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Show , !MONDAY, APRIL 3, 1000 UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OPINION PAGE 11 GREAT YEAR FOR SUU ATHLETICS t is a fact that SUU's athletic teams have done well this year making it, possibly, the best athletic year in SUU history. Sports can play a big part in college life, and SUU is no exception. When the Thunderbird athletic teams are doing well, school spirit for athletics is high·. Who can forget the great feeling ori campus as the men's basketball team was battling Valparaiso on national television? · But it hasn't been only the men's basketball team that has brought honor to the school by competing well. The cross country teams swept the Mid-Continent Conference titles for the second straight yea r, gi ving the men' s team its th ird stra ight conference championship. The men continued to run well, winning the regional matcn and going into the national race ranked 11th in the country. The football team finished 8-3, and who can forget the huge victory over Weber State 39-7 in Ogden at the Wildcats' Homecoming game. The list of accomplishments for SUU sports could go on and on. Saturday night, SUU's gymnasts competed in the regional meet as a team for the first time in school history. The women's basketball team fought hard in the Mid-Con tournament, but lost in overtime to Youngstown State who eventually sailed easily to the championship. Why are this year's Thunderbirds doing so well? Are the athletes better now than in the past? Is the athletic department doing a good job at providing the teams with what they need? Toe department and great athletes could be part of the answer, but not the main reason. True, having a quarterback like Matt Cannon who can turn any broken play into a 70-yard touchdown run is important. Same with having a guy like Fred House who can bring the crowd to its feet by doing an amazing slam dunk. But coaches and fans are often not given the credit that they deserve. The SUU head coaches have been doing a wonderful job. They have gone far beyond the call of duty to get their teams ready for what lies ahead. They may not be paid as well as other NCAA coaches, but they work just as hard , if not harder. Cross Country/Track Head COMMENTARY Coach Eric Houle and his assistants spent one morning in February shoveling snow off the SUU track so the indoor track teams could practice for an upcoming meet. Women's Basketball Head Coach Joe Hillock spends so much time in his office scouting opponents, he might want to bring a couch with a fold-away bed inside. For the last four months. I have had an ugly run- practice because it leaves employees in the dark . The second reason the 'Birds have exc~lled this year is the fans. Most employers and their insurance carriers also in w it h Workers' Compensat ion Fund - not The athletes have stated that they perform better when they have Workers' Compensation Fund of Utah, but with a have a preferred doctor (or doctors) for you to visit. support. The Rowdies did their job during the men's basketball policy through a different carrier that my former regarding your injury. You are required to visit with season heckli ng the opposing teams. Sometimes , even SUU this doctor at least once. If you do not like the employer chose. basketball players Nate Bloom and Jeff Monaco could be seen I was injured on the job last November and my doctor, however, it is within your legal scope to chuckling at the comments of the fans. When the basketball team returned from Fort Wayne, Ind., after experience with that particular insurance carrier change, but there are limitations. After all is said has been an education. The greatest thing I have and done, Workers' Comp. may deny your claim losing to Valpo in the conference championship, hundreds of SUU learned, though , is that I, too, have rights besides even though it was legitimate. fans were waiting at the Centrum to greet them . .That let the players My philosophy is never give up if the insurer the insurance company. I choose to share this know that they were loved. Head Football Coach C. Ray Gregory said that the fan support at information with you so that if you are trapped in denies your claim. Write the insurer as well as call the same kind of situation, you can more speedily them . I contacted my insurer when they denied my the.game in Ogden was great. Having so many people in the stands claim. I even returned all of the medical bills that receive just and fair compensation. wearing red was a big help to the foottfall team. . The first thing you should know is that if you are they sent to me with the denial letter because I SUU athletics owes a lot to its fans. Without them, SUU would not have the athletic success that it has enjoyed the past season. And, of . injured in any way, no matter how minutely, you knew that my injury occurred at work. I knew that should report that injury to your supervisor. Illness they knew. My letter generated a small response: course, the fans owe a lot to the coaches and athletes for that counts here too. Where I worked , nerve injuries Workers' Comp. was willing to pay me a paltry success. were, or at least should have been, common . The sum for my effort. I didn't accept it. Don't accept We all make a great team. reason I say they should have been is the fact that any offering of a settlement without reading it many employees did not report any pain from thoroughly. My · settlement" would have severely working , even though they felt pain , to their limited what type of recourse I had to collect supervisors. How do employers know a problem payment and would have effectively released exists unless someone, or many people, indicates Workers' Comp. from any liabilities. What is the next step after being denied ? that there is a problem? · SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY • CEDAR CITY. UTAH With that said, your employer should have a Besides contacting the insurer, file for a hearing to report for you to fill out that asks about the nature dispute Workers' Compensation 's assertions. DIRECTING STAFF ANO DESK PHONE NUMBERS: of your injury, when you first started feeling pain, Because of health and monetary ramifications, I EditQr Kamllynn Egan S86-7750 where the injury occurred, etc. Answer that form suggest hiring an attorney to help you with this Ass<>ciate Editor Anna Turpin 586-7759 Arts Editor Kevin Hanng 865-8443 completely, accurately and honestly. Do not spare process. I never would have said that two months Opinion Director Cam, Perkins S86-7759 Sports EdltC1r Jasen Asay 865-8443 any details ; even if you think something is ago , but when I contacted the Utah Labor PhotC1 Editor Corky Foster S86-7750 Ad Manager Miranda Mabbutl 586-7758 irrelevant, write it down. It may help your claim in Commission to determine my next course of action Copy Editor Deborah Perry 586-1992 Faculty Advisers Larry Baker 586-7751 Moms Brown 865-8556 Focus Editor Jessica Blonqu,st 586-1992 after the denial , I asked the operator about the the future. Your employer or their insurance carrier must sensibility of hirir;ig an attorney. His response , SENIOR STAFF WRITERS AND REPORTERS' DESK 586-7767 586.5488 forward to you a pamphlet entitled "Employee's more or less, was .that he has never been to a The Urrvef>lty Journal 1s publ,shed fNety Monday and ThuBday cl lhe ocadem,c year by and for Ille stuoenl body of Sou1hem Utah Unversrty It receives advoseme,,t from 111<1 unr;ersny's communicauon depanment and Guide to Workers' Compensation· that is published dispute hearing where the insurer didn't have an trom the urwersiry admin1stratton The vtews and optn,on, exp,es.sed an the Journal are Lhose of 1ndlvtdual wnters and do not -sat,ly reflect lhe '"""" of the wmitu~on. faculty, staff or student body tn _ . The by th e Labor Com mission of Utah . Once you attorney on their side. uns,gneo edtonal cirectJy above Is 1h11 O!)lnion of Ille Ur,vers/ly Journal as a u,gl• entity. utters to Ille edoior It is hoped that you'll win the hearing and get on must be typed and include the name and phone ,.,_.,,b« Only the name w,ft be pnnled Names wiU not be receive t he pamphlet , read it thorough ly ; it Wl1hh4lkl under wry dlJ;un1stances and the editor reserves ed1bng f)<Mleges L etters must be submitted by 5 pm with your life. If n:Ot. you can always appeal the Th.Jtsdays for ,net,,..,., in Monday ed!tiOns, and by 5 p m Mon<S;iys for Thursday edbons. contains all of your rights and responsibilities. Gtlevonces: Any ....,,_ Wl1h • grieYance against lhe JoumaJ should dife<:t such ptobiem fnl to the ed!tor If You should receive the pamphlet within a couple decision. In any case, knowing your rights is the unteselved that grievance should then be directed to the !acuity the Journal Steering Committee, wtnch is CM«ad by Or Frain G Pearson. 58&-7971 of weeks after first reporting your injury. Mine took best course of action. Unlvershy Joumel: Offices in SUU Technclogy E!IA!ding 011 Mall at SUU. Cedar City. Utah 8'1720 more than three (3) months to arrive after I FAX (435) 586-5487 E-<Mif addreu· jo<ffla1@sw.edu reported my injury. An attorney I spoke to said that Bill Justesen is a senior Spanish major from St. ~ J"RINTEO ON RECYCLED PAPER Pt.EASE RECYCLE THIS COf'Y. withholding the pamphlet is a common insurance George. I BILL JUSTESEN Stand up for rights at work place |
