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Pa 8 e 4 The Red end Black. Thursday. May 25, 1972
KEN WILLIS
I couldn't believe my ears
THE OPINIONS OF THE ftEO AND BLACK
Dependent coverage
The idea of dependent coverage
by the University Health Services is
a good one, but must receive very
serious study before being
implemented.
Dr. John Curtis, looking to the
Jay that the addition to the health
services building will be completed,
has been privately discussing
coverage for dependents, and is
now openly soliciting the opinions
of married students. He is being
assisted by Sam Magruder,
chairman of the Health and Safety
Committee of the Student Senate.
There is little doubt in our minds
that some sort of help for the
married students in the area of
dependent care would be welcome.
The big rub comes when deciding
how to finance the new program.
Presently, the only student support
comes through the health service
fee paid by all students. It vf/ould be
unfair to require unmarried
students to bear the increased
financial burden of providing
dependent care. The cost would
have to be shouldered by the
married students, preferably by the
ones using the service.
But an optional basis for married
students may not be sufficient
guarantee for the health services.
Suppose a crew of doctors is hired
for the dependents, and many of
the married students decide they
don't \*ent the coverage because they
have not used it in the past year.
What happens to the crew of
doctors?
Maybe all the married students
could be assessed a nominal
increase in health service fees as a
sort of insurance. The treatment
provided by the Health Services
would then be on a cost basis,
which presumably would charge
well below that of a private
doctor's fees.
Or perhaps married students
could be invited to voluntarily
purchase this insurance (which
would be more expensive on the
optional basis). The married
students with the insurance could
receive dependent care on a cost
basis, and others could be charged
the going commercial rates.
The proposal certainly bears
investigation, particularly if our
suspicion that many married
students cannot afford health
insurance is correct.
Rex Granum and I thought we were
going crazy. We, along with the rest of the
staff for fall quarter, had encountered an
untold number of problems in our crack
at going daily, and then this weird little
fellow walked into
Rex’s office with an
insane proposition.
Rex was Editor at
the time. As News
Editor nd general
nuisance, I often
poked my head into
Rex’s small cubicle
of an office to harass
him. This day,
though, my nuisance instinct backfired,
for when I opened the door halfway. I
observed Rex staring at the ceiling and
the four dirty yellow walls, his face
contorted.
“Ken,” he invited me in. “This
gentleman says he has a story for us.”
Then an unbelievable plot unfolded.
This “gentleman” claimed he was a
representative of the Southeastern
Conference (the ones that bring "s
football). He wanted publicity for “The
Most Studious Girl” contest being
sponsored by the SEC. He even had an
“official” card and a sloppily-written
letter from the “president” of the SEC on
what could have passed as official
stationery.
“The Most Studious Girl,” it turned
out, was the one that refused to date him
(as the SEC representative), preferring her
studies instead. I could understand.
After a few questions, we called his
bluff and dismissed him.
I had to laugh hysterically. As he had
talked, I had thought of the mountains of
bitter and jealous information we were
receiving on Provost S. W. Pelletier (much
of it unsubstantiated; some of it with
basis, but picky; and some of it valid
charges) and the “secret information”
from Tommy Rymer that a certain
administrator was a homosexual. “People
are insane,” I kept telling myself, all the
time wondering what the real truth was.
Those few days last fall, during which
others and I tried to discern the truth
about Dr. Pelletier and Rymer, were
somewhat typical of Red and Black life
this year. The deluge hasn’t been as
intense all year, and we haven’t had that
many crazy people (the other one I
remember is the person who was working
in the field one day and was directed by
God to work for The Red and Black). But
we have constantly been faced with the
task o discerning the truth of key issues.
For instance, is there really a housing
crackdown? Or, does Carl Savage really
have a daughter here and do his charges
have any validity? Or, did The Red and
Black cover the whole story of the Rymer
group, or did it just scratch the surface?
Or is Scott McLarty crazy or brilliant?
On every major story, we have had our
questions and doubts. We face the
problem that there are more than two
sides to a story (more like a million). But
we have done our best to give the true
story.
The conflict that I have witnessed has
been trying, but stimulating. Besides, not
everything has been conflict. I, along with
many readers, have enjoyed the lighter
stories in the paper, as well as some of
those studying college social conditions.
And does everyone now know what a
Tom Pitts is? In random discussion, I
have found that he is intensely disgusting
or intensely pleasing to our readers - sort
of like Tom Crawford was. Anyone who
doesn’t have a skin of tissue paper just
has to laugh at Dover Klam, who pokes
fun at everything from The Red and
Black to the Greeks.
And then there’s Andrew Hamilton, our
award-winning cartoonist. Never have I
known anyone with as biting a wit as
Andrew’s. Some of those who have been
attacked know how sharp his bite can be;
yet I have noticed that he always tries to
be fair. He did an excellent job, and The
Red and Black will miss him next year.
All in all, this year has been very
rewarding - trying, but rewarding. I’m
confident that all the insane things that
have happened have not affected my
sanity and I look forward to being with
you next fall.
THE RED AND BLACK
Ken Willis, editor
Jim Thompson Carol Roberts
Business manager Managing editor
Claudia Townsend, news/feature editor; Jim Corbett and Jimmy Johnson,
associate news editors; Ann Hutchinson and Susan Parker, associate feature
editors; Jon Ham, sports editor; Allyn Roland, copy editor; Holly Weaver, wire
editor; Steve Jackson, photographic editor.
Thr Red and Black. student
newspaper of the University of Georgia.
Athens, is published on Tuesday.
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Georgia 30601.
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are the opinions of the writers of signed
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Mail letters to The Red and
Black, 130 Journal ism
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orbring by 130 Journalism
building.
'Toothbrush drive merits
your support'
TO THE EDITOR
In your edition of Friday, there was an
editorial by your Mr. Dave Chestnut
which I found, in my opinion, to be both
misguided and in bad taste.
I would like to call your attention, and
thal of Mr. Chestnut, to an editorial on
l he editorial page of The Atlanta
Constitution Monday concerning this
same "Bangladesh toothbrush fund"
about which Mr. Chestnut discoursed a la
Art Buehwald. 1 have some small
knowledge of Asian poverty (of all kinds)
having served on occupation duy in Korea
in |44h. 1047, and 1948. I know its
crushing effect on individual people. I
also know that one aspect of this poverty
is a nearly total absence of sar.itsry
survival skills. A rotting dental structure
will debilitate, and kill, as quickly at any
other massive infection. The Constitution
editorial pointed out that this
government (our own administration) is
currently aiding the nalion of Bangladesh
to the estent of $3000.000.000 a year
(three hundred million dollars per annum,
and no arms just food, hospital
supplies, technical assistance, etc.). One
important element tn breaking down
hatreds of ethnocentrlcity is personal
contact person to person. An American
National risks his Ufe in even being in
Bangladesh and our State Department
so warns every applicant for a passport
and visa.
Now most of us just don't have the
courage (or resources) to go at our own
expense, with no personal return or profit
whatever, to try to bring thta small
element of personal contact to another
people who are very hostile to begin with.
Dr. Barry Simmons will see up to 300
people a day as patients, to say nothing
l sharing his professional skills through
teaching indigenous technicians so thal
II skills will remain after he leaves (or is
carried oul). I would hope (hat this
paper, and my fellow students, would
give this project senous and vigorous
support - even to the point of spreading
this message in heir home communities.
Time is short Barry leaves on June I.
Why not be part of the solution lo the
world hatreds nol pan of the problem!!!!
EMORY C WARRICK
Toothbrushes
a big step
TO THE EDITOR
I read Dave Chestnut’s comment- about
my efforts to raise funds to buy
toothbrushes for the children of
Bangladesh.
Although I do realize there are many
other needs, thcrole of oral hygiene is one
ot the most important factors in
maintaining good general health. With
infected teeth or gums, a person cannot
chew and properly digest food regardless
of the amount or quality available. He,
therefore, cannot properly use the food
to carry on the body processes. From
this, malnourishment is only emphasized.
The dental profession, today as never
before, is stressing the vital role of
preventive hygiene Uus is the primary
means of controlling dental disease of
today's massive populations.
My goal in these underdeveloped
countries is to introduce a working and
lasting program of preventive oral
hygiene. As an integral part of that
program the toothbrush is the basic
foundation.
I work only in outpost areas that have
never received dental treatment or
education before
Medical personnel will he assigned by
the respective governments to continue
this program. One typical outpost will be
the leper colony thal I shall be assigned
to on my entry into Bangladesh.
The needs in Bangladesh are countless.
Dentistry is the way that I can make my
small contribution towards helping these
people. Your readers’ help with raising
funds is a way for them to also become
directly involved. Our help, no matter
how small, is a beginning for the children
of Bangladesh.
BARRY D SIMMONS
D.D.S.. P C.
Russell Hall
backs Patrick
TO THE EDITOR
At the May 23 meeting, the Russell Hall
Council adopted a resolution expressing
our support for Steven Patrick for the
position of Third Ward City Councilman
in the August primary .
In his work as President of thy Russell
Hall Council for two years. Student
Senator, RHA member and other
positions, Steven has shown himself to be
a tireless worker who works for the
wishes of his constituents. We believe thal
Steven will continue this outstanding
work if elected to the Athens City
Council.
As was aptly stated at our meeting.
“Steve probably has more enemies for
fewer reasons than anyone on this
campus.” We belive this enmity t
unfounded and urge all persons registered
to vote to lend their vote and support to
Steven Patrick.
RUSSELL HALL COUNCIL
Health Services
needs you
TO THfc EDITOR
After a talk with Dr. John R. Curtis,
Director of the Health Services here, I
found that the dependents of married
students cannot receive any medical
coverage from the University. Dr. Curtis
is now ready to meet the demands of the
student body with the expansion in their
present building to be ready by January,
1973. From this expansion, the doctors
will be able to work more efficiently.
The Health Services deal with all
medical problems, but they cannot
provide major surgery or deliver babies.
They presently see more than 350
students a day with their problems,
ranging all the way downtohomesickness
The doctors in the Health Services have
been rated high above the average doctor
in the nation. They also have the widest
coverage of any student health center in
the nation.
Dr. Curtis wants to provide this service
for the dependents, provided coverage is
wanted by the student body. I strongly
urge that all students either contact
Student Body President Joe Fowler
(2-1903) or Dr. John Curtis (2*4817) in
favor of this medical coverage.
Furthermore, I urge The Red and Black
to endorse this measure. And finally, I
urge that all married students express
their needs and wishes in this area in the
survey being conducted now.
SAM MAGRUDER
Chairman Public Safety and Health
Committee Student Senile
Union open
to anyone
TO THE EDITOR
As the Coordinator of the Ideas and
Issues Division o the Union in 1971-72,1
feel I should respond to the several
inaccurate assumptions on the part of
Martin O’Toole made in Wednesday’s Red
and Black.
Three basic criteria are maintained in
selecting speakers during the year. They
are (1) interest, as determined by major
current issues and response by the
student body , (2) availability, both of the
speaker as the program relates to the total
Union program, and (3) price. Interest is
by nature an uncertain parameter;
however, the students in the Division
have always attempted to excercise
fairness and balance in their final choices.
In addition, a master list of suggested
speakers is maintained by the Union, as a
reference to use in researching possible
speakers. The latter two criteria are
always the final determinants, as
honorariums have grown exorbitant in
recent years.
It would he impossible to divide the
$9,000 allocated for 1972-73 among the
more than 300 recognized student
organizations and still maintain any sort
of worthwhile speaker program that
would relate to the general interests of
the student body. For that reason, the
bulk of the allocated monies goes to
broadly based programs, not necessarily
political in nature. The Union has never
attempted to compete with smaller clubs
and organizations, and in fact has worked
closely with several of them in the past in
presenting speaker programs. Other clubs
do present their own autonomous
programs (in the last year, George
Wallace, Wilbur Mills and J.B. Stoner -
hardly “washed-up liberals” - have
appeared on campus) and the Union does
not attempt to duplicate them.
The Union is a student funded and
operated organization, and any student is
welcome to join in thyplanning and.work
of its programs.
TED KASSINGER
SGA Minister to University Relations
Charges for
CCC publicity?
TO THE EDITOR
Martin O’Toole charged in Wednesday’s
Red and Black that the Ideas and Issues
Division of the Union brought speakers to
the campus without balancing them with
more conservative speakers. As a member
of the Division, it is my goal to try to
bring speakers whom students have
expressed a desire to hear. If Mr.
O’Toole’s wish is to bring more
conservative speakers to the campus, then
why has he not contacted a member of
the Division who would bring up his
suggestion for consideration, or joined
the Division himself. The Union is
constantly looking for students to work
for the different divisions.
I contend that Mr. O’Toole is merely
looking for publicity for the Campus
Conservative Club rather than actually
working to bring speakers which would
appeal to the right-wingers of the campus.
ERIC MENDELSOHN