THE DAILY ATHENAEUM “Little good is accomplished without controversy, and no civic evil is ever defeated without publicity.”
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FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2010
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VOLUME 123, ISSUE 138
Clinton discusses his health care failure BY DEVON UNGER STAFF WRITER
Former President Bill Clinton said the primary reason he was unsuccessful in health care reform legislation was insufficient legislative support during his presidency. Clinton, who will speak at West Virginia University’s Eberly College of Arts & Sciences’ commencement ceremony and receive honorary doctorate of Humane Letters from WVU May 16, fielded questions from four student journalists during a conference call Wednesday. He spoke on health care reform, the rising cost of higher education and his work with his foundation, the Clinton Global Initiative. The
call was held as part of the Clinton Global Initiative-University Conference at the University of Miami this weekend. Regarding health care reform, Clinton discussed differences between the health care reforms passed by President Barack Obama and the reforms he attempted to pass during his first term as president. “They adopted the same strategy then, they did now,” Clinton said. “They said, ‘our main job is to beat the Democrats and beat the president, and the only way to do it is to stop them from passing health care.’” Obama’s filibuster proof majority allowed him to pass the bill de-
spite Republican opposition, Clinton said. The state of health care in the United States has worsened since he attempted reform, he added, helping to increase support for the changes Obama made. “The problem now is even worse than it was then,” Clinton said. When he attempted to reform the health care system, 14 percent of income was spent on health care, and wealthy countries were spending between 8 percent and 10 percent, he said. When Obama signed the bill, 17.2 percent of income was spent on health care, and competitors were spending 9 percent to 10.5 percent. “Doing nothing was clearly making things worse,” Clinton said.
He also discussed the major differences between his bill and the bill passed earlier this year. Obama’s bill uses more tax increases for funding and focuses more on subsidies for providing insurance; Clinton’s bill focused much more on cost control mechanisms to keep inflation of health care costs down. Clinton expects Congress will have to return to the new bill to make changes in the future but said he is happy the bill was passed. “I think it’s a great day that it passed, I’m thrilled that it did, and I’m glad (Obama) fought for it,” Clinton said. He also discussed the rising costs of higher education in the
United States. He said the U.S. system of higher education is the best in the world but questioned what has driven the cost increases. He also applauded the president and Congress on its recent reform of federally backed student loans as an effective way to help reduce costs. “Traditional higher education has been going up by more than the rate of inflation for decades, after inflation, college costs increased 75 percent in the last decade,” Clinton said. “When I took office the average public university tuition was about 7 percent FILE PHOTO of the average family income, and Former President Bill Clinton speaks to hundreds of Mountaineers in Woodburn Circle in 2008. see CLINTON on PAGE 2
B&E dean candidate Koerwer visits campus
CARRYING THE WEIGHT OF AFRICA
BY ANN COMPTON STAFF WRITER
The last of seven dean candidates for the College of Business & Economics visited West Virginia University Thursday. Venard “Scott” Koerwer, deputy dean at the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business, said though it was premature to “diagnose and prescribe” the changes he would make, he thinks business education is a great opportunity. “Those opportunities include being more involved in issues around sustainable development, enterprise and development,” he said. “WVU is a state that is very heavy on extraction, coal in particular, and engaging in businesses and nurturing businesses that look at sustainable enterprises.” Koerwer is interested in developing corporations with environmental impact and engaging in-
ternational enterprises. He stressed the importance of involving faculty and staff in a comprehensive and strategic planning process. Koerwer was drawn to WVU for many reasons, such as its importance to the state. “(WVU) has a great role to play in business and economic development, and I think that the business school has a very great future for growth and development,” he said. Koerwer also plans to give students more representation within the College. “If there is an active student government in the business school, that’s where I would start,” he said. “If there is not, we’d have to form one.” He is also looking toward the future, saying though you could not predict the future, it was important to keep your eye on it.
see KOERWER on PAGE 2
WVU also holds forum for B&E dean candidate Cooper PHOTOS BY LEANN ARTHUR /
BY ANN COMPTON
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
STAFF WRITER
The West Virginia University College of Business & Economics continued its search for dean Thursday, as candidate Michael Cooper held an open session with the College of B&E staff. At the session, Cooper, current dean of Rutgers Business School, explained his plans for the school and took questions. “My plans are to create a world class, premiere college,” Cooper said, explaining he would accomplish his plan the same way he did at Rutgers. “It’s a process of bringing the faculty and the corporate world on board, and providing, concentrating and investing in areas that they need students or they will hire students.” He understands the College
Students experience carrying water, a daily chore of poor in Africa BY SHAY MAUNZ
ASSOCIATE CITY EDITOR
Approximately 50 West Virginia University community members drew buckets of water from the Monongahela River, lifted them to their heads and walked to the Mountainlair Thursday. They walked in solidarity with the women and girls in Africa who fetch water for their families each day, as well as thousands of individuals nationwide who are also taking part in Nuru International’s Be Hope To Her (BH2O+) project this week. Across the country, 23 campuses took part, as well as cities and other organizations. “We want to give people the type of experience of carrying water and what it’s like for the
poor in Africa every day,” said Sarah Moore, president of the WVU student chapter of Nuru International. It took the group approximately 45 minutes to walk to the river, fetch the water and bring it back, Moore said, “though people in Africa would have to do it hours on end every day.” WVU Nuru set a $400 goal, but was able to raise $1,700 with the event. Money came from the registration fee and donations. “One student even gave us $1,000 out of his savings,” Moore said. “I think he really just thought about the situation that is extreme poverty and wanted to do something major to help.” But Moore said the event’s most important function was to raise awareness about extreme poverty, especially in a practical, hands-on
environment. “It’s important that people actually get to feel what it’s like rather than just talking about it,” Moore said. “You can talk about poverty for hours and hours, but it’s something else entirely to actually feel what it’s like.” Even for individuals who were not participating, she said, just seeing bright yellow buckets being carried across campus could help spark students’ interest in Nuru and related issues. “When you do it on a campus, people are going to ask questions,” Moore said. “So, hopefully, you’ll get people to think about extreme poverty what they can do. Everyone should do something.” shay.maunz@mix.wvu.edu
Students sleep outside to raise awareness of homelessness BY GAVIN MATELA STAFF WRITER
Students gathered behind the Mountainlair Thursday night to take part in the annual West Virginia University Habitat for Humanity Sleep Out on the Green. The goal of the event was for students to spend the night outside to realize what it would be like to not
have a comfortable place to live. Student organizations, including Greek organizations, service organizations, club sports and residence halls were invited to advocate awareness for those living in substandard housing across America. “Everyone hears about poverty in the world, but too many people think that it is not happening in our own backyards,” said Chelsea
Kearns, a junior multidisciplinary studies major and organizer of the event. “More students need to get involved and want to make our communities better.” More than 40 students attended to enjoy the music, games and contests provided. Students were tasked with building cardboard houses so they could relate to those forced to live on the
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streets. Prizes were awarded for the best structures. “We are getting these boxes and building this all together for a night of fun, but I don’t think homeless people see it as being all that fun,” said Julia Rine, a junior art history major. While building cardboard
see HOMELESS on PAGE 2
REMEMBER WVU’s FINAL NAL FOUR RUN If you missed last Friday’s special edition to commemorate the 2009-10 West Virginia men’s basketball team’s historic finish, you can pick up a copy at The Daily Athenaeum office today.
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THE DAILY ATHENAEUM IS HIRING We are looking for news writers, sports writers, A&E writers, opinion columnists, photographers, graphic designers and copy editors for the 2010-11 school year. If interested, pick up an application at 284 Prospect St. today. With your application, please submit at least three related samples. If you have any additional questions, e-mail us at DA-Editor@mail.wvu.edu for more information.
of B&E programs were “spread too thin” and “covered too many areas,” Cooper said. “I will consolidate with the help of the faculty,” he said. “I don’t operate independently, faculty buy in is very important.” Cooper said he would work with faculty to evaluate the College of B&E programs, eliminating some if needed and devoting existing resources to enhance those remaining. Jamie Kiszka, administrative assistant for the Bureau of Business & Economic Research, thought he was an excellent candidate. “His vast business experience, his background in psychology and his work with Rutgers were very impressive,” she said. “His successful record at
see COOPER on PAGE 2 LEANN ARTHUR/THE DAILY ATHENAEUM
Members of WVU’s Habitat For Humanity chapter Stephanie Knittle, a senior biology major, and John Armour, a senior management information systems and English major, tape together cardboard during Habitat For Humanity’s annual Sleep Out On The Green Thursday.