ASUO should return
insurance program
In 1985 the ASUO executive took control of the student
insurance from the University. Since then, the program has
been plagued by disorganization and mismanagement,
peaking in the UO Students For Equity Insurance’s demand
for the resignations of ASUO President Steve Nelson and
ASUO Legal Services attorney, Karsten Rasmussen. Due to
the problems that have developed, it would be best for all
those involved to give control of the program back to the
University.
Allowing students to run the student insurance program
seems appropriate. However, the problems that have crop
ped up since the ASUO took over the program show that it is
too broad for student government to control.
Before 1985, the ASUO oversaw student insurance in
conjunction with Metzker and Associates, a company con
tracted by the University to handle claims. But problems
developed from the commission the company collected. The
company collected a 15 percent commission on insurance
policies from the University, which was higher than rates
charged to other schools and double the industry standard.
The ASUO let the contract with Metzker and Associates
lapse at the end of the ’84*’85 school year and transferred
control of the program to the students. The ASUO then
developed the Health Insurance Committee to take over the
program and hired the Lone Star Life Insurance Co. to
underwrite it. Meanwhile, the students took over the
responsibilities of both Metzker and Associates and the
University.
During the time Lone Star Insurance Co. was hired, the
ASUO showed mismanagement and negligence in oversee
ing the company. The contract with Lone Star had a 1.5 per
cent interest payment on claims not paid within 14 days
upon the students’ request. However, the brochure given to
students interested in the program did not mention that the
student must specifically ask for the interest. Nelson does
not know why the clause was left out of the brochure, which
reflects mismanagement and a breakdown in the insurance
committee system.
The ASIJO dropped the Lone Star company last summer
and hired the Keystone Insurance Co. But Keystone recently
announced it is having financial problems. Because of an in
surance guarantee, the University is still covered, and
students don’t have to worry about unpaid claims. But it
seems clear that the Insurance Committee should research
the underwriting company they choose more thoroughly.
Under student control, many organizational and
mismanagement problems have developed in the Univer
sity’s insurance program. This is not fair to the students buy
ing the insurance who need stable and reliable coverage.
Metzker and Associates and the confusion with com
mission rates was the only major problem that developed
while the University ran the insurance program. Similar
problems could arise again if the University was given con
trol, but guidelines and precautionary measures also could
be established.
The University simply has a better understanding of
how to run the insurance program. Based on its record, the
University could effectively handle problems that would
arise if it took control of the program, avoiding the kind of
problems facing the Insurance Committee today.
The idea of student insurance for the students, by the
students is a noble concept. But running such a program is
beyond the scope of student government.
Letters
Mad bomber
The Emerald editorial “Spare
jail sentence for Silas T.
Bissell,” Jan. 28 shows how
morally bankrupt the University
of Oregon's liberal faction has
become.
You used such terms as
“gentleman,’’ “soft-spoken.”
and “low-keyed” to describe a
domestic terrorist who got off
on bombing buildings with the
murderous Weather
Underground.
The theme of your editorial
seems to be that. “It's been a
long time since the (attempted)
bombings, go easy on him.”
Well. Adolf Hitler had a deep
appreciation of art and music.
He was really a nice guy. . . why
do people always bring up that
Nazi stuff? Nazism is a thing of
the past, right? After all, it's
berm over 43 years.
Bissell was “well-liked” by
his neighbors. Charles Manson
was well-liked by his followers.
Perhaps I could attempt to
blow up a building. 1 could
elude the authorities for a
while, and if they caught me,
I’d let my neighbors tell them
what a great guy 1 was and hope
the Emerald writes how much
Oregon Daily
Emerald
The Oregon Daily Emerald is published Monday
through Friday except during exam week and vacations
by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co., at the
University of Oregon, Eugene. Oregon, 97403
The Emerald operates independently of the University
with offices on the third floor of the Erb Memorial Union
and is a member of the Associated Press
The Emerald is private properly The unlawful removal
or use of papers is prosecutable by law
General Staff
Advertising Director Susan Thelen
Production Manager Wayne Michael Lottinville
Classified Advertising Alyson Simmons
Assistant to the Publisher Jean Ownbey
Advertising Sales: Peter LaFleur I Sales Manager
Teresa Acosta, Brent Collins, Beryl Israel. Janelle Heit
mann, Laura Goldstein. Catherine Lilja, Rick Martz,
Joseph Menzel, Peter Miller, Joan Wildermuth
News and Editorial 686-5511
Display Advertising and Business 686-3712
Graphic Services 686-5511
Classified Advertising 686-4343
Production 686 4381
Circulation 686-5511
Editor
Managing Editor
News Editor
Spectrum Editor
Editorial Page Editors
Sports Editor
Photo Editor
Assistant Photo Editor
Graphic Editor
Night Editor
Associate Editors
Community
Politics
Higher Education / Administration
University Affairs
Student Government
Student Activities
General Assignment
Michelle Brence
Lucinda Dillon
Michael Rivers
Stephen Maher
Michael Drummond
Angie Muniz
Capi Lynn
Michael Wilhelm
John Giustina
Lorraine Rath
Jolayne Houtz
Jolayne Houtz
Shawn Wirtz
Chris Norred
Stan Nelson
Carolyn Lamberson
Sarah Kitchen
Dennis Fernandes
Reporters: Sean Axmaker, Mary Courtis. Karen Creighton,
Gary Henley, Carolyn Lamberson, Scott Maben, Janet
Paulson, B J Thomsen
Photographers: Sherlyn Biorkgren, Shu-Shing Chen,
Maria Corvallis. Derrel Hewitt. Bobbie Lo, Dan Wheeler
Production: Michele Ross / Ad Coordinator
Kelly Alexandre. Elizabeth Asher, Ronwm Nicole Ashton,
Virginia Baniaga, Sandra Bevans, Sara Briscoe. Shu
Shing Chen, Janet Emery, Lisa Haggerty, Donna Leslie.
Curtis Lott, Kelli Mason, Mike McGraw, Rob Miles
Angelina Muniz, Julie Paul, Ingrid White. X Kang Xie
of a ‘’gentleman” I’ve been
since the bombing.
The communist/liberal fac
tions at our University will
always condone the terrorist ac
tivities aimed at our great na
tion. If Bissell had attempted to
bomb the Gay and Lesbian
Alliance offices instead of a
ROTC building, the Emerald
would’ve asked for his head.
Dan Goulet
Political science
Truffle trot
I’d like to take a moment to
thank Betsy Clayton and the
Emerald for an excellent article
on the 6th annual Valentine’s
Day Truffle Trot, held Feb. 8 at
Alton Baker Park. We very
much appreciate the positive at
tention that we have received.
Missing in the article,
however, was recognition of the
efforts of Pam Ring from the
Association of Retarded
Citizens, and especially those of
Cindy Hutton, Truffle Trot Race
Director. Both put in may hours
of uncompensated time, and
without their efforts, there
would be no Truffle Trot.
Bob Bury
Euphoria Chocolate Co.
President
Word play
I enjoy following the fortunes
of the Oregon Duck basketball
teams, both men and women.
This has been an exciting
season. I usually enjoy reading
about the games in the Emerald,
but was dismayed when I read
Friday’s issue (Feb. 6). that the
men lost to Arizona.
The news of the loss was
disappointing enough, but what
made me cringe was Capi
Lynn’s report, “Don Monson
noted after the game his team
played good at times, but poor
at other times.”
Did Monson really say that?
Or is that what Lynn thought he
said? Either wav, this tvoe of
report is much too frequent on
the sports pages. Let me suggest
that Lynn prepare a large sign
that reads: “GOOD ATHLETES
PLAY WELL. POOR
ATHLETES PLAY vPOORLY.
GREAT TEAMS PERFORM
BRILLIANTLY. BAD TEAMS
DO BADLY.”
Put this sign up in the sports
writers’ area. Make another and
send it to the athletic depart
ment for coaches and players.
Maybe, just maybe, student
athletes and student writers will
graduate knowing the dif
ference between an adjective
and an adverb.
David H. Wagner
Associate biology professor
ODE lawsuit
Paul Sturtz’ suit against the
Oregon Daily Emerald could br
ing to the fore details of
Students for a Progressive
Agenda politics which would
show how undemocratic the
SPA actually is.
Succinctly put, the ODE
board was SPA-rigged, which
led to extraordinary measures to
counteract SPA influence.
Sturtz’ suit is fine in the
abstract. However, until the ex
istence of machine politics is
admitted and publically
debated, there is really nothing
to discuss concerning the ODE
which bears any relationship to
reality.
Andrew Beckwith
Graduate, physics
Correction
Yesterday’s editorial
mistakenly identified IFC
member Ron Munion as Rob
M union. The Emerald
regrets the error.