Issue 2 final pdf

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Vol. 5, Issue 2—Sept. 27, 2013

Affordable Care?

photo illustration by Alex Zielinski

Students count dollars for health care.

ACA increases insurance cost, coverage Students’ questions addressed by insurance broker, health services By Carolyn Moritz Asst. News Editor Returning students were in for a surprise at this year’s fall semester check-in. Accustomed to a $155 annual insurance fee in past years, students began to ask questions about the new $1,352 price tag for student health coverage. Returning students were in for a surprise at this year’s fall semester check-in. Accustomed to a $155 annual insurance fee in past years, students began to ask questions about the new $1,352 price tag for student health coverage.

Working with insurance brokerage firm Wallace Welch and Willingham, Eckerd found an insurance policy compatible with new legislation passed by President Barack Obama’s administration. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (often shortened to Affordable Care Act, PPACA or ACA), passed in 2010, raising the insurance standards for institutions of higher learning such as Eckerd College. Eckerd came to the brokerage firm with its benefit requirements, many mandated by the ACA, and some

specifically requested by the college. Insurance Broker Rob Haddad represented Eckerd in the market of approved health care providers to find the best financial deal that would meet those needs. Under Eckerd’s old insurance plan, students qualified for a maximum annual coverage of $10,000. The current plan, in keeping with the ACA’s requirement that institutions of higher learning cover “essential benefits,” insures students for an annual maximum of $500,000. Beginning with the next renewal Aug. 1, 2014, Haddad said, Eckerd students and employees

will not have any maximum at all. Senior Maiko Kikuchi is an international degree student covered under the new plan. “The insurance of Eckerd College is very cheap compared to Japan’s insurance,” Kikuchi said. The new maximum in terms of injury has significant coverage. A student requiring surgery could easily have surpassed the previous $10,000 maximum in the first semester and become ineligible for treatment for the remainder of the academic year. “So, now you can sprain your See HEALTH, page 7

LSDP unveils new reusable Eco-Cup initiative in caf

By Katherine Fox Contributing Writer

As many have noticed, there is a new addition to the services offered in the caf: Eco-Cups. These green plastic, reusable cups made their debut at LateNight Breakfast during autumn term, but their origin is a much deeper story. LSDP is a Winter Term course offered to freshmen which stands for Leadership and Self Discovery Program offering students an

Please Recycle

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opportunity to get to know themselves and their leadership skills better. One of last year’s Freshman Leadership and Self Discovery Practicum (LSDP) sections noticed a problem with the blue plastic tumblers and small plastic cups (that today are no longer in use). The small disposable cups were bought by the tens of thousands, enabling students to use them at their will. “They threw them away, and there was just more plastic everywhere,” Sophomore Cameron Davis said. The blue plastic tumblers also had a habit of being stolen, and at high cost of replacement.

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According to Eckerd’s Bon Appétit Director Scott Meyers “The blue Tumblers in the cafe are 1.49 each.” The LSDP group saw this as an opportunity for environmental justice to be served. They came up with the design for Eco-Cups to accompany the already popular Eco-Clamshells. The Eco-Cups are insulated for hot beverages, lidded and green to show their dedication to environmental friendliness. According to Director of Catering Kathy Mills, the Eco-Cups are more expensive than the tumblers. See ECO-CUPS, page 3

Winter term brings new perspectives By Rose Kraemer Asst. News Editor Come December, some students will be ready for a change of scenery. A couple of weeks off-campus before campus’ winter term hits will not suffice for the needs of many students’ travel bug. In this case, January means packing up a suitcase and hopping on a plane with a final destination other than St. Petersburg. Students will instead travel abroad for a three-week course in another country with an Eckerd professor and a handful of maps. Because a few destinations will be offered again in this winter term’s passport, students of the 2013 itinerary reflect on their experiences, some with advice for those traveling this upcoming term. Alumnus Chris Giordano, ‘13, traveled to Ecuador for a winter term trip senior year. Although many classes were held formally in a school, the topics at hand were often best illustrated within the villages and landscapes of Ecuador, taking the students and their professor outside. “The trip was an amazing experience that allowed me to enrich my understanding of Latin America,” Giordano said. See Winter Term, page 4

VIEWPOINTS Living at Kappa More than parties, strong community defines life at Kappa.

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ENTERTAINMENT Pop divas change image The evolution of leading ladies in pop.

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THE QUICKIE Club Spotlight Chirp Factory aims to increase school spirit and create unity. page 17

HEALTH & FITNESS Pepper nutrition. Find out how peppers are not only delicious but good for you too. page 19

SPORTS Soccer coverage Results from the most recent men’s and women’s soccer games.

ENTERTAINMENT 13-16 THE QUICKIE 17-18 HEALTH & FITNESS 19-20 SPORTS 21-24

page 24 The Current is a free, biweekly student newspaper produced at Eckerd College. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers.


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