the review washburn university
Volleyball coach notches 300 college wins Page B1 Serving Washburn University since 1897
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volume 136, Issue 5 • wednesday, September 16, 2009
Faculty Healthcare Washburn employees suffer from budget cuts; must pay healthcare premiums Regina Budden WASHBURN REVIEW
The Board of Regents ended a seven-year run of self-funded healthcare for Washburn, Friday with a decision to have faculty and staff assist in paying their premiums. In the past, Washburn University has paid the full premium for its employees. The new policy means that employees will pay part of their premiums, a higher deductable and more for office visits. The policy has also raised the cost of brand-name drugs to $10 for employees, but generic drugs will remain at $5 in an effort to “encourage the use of generic drugs,” said the president Jerry Farley. Farley recommended these changes to the Board of Regents as a reaction to the current “recession economy” because Washburn University’s goal is to make increases that will put at least $25 million back into reserves. Also new is the fact that employees are no longer required to have a plan from the university coverage. If they prefer, they can shop around for a cheaper plan, but they would have to pay for it entirely out of pocket. For employees that choose Washburn University’s plan, the responsibility for paying their premiums will be based on the size of their salaries and policies. For instance, employees who have salaries equal to or less than $26,042 will pay $25 each month for a single person plan or $255.81 each month for a family plan, while those employees that make more than $58,131 will pay $100 per month for a single plan or $828.89 per month for a family plan. In all cases, the university will
Archive Photo, Washburn Review
Faculty pay premiums: President Farley makes over $240,000 a year. He will pay the same for coverage as any faculty member who makes more than $58,131 a year. cover what the employee does not pay. appointed about the new policy Harold Rood, chair of the phi- changes, they weren’t surprised. “It is deplorable that we’ve losophy department, spoke on behalf of the professors, “Nobody likes it. had to increase these costs, espeIf you were to say how many peo- cially in a year in which we have ple were in favor of this, I would had no pay increase,” said Farley. have to say ‘no one.’” He said they were concerned because this adds one more bill that they have to pay. Michael D. Haze, union presi- Regina Budden is a junior mass media dent, said that although many fac- major. Reach her at regina.budden@ ulty and staff members are dis- washburn.edu.
ISS director receives no blame for e-mail crisis Lauren Eckert WASHBURN REVIEW
of faculty, most faculty members are not pointing blame at the director for the recent e-mail outage. The outage, which first occurred It was only five months ago that the faculty senate at Washburn Univer- on Aug. 19 and was completely restored sity passed a “vote of no confidence” on Sept. 10, was the source of a lot of regarding Information Systems and frustration for both faculty and students. Freshman Renae Langer said, “It Services director Michael Gunter. The recent e-mail crisis has some wonder- was really frustrating because as a freshman, it’s a ing if there is lot more comfortany connection “ able communibetween the cating with prooutage and the The problem wasn’t fessors through faculty concerns that I really missed e-mail. Without from last April. it, everything Faculty cone-mail--it was that seemed to be a cern for Gunter’s the rest of the world lot more chaotic.” practices as ISS Assistant director were had it, and I didn’t. Professor of Engfirst brought to lish Sarah Smarsh attention at the was in agreement. Jan. 18 faculty - Sarah Smarsh “The email senate meeting, Assistant Professor of English crash obviously where faculty or altered complained that ” slowed my communicaGunter was intions with stuterfering with dents, faculty and faculty research, academic computing, library access, other professional contacts. For the faculty privacy and academic freedom. first day or two, though, I had a posiThe meeting heard some fac- tive outlook, figuring it would be someulty members refer to Gunter’s what refreshing to return to phone calls behavior as “unstable,” arguing and face-to-face interactions where that he “could not be trusted” and e-mail had taken over,” Smarsh said. “In the end, it wasn’t such a fun was pointedly avoiding questions. Tom Prasch, faculty senate presi- experiment. Email has sped up the endent, said in April that the main factor tire world, and being without it is nothof faculty discontent stemmed from a ing but a disadvantage. For me, corre“fundamental lack of trust” in Gunter. spondences regarding important events Despite the faculty vote, Gunt- were interrupted, and the multi-tasking er remains employed at Wash- required to complete my jobs as profesburn University as ISS director. sor and writer was stymied. The probWhile the lack of confidence in Gunter remains fresh on the minds Please see UNIVERSITY page A5
Tuition increase not
just a Washburn issue Ashely Nadeau WASHBURN REVIEW
the raise in the student fees. This included the recreation center and the health center and some other random charges. While I did not use all of the services I paid for, it was nice to be able to go to the doctor when I was sick and go to the rec and swim at the pool. We had a really nice rec and natatorium, so I think it was worth it,” said KSU graduate Elizabeth Cobb. Washburn tuition is, at the very least, $5.20 per credit hour less than KSU, and $17.90 per credit hour less than KU. Washburn also has had less tuition increases traditionally. “I’m not worried about it because I intend to work hard and get scholarships,” said Washburn freshman Melissa Duncan. “I think it’s worth the money, I like the small class sizes and plus it’s still cheaper than other Universities around here,” she said. Ashley Nadeau is a junior mass media major. Reach her at ashley.nadeau@ washburn.edu.
Graphic by Valerie Caviglia, Washburn Review
Comparison of tuition by year: Washburn tuition is up by four percent since last year. KU and KSU increased by more than five percent.
“Rabbit Hole” holds lesson for some
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Volleyball is riding high at 12-0. set to face next opponent Friday
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President hosts discussions on issues of interest
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news & opinion
to incoming freshman, there would be no guarantee that any other type of student wouldn’t see a tuition increase,” Rising tuition appears to be a said Lois Pinder, accountant at KU’s trend in Kansas universities. As many bursar’s office. Along with no guarhave already experienced first hand, antee to new, non-freshman students, traditional undergraduate tuition at there are additional potential costs for Washburn is $201 per credit hour, a KU tuition. “I will let you know that $4 increase from last year. Washburn there is a campus fee of $423, which students may not be alone in deal- is for everybody, and other individing with a higher cost of education. ual departments charge additional The University of Kansas basic tu- class fees,” said Pinder. Washburn ition for the current academhas a campus fee of $43. ic year is $218.90 per credit UNIVERSITY Kansas State Univerhour, which is $12.40 more sities’ basic tuition for the TUTION than the 2008-09 term. Al2009-10 term is $206.20 though KU increased tuition per credit hour for unby $8.40 more than Washburn did, they dergraduate students, an increase of have different method in billing tuition. $7.73 from last year. “They always “KU actually does a thing where raise it in the fall though, it has been they lock the tuition price for four going up every fall for a while,” said years. You know what it will cost from Elma Pfaff, KSU administrative speday one,” said Ashley Bowser, a KU cialist. KSU has a flat campus fee art major. However there are draw- of $80.50, and a student fee which is backs to the tuition compact at KU. $23 per credit hour up to 12 hours. “The tuition compact only applies “Personally I did not really mind
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