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T H U R S D AY, O C TO B E R 3 0 , 2 0 0 8
VOL. 92, NO. 11
“Covers the campus like the magnolias”
Outside the Bubble...
What the
Jennifer Hudson grieves deaths of family members
A glance at this year’s election issues from a student’s perspective
By Michael Berkowitz | Staff writer
Healthcare Americans just out of college comprise the fastest growing group of uninsured citizens in the country. For a wide variety of reasons ranging from debt to a feeling of invulnerability, this generation risks substantial medical bills in lieu of purchasing insurance. John McCain: Would give a $2,500 tax credit to singles for the
purchase of health insurance, which would offset the cost of allowing employer-based health coverage to be taxable. The credit encourages the purchase of private health coverage, which would not face an increase in cost under the plan. Any left over credit would be put into a savings account for future use
toward medical costs that might occur later. Barack Obama: Would give individuals and small businesses access to a healthcare plan similar to the one afforded federal employees. This would be accomplished by creating a National Health Insurance Exchange that allows people to buy public insurance plans or
approved private coverage. Under these plans, coverage would be guaranteed regardless of pre-existing conditions, and it would cost a reasonable premium. He would also mandate coverage for children, force large businesses to at least subsidize healthcare costs, expand Medicaid and give subsidies based on income.
Higher Education A degree at this university runs about $160,000 if you live on campus all four years. Across the nation, students at private institutions average around $23,000 in debt upon graduation according to the LA Times. The candidates both want to make college
affordable, but they take different approaches on how to do so as President. John McCain: Would attempt to simplify the tax system and financial aid system to make sure students and their families take advantage of existing programs. He also believes
that eliminating earmarks would allow the government to invest substantially in university research. He also pledged to expand capacity of government to serve as a no other alternatives lender. Barack Obama: Also promises a simplifying of the financial aid pro-
cess by putting a box on tax forms allowing them to be used for aid evaluation. He would institute a program wherein all students would be eligible to receive the first $4,000 of tuition in exchange for completing 100 hours of community service.
See Issues, Page A5
Students debate about election in Shorty’s By Samantha Cernuto | Staff writer
The College Democrats and College Republicans held a town-hall style debate on Oct. 27 in Shorty’s. They had a large crowd with students sitting on the ground and spilling out the front door into the Benson Food Court. The debate was hosted by Pi Sigma Alpha and moderated by senior Kevin Ferris and senior Kristin Olson. Each group had two debaters. Representing the College Dems was junior Zahir Rahman.[resodemt. and senior Ryan Taggett. Debating for the College Reps was junior Benjamin
Lynch, president, and Mock Trial Team Captain senior Tara Tedrow. Questions ranged from college tuition and education to illegal immigration and healthcare plans. The first question to the College Republicans was about the economic climate and the concern it causes students. Lynch and Tedrow were a strong, united front. “John McCain’s plan concerning the economy represents pro-growth. It will provide jobs, not export them … Barack Obama wants to increase the corporate tax which is sending the jobs overseas. We have the second largest corporate tax in
the world and McCain wants to keep lowering that through tax cuts.” Rahman and Taggett replied as forcefully. “Obama is pro-business. He wants to start with the stimulus package which will include 5 million new jobs. Obama wants to lower taxes for 95 percent of the country. He wants to eliminate the small business tax and to create tax incentives to keep jobs here ... Obama’s education and healthcare are good for the economy and the country.” Another question addressed was how the federal government should respond to the rising college tuition and the College Dems spoke first.
“We need to address health care before taxes. $4000 a year for students is a step in the right direction. Obama is focusing on the middle class … Students are worried about jobs after school. It is important to improve the economy overall by providing more jobs.” The College Reps once again delivered. “The government provides financial aid now, but it is lost in tax codes and McCain wants to make those codes easier. Obama wants to focus on the money for public universities and
This past week, tragedy hit the family of Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson with the murders of Hudson’s mother Darnell Donerson, her brother Jason Hudson and 7-year-old nephew Julian King. The bodies of Hudson’s mother and brother were found in their home Oct. 24, while the body of her nephew was found in the back of an SUV on Chicago’s west side on Oct. 2. No one has been charged in the shooting deaths of Hudson’s three family members, but William Balfour – Julian’s stepfather and the estranged husband of Hudson’s sister – has been named a suspect. Balfour has previously served seven years for attempted murder and vehicular hijacking.
McCain/Palin ticket calls for Alaska Senator’s resignation On Oct. 28, Senator Ted Stevens from Alaska – whose political career spans 40 years – was found guilty of violating federal ethics laws by failing to report tens of thousands of dollars in gifts and services he had received from friends. His fellow Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona called for Stevens to resign his seat, saying, “I hope that my colleagues in the Senate will be spurred by these events to redouble their efforts to end this kind of corruption once and for all.” McCain’s running mate Sarah Palin, governor of Stevens’ native Alaska, also called for Stevens’ resignation on Oct. 28. However, Stevens has given no indication that he will end his career.
Shooting on Arkansas campus kills two students On Oct. 26, a shooting occurred just after 9 p.m. at the University of Central Arkansas when a group of men drove onto campus and opened fire. University officials identified the dead as Ryan Henderson, 18, a freshman from Little Rock, and Chavares Block, 19, a sophomore from Dermott. Four men were detained on Oct. 27 in connection with the weekend shooting based on accounts of numerous witnesses. UCA, the second-largest university in Arkansas, has nearly 13,000 enrolled students, about 90 percent from the state. About 500 people gathered Oct. 27 evening at a memorial service on the UCA campus to mourn and to sing “Amazing Grace.”
See Debate, Page A4
University takes another step in the Strategic Plan By Lauren Dayton | Staff writer
The Benson Food Court will soon be under construction as the university implements its Strategic Plan for improvements to the campus. The work will begin sometime in the next few weeks, as soon as all of the necessary building permits are issued. The new updates will improve the food court’s functionality, which is largely unchanged since its original completion nearly 20 years ago in 1989. The goals of the project are to expand the capacity of the food court, to improve efficient use of space and the quality of the food, and to update the interior aesthetics. The new plan also seeks to remedy the inefficiencies of the current layout: in the new food court, each station will have its own register and the stations will offer items that take less time to prepare. Because of the need for dining capacity on campus, Benson will not be shut down entirely during the construction. Instead, the work will take place in three stages over 10 months, the first of which will last from the start of construction until winter recess in December. It will include a kitchen addition on Shorty’s, which will enable it to provide full-service restaurant capabilities.
The original intention, for Shorty’s to be a weekend hang-out for students, has yet to be realized. The hope is that these new changes will allow students to enjoy Shorty’s in the role it was intended to fill, Jim Alty, associate vice president for facilities and campus services, said. With the updates, patrons can short-order from the bar as before or order from menus at the tables. Both will accommodate the meal plan, and the food will be American fare. The Benson Food Court will remain fully operational during this phase, but a portion of the plaza and sidewalks between Benson and Tribble Hall will be fenced off for safety purposes and to provide a staging area for construction equipment. The fenced-off area will remain in place, and pedestrian traffic will be detoured around it for most of the project period. The second stage will begin over winter recess and last until the end of the spring semester. During this time the south half of the Benson Food Court will be closed, including Shorty’s, Bodega and the space that used to house the copy center. That space will be changed into Zoca’s, a Tex-Mex venue. Improvements to Shorty’s, including new seating, lighting and décor as well as a new performance stage and a new bar area are also part of the second
See Benson, Page A5
Life | B7
INSIDE:
Learning is Fun
Brieflies
A2
Police Beat
A2
Spotlight
B2
Editor suggests the interesting classes the university is offering in the spring semester.
The Hot List
B8
In Other News
Sudoku
B8
• Symposium discusses First Amendment issue | A2 • Vice-Presidential candidate visits campus | A2
Illustration courtesy of University News Service
In three phases, Benson Food Court will be renovated starting with an expansion of Shorty’s. The first phase will begin over winter break.
Sports | B1 Golf finishes first Women take first by 28 strokes in the Landfall Tradition in Wilmington, N.C. Junior Dolores White wins individual honors.
Opinion | A6 Rock the Vote Students encourage voting in a last ditch effort before Election Day on Nov. 4.