 at the door
Silent Auction:
Featuring Artwork by Haskell Students & more
Cash Bar
Delicious Indian Tacos
Nichiren Buddhism University Lecture
Find Enlightenment or just come to learn about an organization that promotes peace, culture and education based on Buddhism.
PRSSA
Meeting Tues April 26th @ 7pm room100 Stauffer-Flint Topic: Sports PR