Loyola University • New Orleans • Volume 93 • Issue 18 • Feb. 13, 2015
THE MAROON FOR A GREATER LOYOLA
Dude, where’s my
contraception Recent changes to the university’s health insurance plan have confused some employees about the process of receiving their contraceptive coverage By Marie Simoneaux @mariesimoneaux masimone@loyno.edu
When Loyola professor Sara Butler went to fill her birth control prescription in January, she was surprised that she had to pay full price for her medication due to confusion from the university’s new health care providers. At the beginning of October 2014, the Loyola administration announced that employees would now be covered under United Health Care. Loyola informed employees that they would no longer cover contraceptives due to its religious exemption from that portion of the Affordable Care Act. However, they assured employees that they would still be able to obtain coverage from the new provider. “I find the whole thing kind of appalling. I know it has been labeled under religious exclusion as birth control, but this is a medicine that is used for many different things,” Butler said. “I have a condition called polycystic ovaries, and I get very sick without this medicine. It makes me really angry that the university doesn’t care enough about my health to cover this for me.” Butler said she paid the $75 needed for one month of her perscription despite the university’s claims that United Health Care would still be
able to cover the costs. Now, many faculty members have complained that the university failed to adaquately communicate how to gain this coverage. Butler, a distinguished professor of history, said the initial statement from the university said there would be no inconvenience to those seeking contraceptives under the terms of Loyola’s religious exclusion, but this has not been the case. “The new plan requires us to get a whole separate card, and that process alone takes a few weeks, so I expect that I will be required to foot the bill for another month,” Butler said. Ross Matthews, director of human resources, said that the insurance company is responsible for administering this information. “Separate coverage for these services is available from United Health Care and communication regarding the coverage will come directly from them,” Matthews said. According to Butler, Matthews will meet with the Women’s Resource Center to discuss the issue. Not all believe the change to be negative. The Rev. Ed Vacek, S.J., Stephen Duffy Chair in Catholic studies and sexual ethics professor, said that the university’s new plan is a good compromise. “This allows the university to distance itself from this controversy, while not telling the faculty that they do not care,” Vacek said. Butler said she disagrees.
“I think it’s ridiculous that they did the religious exclusion. I understand that it is a possibility now, but I think that a university that cares about its female faculty and staff would not take this stance,” Butler said. Vacek said the decision to stop providing contraceptive care is not an attack on women. “This university is extremely sensitive to women’s issues. I can’t imagine that anyone here would say that women’s issues don’t matter. That is not the ethos of Loyola University,” Vacek said. On Feb. 2, Matthews sent out an email to the staff recognizing that there had been a mistake in past informational publications. The email stated that the new healthcare provider, United Health Care, told Loyola that employees could use the same insurance card for all medical services, so Loyola published this information. However, United Health Care failed to set up its system this way and would now issue separate cards to employees seeking contraceptive coverage, the email said. Matthews’ email stated that United Health Care had apologized for the inconvenience.
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“I know it has been labeled under religious exclusion as birth control, but this is a medicine that is used for many different things. I have a condition called polycystic ovaries, and I get very sick without this medicine. It makes me really angry that the university doesn’t care enough about my health to cover this for me.” — Sara Butler
Distinguished professor of history
4
WORLDVIEW
April 10, 2015 The Maroon
ZACH BRIEN / Photo Editor
A billboard stands next to the site of the Planned Parenthood clinic under construction on Claiborne Avenue. The billboard was placed by the NOLA Needs Peace Coalition, a pro-life advocacy organization.
Clinic site faces unplanned delays By Marie Simoneaux masimone@loyno.edu @mariesimoneaux
Opposition has delayed but not halted the construction of a Planned Parenthood health center on Claiborne Avenue as Gov. Bobby Jindal yet again denied the facility a permit to operate. Resistance against the clinic began last year when New Orleans’ Archbishop Gregory Aymond wrote an open letter condemning all persons and businesses working on the clinic. Since then, protests, delays and constant political roadblocks have had a constant presence at the site. The most recent of these obstacles was Jindal’s decision to deny the facility an operating permit, claiming they failed to prove the community’s need for the clinic. Jewel Bush, communication manager for Planned Parenthood, said that Jindal’s claim is an example of how the determined minority is using intimidation tactics to end access to safe, legal abortion in Louisiana. “Louisiana politicians are using every trick in the book to restrict access to safe, legal abortion. Some have also publicly threatened to introduce legislation with even more abortion restrictions in the upcoming session,” Bush said. “Special interest groups are using abhorrent tactics such as harassment and intimidation in an effort to shame and silence those who support women’s health care.”
WORLDVIEW briefs Representative proposes religious freedom bill BATON ROUGE, La. — A newly-elected state lawmaker from Bossier City filed a religious objections bill April 3 for consideration in the Louisiana legislative session that begins April 13. The proposal by Republican Rep.
The communications office of the Archdiocese of New Orleans said they were unable to comment on the matter. However, in his public letter written a year ago, Aymond said the Planned Parenthood clinic in New Orleans would cause more problems than good. “A regional abortion center will not solve our problems; it will only create more. This is not the future the New Orleans metropolitan area needs. We hope that the community invested in the city of New Orleans and in her future will join us in standing for life, not more abortion,” Aymond said in his letter. Bush said that while many are led to believe that the majority of Louisiana citizens oppose abortion, a 2013 poll conducted for Planned Parenthood by Hamilton Campaigns proved otherwise, showing 59 percent of Louisiana voters agree that Roe v. Wade should be left in place. The poll also reported that 84 percent agree that “decisions about whether to choose adoption, end a pregnancy or raise a child must be left to the woman, her family and her faith with the counsel of her doctor.” Bush said the new clinic will provide women and families access to a wide range of reproductive health care, many of which do not involve abortion. Access to well-woman exams, breast health, STI prevention, testing and treatment and contraception are other services that will be offered at the clinic. “In Louisiana, there is a vast unmet need for women’s health care
Mike Johnson would ban the state from “taking any adverse action against a person on the basis that such person acted in accordancewith a religious belief or in moral conviction about marriage.” Equality Louisiana, a gay rights organization, said Johnson’s proposal would allow individuals and businesses to discriminate against gays, lesbians and transgender people. According to The Times-Picayune, a spokeswoman for Gov. Bob-
ZACH BRIEN / Photo Editor
Councilwoman Susan Guidry (center) sits with supporters of the construction of the Planned Parenthood site on Claiborne Avenue at the First Presbytarian Church. Supporters gathered at the church for the Stand With Women Rally on Saturday, March 7.
— specifically preventive care and access to contraception. As a result, six in 10 pregnancies in Louisiana are unintended. The bottom line is too many Louisiana women and families are already going without access to basic, preventive health care,” Bush said. According to Planned Parenthood’s 2014 annual report, abortion services make up three percent of the health services they provide,
while STD testing and treatment contributes to 42 percent and contraception access makes up 32 percent. Those in opposition continue to fight against the construction of the Claiborne facility, mostly due to the controversies associated with abortions. Bush said Planned Parenthood is determined to continue forward with the construction of the clinic,
regardless of future obstacles that are likely to come. “Even though this project has encountered unnecessary delays due to the relentless intimidation, campaigns launched against our vendors, we will not be deterred,” Bush said. According to The Times-Picayune, the construction of the clinic has resumed with the pouring of concrete on Monday, March 23.
by Jindal said in a written statment that the govenor supported the bill, which is considered a “common sense bill that provides necessary protections.”
ing that has been vacant since the catastrophic flooding that followed Hurricane Katrina. Mayor Mitch Landrieu sought to transform the building into a new City Hall, but that proposal fell through last year. That plan would have also moved the city’s Civil District Court to the site, though it was opposed by judges.
Proposed bill requires congressional input during Iran nuclear talks
City plans to redevelop Charity Hospital for use NEW ORLEANS —Louisiana is once again seeking re-development plans for New Orleans’ Charity Hospital — the art-deco style build-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic senators are intent on changing a bill that would give Congress a say in an emerging nuclear deal with Iran. The Corker-Menendez bill would require a submission of any final agreement reached with Iran to Congress within five days.
EDITORIAL
April 24, 2015 THE MAROON
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OUR EDITORIAL
The majority opinion of our editorial board
HOWLS & GROWLS HOWL to drawing flowers. GROWL to Hot Pockets. HOWL to Wilco at Jazz Fest. GROWL to a lack of independent research about the potential health risks of using tampons. HOWL to Judith Butler. GROWL to the end of the “Roast of Monroe.”
EDITORIAL BOARD Nia Porter
Editor-in-Chief
Alexandra Kennon
Managing Editor
Karla Daniela Rosas
Design Chief
Burke Bischoff
Senior Staff Writer
Colleen Dulle
News Editor
Devinn Adams Lauren Stroh Mary Graci
Worldview Editor Editorial Editor Life and Times Editor
Melanie Potter
Wolf Editor
Mark Robinson
Sports Editor
Emily Branan Zach Brien Linda Hexter Adam Albaari Mary Staes
Religion Editor Photo Editor Senior Staff Photographer The Works Editor Maroon Minute Coordinator
Whitney Woods
Social Media Coordinator
Ellen McCusker
Web Master
Katie Richard
Resident Cartoonist
Brian Reaney
Copy Editor
Jack Vanchiere
Copy Editor
EDITORIAL POLICY The editorial on this page represents the majority opinions of The Maroon’s editorial board and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Loyola University. Letters and columns reflect the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of The Maroon’s editorial board. The Maroon does not represent the opinion of administration, staff and/or faculty members of Loyola. Letters are subject to editing for length, grammar and style. Please limit submissions to 400 words. Submissions are due no later than 4 p.m. the Sunday before publication. Please send all submissions — The Maroon, 6363 St. Charles Ave., Box 64, New Orleans, LA 70118. Email us your letters — letter@ loyno.edu. Submissions may also be made online at www.loyolamaroon.com.
KATIE RICHARD / The Maroon
Separation of church and hate
D
ear Senator Mike Johnson and Governor Bobby Jindal,
Following suit with other complaints about the proposed Marriage and Conscience Act, such as those from IBM and the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, our editorial board would like to express a few grievances against this bill that purports to protect and defend “religious freedom,” but first and foremost justifies the discrimination of one of the most vulnerable populations in our state — our already unprotected LGBT community — and secondarily grants legal tolerance to intolerant behavior. Considering the fact that sexual orientation is not a protected classification in Louisiana, our editorial board is uncertain why lawmakers are pushing for legislation that further disenfranchises the LGBT community from legal protection against discrimination, particularly when faced with our failing education system and various other more pertinent legislative issues. This bill does not protect anyone’s interests except those who
are already situated in a privileged position. This is clearly an instance of the “tyranny of the mob” — when the majority populace bullies and oppresses an already vulnerable minority. Granting someone amnesty from legal responsibility and repercussions should they be found guilty of discriminating against or marginalizing gay couples will not contribute to a “more respectful, diverse, and peaceful society.” It is not noble, just or egalitarian. It is bigotry bastardizing the principle of freedom. It is important that you recognize your duty to keep matters of the church and the state entirely separate. This obligation includes ensuring that you do not privilege the rights of religious persons above those of the secular citizens of your state. Everyone must be free and legally protected from discrimination and the violation of their constitutional rights. It is not the state’s responsibility to protect one’s right to prejudice and narrow-minded chauvinism, nor is it within the purview of their duties to draft legal loopholes that privilege bigots who are unwilling to contribute to a more peaceful,
welcome and open society due to their personal beliefs regarding other citizens’ personal and separate lives. Whenever these interests get convoluted and conflated, problems arise. We are certain that if we all reflect hard enough, we can conjure examples of other failed instances where governments have imposed religious tenants on public and private aspects of everyday life. In other parts of the world, this conflation of the church and state is known as sharia law. Louisiana has a very bad track record when it comes to issues like protection from discrimination and granting all citizens equal rights. As we move further into the 21st century, our editorial board proposes that it would be wise to learn from the mistakes of our past and use such lessons to stop positioning ourselves on the wrong side of history. Consider your position and your duty as civil servants. Your constituents are pleading with you to recognize what a grave mistake passing this bill would be. Sincerely and truthfully yours,