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The Daily Northwestern Thursday, October 18, 2012
DAILYNORTHWESTERN.COM
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City panel rejects visitors center plan Green Bay Rd
Ridge Ave
By SUSAN DU
daily senior staffer
The city’s Preservation Commission unanimously declined to support Northwestern in its plan to build a new visitors center on Sheridan Road at its Tuesday meeting. Seven commissioners voted against the plan and two abstained. The proposal for a new visitors center, which is scheduled for a vote at the Evanston City Council meeting on Monday, could still be approved. However, its chances of passing are slimmer than they would have been if the preservationist panel had given the plan their blessing. Among the commission’s concerns regarding the proposed visitors center are its size and its location on Sheridan Road. “We’re also concerned about the context of the building in the Evanston community, and this building represents a very different story about that context,” commissioner Jack Weiss said, according to Evanston Now, adding that a change in location might secure the commission’s vote of confidence. Bonnie Humphrey, the University’s director of design and construction, said the city’s zoning code requires adding parking, which the Sheridan Road location could accommodate. Other attendees at Tuesday’s meeting protested the plan because, they said, the proposed visitors center is too far removed in style from landmark buildings on NU’s campus. Humphrey argued that the new building would fit in with the campus’ many contemporary buildings, which feature limestone and glass.
University spokesman Al Cubbage said the Preservation Commission is only one of several city divisions NU has been in contact with in regard to the proposed visitors center. Despite the disapproval of the plan, NU hopes for the best in making its case before city council on Monday, he said. “It’s a disappointment of course. The new visitor’s center is something that will, in our minds, enhance the campus quite a bit and also alleviate some of the problems that currently exist with the current visitor’s center that are a bit of a concern to the local neighbors,” Cubbage said in reference
to overcrowding of vehicles around the existing visitor’s center that street parking creates. “So what we’re trying to do is create a place that’s going to be a real showcase for the university, a very striking building.” University officials say they will continue to negotiate for the visitors center. “The city has a process it is going through and the Evanston Preservation Commission’s role is part of it,” said Eugene Sunshine, NU’s vice president for business and finance. “We » See PRESERVATION, page 6
Northwestern University
Emerson St
Sheridan Rd
Dempster St
Dodge Ave
Oakton St
Map by Adrianna Rodriguez/The Daily Northwestern, photo courtesy of Northwestern
BUMP IN THE ROAD An artist’s rendering of the southeastern corner of the Northwesten campus, after construction of the new visitors center and Bienen building. A city panel rejected the proposal Tuesday night.
Prentice
Emanuel remains undecided on fate of old hospital site
Although Chicago Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) announced Monday that he supports Northwestern’s plan to demolish the old Prentice Women’s Hospital building in his ward, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Wednesday that he hasn’t been persuaded to side with either the University or preservationists. Emanuel said he still needs to meet with both parties to see if a compromise can be reached for Chicago’s benefit, according to the Chicago Tribune. NU wants to tear down Prentice and build a biomedical research facility on the site, which it claims is the only place that the center can be built. The University currently owns more than 40 percent of Streeterville. Preservationists want to save Prentice because it was built by famed architect Bertrand Goldberg, who also designed River City and Marina City in Chicago. The Save Prentice Coalition disputes NU’s claim that there are no alternative sites for the research facility. “There may not be common ground or a third way, and then we’ll have to deal with that,” Emanuel said at an unrelated news conference, according to the Tribune. “But most importantly, on the first step, this was a conversation between Northwestern and the preservationists. I think, the way I believe is, there are people that live there, operate there and have businesses. And they should be part of that conversation as well, because they’re part of that community.” – Susan Du
NU mandates Aetna insurance for international students
AETNA
Student Health Plan
Program provides U.S. coverage through required health plan By AMY WHYTE
TOTAL COST OF HEALTH PLAN:
$2,842
TIME PERIOD COVERED:
September 1, 2012 to June 31, 2013
OUT-OF-POCKET MAXIMUM PAID UNDER PLAN:
$1,000
NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS:
approx. 2,700 undergrads and graduates Infographic by Michell Kim/The Daily Northwestern
Serving the University and Evanston since 1881
the daily northwestern
Starting this school year, all international students at Northwestern are required to enroll in the University’s health insurance program, regardless of coverage in their home country. The cost of the University’s student health care plan this year totals $2,842. The plan, which is provided by Aetna Student Health, was expanded this year to cover “just about everything,” said Christopher Johnson, director of the Office of Risk Management. The new plan includes wellness care, vaccinations, birth control, unlimited mental health benefits and unlimited prescription benefits. “If students have health insurance from their home countries, we’re not really sure what it covers and what it does not cover,” said Ravi Shankar, director of NU’s International Office. “There have been several instances where students have fallen sick or they’ve had a physical or mental crisis that those health insurances
have not covered, and the student and parents are left with a considerable bill to pay.” Insufficient home health insurance plans in the past have cost international students as much as $40,000 to $50,000 in medical bills, Johnson said. Because of this, the University does not want its students to be “stuck with” that financial burden, he said. Additionally, the plan lowers costs from last year’s NU health insurance package. Previously students have paid as much as $5,000 for prescriptions, which under the new plan are only a $10 to $20 co-pay, Johnson said. “We feel that we have a certain responsibility to international students, and for that reason we are requiring them now to take part in the health plan,” Johnson said. McCormick sophomore Shuyao Shi, a Chinese international student, said he thinks the new plan is too expensive, especially for students like himself who are already paying for health insurance at home. Unable to waive NU’s insurance coverage, some international students end up paying for two health insurance plans simultaneously. “The insurance itself is very good, and on one side I think it is very helpful for students,” Shi said. “But on the other side, you know it’s
mandatory and double insurance is not very necessary. It would be better if international students had an option to choose if they want the insurance or not.” Shankar said the implementation of mandated student health There insurance have been inis necessary because stances where it ensures students have that international fallen sick or students are they’ve had fully cova physical or ered while they are at mental crisis NU. that those “We have a lot more health insurcontrol in ances have not terms of the covered. purchase of NorthwestRavi Shankar, ern health director of NU’s insurance, International Office and from a risk management perspective it makes perfect sense,” he said. “There are several universities that have mandatory health insurance, so this is not anything cutting-edge.”
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amywhyte2015@u.northwestern.edu
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