THE INDEPENDENT DAILY AT DUKE UNIVERSITY
The Chronicle
THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 17, 2009
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTH YEAR, ISSUE 20
WWW.DUKECHRONICLE.COM
Exhibit’s close sparks death penalty debate by
Career Fair sees fewer recruiters
Matthew Chase THE CHRONICLE
Arjun Reddy THE CHRONICLE
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For the past seven months, students walking in and out of the Friedl building might have met something unexpected—images ofinmates being lynched, sitting in electric chairs and awaiting their ultimate deaths. PreMeditated; Meditations on Capital Punishment, an anti-death penalty exhibit by award-winning Chicano artist Malaquias Montoya, has been on display in the Fredric Jameson Gallery sinceMarch and officially closed Wednesday night. The exhibit consists of works of acrylic paint, murals, drawings and silkscreens-Montoya’s signature
style.
To commemorate the exhibit’s closing, the Program in Latino/Latina Studies in the Global South and the Duke Human Rights Center co-sponsofed a reception with the Innocence Project at the School of Law, the Duke chapter of Amnesty International and the North Carolina Coalitionfor a Moratorium. Durham’s state Sen. Floyd McKissick and Darryl Hunt, a man exonerated in 2004 after spending 19 years in prison, spoke at the event. “There were so many other innocent men and women [in jail], and I am trembling because I am still affected by these SEE EXHIBIT ON PAGE 5
LARSA AL-OMAISHI/THE CHRONICLE
Darryl Hunt, who was wrongfully jailedfor 19years before being exonerated in 2004, speaks in the Fried! building Wednesday night at the closing of the PreMeditated; Meditations on Capital Punishment art exhibit
Admins wrangle with UHCSR problems by
Jinny Cho
THE CHRONICLE
In response to dissatisfaction with UnitedHealthcare Studentßesources, University health administrators have sought to resolve student issues with the insurance company. “We tend to hear from the people who have problems, and we’ve been working to address concerns,” said Dr. Bill Purdy, executive director of Student Health. In 2008, UHCSR replaced BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina—the University’s Student Medical Insurance Plan administrator for 30 years—a change that has come under fire from graduate students frustrated with UHCSR’s coverage and service, as investigated in Part one of the series. Untangling problems University administrators said they are aware of the problems students have experienced with the new plan and are working on a case-by-case basis to get them resolved with
UHCSR. Purdy and Jean Hanson, administrative director of Duke Student Health, said they have made it a priority to respond to student concerns. Hanson said she strives to be “the intermediary between the student and UHCSR.” Although UHCSR pledged to mirror BCBS of N.C.’s coverage in its contract, many students have come forward with complaints against the new insurance provider. It came to Hanson’s attention, for example, that BCBS of N.C. paid for provider visits and office procedures done on the same day, while UHCSR did not. The issue is common, Hanson noted, in visits to psychiatrists for medication, followed by appointments with psychologists for therapy. After Hanson intervened on behalfof disgruntled students, however, she said UHCSR reviewed the claims and corrected payments to match what BCBS of N.C. would have charged. Some students frustrated with coverage problems said they were impressed with the University’s swift response. Nora Hanagan, a sixth-year graduate student in political science, said after bringing her problem to the attention of Student Health, the complaint was promptly addressed. She added that she has been reimbursed for
ontheRECORD "As a result of our initial success with viral studies, we were asked by the Department of Defense to look at swine flu." Dr. Aimee Zaas on swine flu research. See story page 3.
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Recruitment season was in full bloom Wednesday as students and recruiters thronged the Bryan Center for the annual Career Fair. In all, 76 companies participated this year, down from the 106 companies that attended last year. William Wright-Swadel, Fannie Mitchell executive director of career services, said although official numbers for student participation will not be in until next week, student turnout was strong. Representation from financial and consulting industries was particularly low, WrightSwadel said, and students said they were more likely to consider careers with non-profit and governmental employers this year. “Government is one industry that is still hiring,” said Caitlin Bevans, a Master of Management Studies student and Trinity ’O9. “The trend is definitely moving toward [Washington,] D.C., as compared to a few years ago,” she saidL Bevans decided to seek employment with the State Department because of the stability, health benefits and international opportunities the government could offer her—with the only drawback that her pay would be less than a Wall Street salary. SEE CAREER FAIR ON PAGE 5
Initiative will explore fin. aid experience Lindsey Rupp THE CHRONICLE
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This summer, the Institutional Review Board approved the Dean of Undergraduate Education’s Socioeconomic Diversity Initiative, which will attempt to assess and compare the Duke experiences of students who do and do not receive financial aid. Steve Nowicki, dean and vice provost of undergraduate education, said socioeconomic differences and their effects on campus life is “a dimension we need to know more about.” “I’ve never run across a student on financial aid who says, ‘Duke just sucks,’” Nowicki said. “Some of them are deeply involved in everything about Duke... but then there are others who say, ‘I don’tknow if I really belong here socially.’” Donna Lisker, associate dean of undergraduate edu•
SEE HEALTHCARE ON PAGE 6
Women's Soccer: Prime Time Forward Kay Anne Gummersall plays her best when it matters most, PAGE 7
SEE INITIATIVE ON PAGE 6