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Show HOT TOPIC: It's time to face the reality of global warming, says David Servatius seepage 6 Tuesday, November 20,2007 HRONICLE Y UTA ironic t Student The University of Utah*, Since i8< Vol. II7 | No. 84 | ©2007. UNION PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BYLENNIE MAHLER ASUU address draws small crowd Rochelle McConkie ASST. NEWS EDITOR Student government leaders expressed their dedication to U students last night during the annual State of the ASUU address in the Union, but the Saltair room was mostly empty except for a small group of ASUU leaders and Daily UtahChronicle reporters. "The people in this room have a sincere desire to benefit the students and the university as a whole," said Spencer Pearson, president of the Associated Students of the University of Utah. ; Pearson said he wished more students would have attended, noting that attendance to ASUU events is always "sporadic," but promised ASUU will continue to seek student support and promote events in its will create alternatives or refund tu- coming more and more the norm," ition for that course. Students will Pearson said. "In the future they will also be encouraged to meet with ca- be necessary not to give (a student) reer counselors to look into job and the leg up, but to remain competitive." internship opportunities. The ASUU Government RelaThe Graduation Guarantee will be implemented next fall and goes tions Board is currently lobbying along with the U's mandatory advis- at the State Legislature for a bill it will introduce in the upcoming sesing plan that started this year. "With this program we ensure stu- sion calling for a tax cut on college dents getting the academic advising textbooks. All Utah colleges and unithey need and deserve," ASUU Vice versities are partnering in support of the bill, which Rep. Greg Hughes, RPresident Basim Motiwala said. Pearson discussed the new $3 Draper, is sponsoring. "We know there will be hurdles, study abroad fee, which will pay for scholarships for students to study or but we are more than ready to jump intern internationally. The adminis- those hurdles and meet the challengtration has agreed to match si for ev- es," said Marko Mijic, director of the ery student to go into an endowment Government Relations Board. fund to pay for these scholarships in Senior Class President Nicole the long run, but the student money Nguyen said the Senior Class Counwill be distributed annually. cil is in the process of choosing a "International experiences are be- class gift. Students can vote on four monthly newsletter. In the address, ASUU executives recapped top accomplishments for the year so far, including approval for the Graduation Guarantee advising plan and the $3 fee increase to subsidize study-abroad scholarships, and efforts to pass a bill in the Utah State Legislature to remove sales tax on college textbooks statewide. The ASUU Senate and General Assembly passed bills to create the Graduation Guarantee and studyabroad fee last month. With the Graduation Guarantee, students will have the option to meet with an adviser monthly to map out a direct course to graduation, not to exceed five and a half years depending on the student's situation. If a student participates, he or she is guaranteed class availability for needed courses, or the counselor On the flip side STAFF WRITER PHOTO COURTESY GRETE ELIASSEN SEE PAGES 4 - 5 FOR FULL STORY r.mcconkie@chronicle.utah.edu roups quiet over pill Connie Yonashiro U student Grete Eliassen, who left the Norwegian Ski Team in 2003, has become a dominant name and competitor in pro slopestyle and pipe competitions. options on the ASUU website: helping fund a showcase in the Alumni House, buying the "world's largest book" for the Marriott Library, funding a bronze statue of the "Swoop" mascot or contributing to final costs of the ASUU child care center, which will be finished in the spring. Chief of Staff Greg Stillman highlighted other accomplishments, including jump-starting the campus recycling plan, diversity efforts, a new newsletter and reaching out to non-traditional students. ASUU advertised the Rock the U dance marathon that will be held in March to raise money for the Huntsman Cancer Institute. "This event is important to help us reflect back on our semester—what was successful and what could use evaluation," Stillman said. A grassroots college movement opposed to the recent spike in birth control prices received a big break at the beginning of this month. But don't expect to find many U students championing the cause. In response to complaints about the increase, Congressman Joseph Crowley, D-NY, introduced a bill to the House of Representatives on Nov. 6 that would restore reasonable pricing of contraceptives sold on college campuses. "There have been thousands of petitions to restore access to affordable birth control," said Olivia Ortiz, the West Coast Campus Organizer for the Feminist Majority Foundation. But Ortiz said that students in Utah have been strangely absent from the movement to restore discounts on birth control for college students. "Many students are teaming up with their schools, calling for administrative help," Ortiz said. "We have campus leadership networks of 200 student groups—however, there's not a single group in Utah." The Prevention Through Affordable Access Act would make college campuses eligible to once again receive contraceptives at a lower cost. Since the feminist foundation began petitioning in the summer they have seen a domino effect of students who want to get involved, Ortiz said. Discounts previously given to colleges for certain prescription drugs disappeared in January when Med- icaid rules were changed, increasing the cost of contraceptives on campus. "Due to the Deficit Reduction Act passed in 2005...and the changes it made in the Medicaid law, birth control prices skyrocketed on campuses across the nation," Ortiz said. "Prices are now three, four, even five times what it used to be." Amanda Li, a junior in education who uses contraceptives, said the pricing for her birth control went up from $10 a month to about S30 a month. "I did notice the price went up at the beginning of the year," she said. "But I still buy it from the school pharmacy and pay more. I do know a few of my friends who decided Planned Parenthood is just cheaper and go there now." Because of the increase, students may resort to using less effective means to prevent pregnancies, which may result in an increase of unwanted pregnancies and possibly more abortions. Both could lead to even more controversy, said Vicki Judd, the medical director of the U's Student Health Center. "The higher price is a problem. Students are thinking twice about what they want to take, and sometimes they'll choose to take nothing at all," Judd said. "We've seen a decrease in use (of birth control). I can't quantify for you, but we've definitely seen a decrease." When contraceptive pricing first increased, students were often shocked and surprised, said Jeffrey Corless, a registered pharmacist at the Madsen Health Center Pharmacy. However, not many students have refused to buy their prescriptions, but almost all have said they have had to make adjustments to afford the higher prices. "Whereas they might be getting three months at a time, now they may be getting only one month at a time now," Corless said. "That's all they can afford," Judd stressed that a large number of students are affected by the price change. "The American College Health (Association) does a survey which we participate (in), and about 37 to 39 percent of college students take birth control pills—it's a lot," Judd said. "A lot of people don't want to get pregnant while they're in school. Students use contraceptives not only for birth control reasons...there are several conditions where you have to use birth control pills for hormone therapy." For some women, being on birth control isn't an option, but a necessity. "I have a friend who has (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) and so she has to be constantly on birth control otherwise she'll have problems having children later in life," said Emily Blair, a sophomore majoring in theater. "Birth control isn't a choice for her. It doesn't make sense that they would raise the prices for people on campus who don't really (have) much money anyways." c.yonashiro@ chronicle.utah.edu U employee charged with attempted murder Middle-SChoolers Ana Breton forcement. Thirty-year-old Cai w a s taken into custody after being accused of A preliminary court hearing has assaulting a 41-year-old female e m been set for the Huntsman Cancer ployee at t h e Biomedical Polymers Institute employee accused of as- Research Building in October. saulting his female coworker with a The victim's name was not released rubber mallet. because of an ongoing investigation, Qin Cai is charged with aggravated said Sgt. Bob Garner of the U Police kidnapping, a first degree felony; at- Department. However, Garner said the tempted murder, a second degree victim and Cai were acquaintances. felony; and stalking, a Class A misdePolice reported that the victim and meanor. Cai worked together before he transT h e hearing will take place Nov. ferred to the cancer institute. 27 in the Third District Court before Linda Aagard, spokesperson for Judge Paul Maughan. the cancer institute, declined to c o m Cai was booked into the Salt Lake m e n t because of ongoing legal p r o County Metro Jail with bail set at ceedings. more than $250,000. However, even if Officers at the campus police debail is posted, Cai will not be released partment first received a call from a because h e was placed under an im- m a n w h o said he was talking to his migration detainer. This means that wife on the other line when he heard if he is released from custody, he will a scream and realized the connection be reported to federal authorities w h o had been lost. H e attempted t o call could potentially deport him because back, but she did not answer, U Pohe is likely an illegal immigrant, said lice Sgt. Lynn Rohland said in a writLori Haley, public information officer ten statement. at U S . Immigration and Customs EnPolice checked the area w h e r e t h e ASST. N E W S E D I T O R woman usually parks at the fourth level of t h e Genetic parking terrace, but did not find the w o m a n or her car. A s officers searched the surrounding area, t h e w o m Qin Cai an approached them in h e r car to ask for help. T h e w o m a n was struck o n h e r face and the back of her head with a r u b ber mallet, police reported. She was admitted and then released from the U Hospital. "It appears the suspect h a d strong feelings for t h e victim, but w h e n the victim did not reciprocate those feelings, h e b e c a m e angry with her," Rohland said in a written statement. "The suspect h a d contact with t h e victim at least once during t h e day prior to the assault." a.breton@ chronicle.utah.edu LEAP into college Edgar Zuniga Jr. STAFF WRITER Members of the U's LEAP program want potential U students to have a real glimpse of college life— even if they are several years early. Students from the Learning Engagement Achievement Progress program took about 100 English as a Second Language students from Northwest Middle School on a campus tour as part of the third annual See You at the U event last Thursday. The high school students bowled in the Union, ate lunch at the Heritage Center and took shuttle rides around campus. Kristin Yoshimura, a sophomore in mechanical engineering and peer adviser in the LEAP program, said the event is important because it inspires students from immigrant families or students t who "are refugees 6r immigrants themselves (to) go to college one day." LEAP is a program that helps incoming freshmen adapt to college life. The students began their day with a visit to the Utah Museum of Natural History. Afterward, the students split into different groups to explore biology, physical therapy and dance, among other disciplines. "The kids have lots of energy and everyone said they've had fun," said Suzanne Schmidt, a sophomore in art and LEAP peer adviser. "We learned about poisonous snails in one of the conferences. It's been really interesting and successful." The event was also meant to be entertaining. The middle school students watched a small dance See STUDENTS Page 3 . |
