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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 19, 2000)
Wise continued from page 1 has been speaking out on issues dealing with racial, class and oth er forms of discrimination. He has lectured since 1994, and recently founded a group called the Asso ciation for White Anti-Racist Ed ucation, which educates white Americans about their stake in the ongoing institutional racism in the country. It was this theme that Wise focused on the most. Beginning by stating what he was not going to talk about — di versity — Wise made it clear that his focus instead was on equity. “It’s not about holding hands,” Wise said. “It is about first and foremost understanding the insti tutional and structural barriers that prevent diversity.” According to Wise, in order to make sure diversity is followed by racial, social and gender equal ity, people must first recognize that racism and other forms of dis crimination are systems that have been established within Ameri can society and are perpetrated by those in power. Audience member Crystal Mid dlestadt, a sophomore majoring in sociology and women’s studies, said she saw this message as one of the main themes in Wise’s speech. “I thought he made a really good point about the members of dominant groups in society not realizing their role in the oppres sion of others,” she said. Diversity may exist in Ameri can society, Wise said, but all the constituent parts may not be on the same level. “Institutions are more diverse than ever before, but yet we certainly do not have a sys tem of equity,” he said. Equity is the idea that diversity not only should exist, but all di verse parts of the society should be on equal footing. “If the word diversity is sepa rated from the word equity, it be comes meaningless,” he said. Just as working environments are diverse yet can be without eq uity, the school system is in much the same boat. Children of differ ent colors may be learning togeth er, but they are placed on different paths based on preconceived no tions, he said. “It’s about taking responsibility now, about undoing what has been done,” he said. Taking responsibility means looking at the system and break ing it down. Mary Hudzikiewicz worked with the ASUO to bring Wise to Eugene and is an advisor to the senior honor society, the Friars. She said she felt that Wise made a good point about the need to take a look at what is going on and doing something about it. “It’s something that you have to internalize; it’s not just something you can say,” she said. Wise tied in issues about eco nomic and gender inequalities along with his speech on institu tional racism. “It is in our best in terest to stand up against racism,” Wise said. “You need to start standing up now.” Wise will be holding a town hall panel discussion tonight at 7 p.m. in the Ben Linder Room of the EMU. Insurance continued from page 1 University Health Center. “The fact is they are much more at risk for not having it than having it.” “The goal is not only to have health insurance available, but af fordable as well,” OUS spokesman Bob Bruce said. Elizabeth Dickenson, OUS risk manager, said that some students have expressed concern about the proposal because they already have insurance. By including everyone in the same plan, how ever, the coverage is cheaper, Dickenson said. “The plan is to have everyone under the same basic plan,” she said. “Even if you have another carrier... this is better coverage at a lower cost.” The proposed coverage also works with other insurance carri ers that students may have. For ex ample, it can be used to satisfy a deductible, Dickenson said. Unlike many other insurance plans, OUS’s recommended plan does not include a HMO — health maintenance organization — that limits who a student can receive treatment from. “Students have a right to choose where they go,” Dickenson said. Dickenson also said that it’s im portant to distinguish the basic and extended coverage plans. “We’re not requiring that stu dents have the extended plan,” Dickenson said. Because of its lower cost, the pro posed plan particularly benefits students who are single parents or working part-time, Bruce said. The proposal calls for year round health coverage that also supports out-of-state students. Historically, Portland State Uni versity has been the only OUS campus to require students to be insured. The other campuses have traditionally had voluntary plans, Bruce said. Changes in health care costs, however, have discouraged stu dents from participating in the voluntary programs. Thus, a smaller risk pool forces insurance carriers to raise the price of premi um care, Bruce said. The OUS proposal deliberately mandates that all students must participate in the basic plan, which creates a risk pool of60,000 students and decreases the premi um costs, Bruce said. Assuming the plan is approved Friday, the task force’s next job will be to explore an implementa tion plan, Dickenson said. This in eludes locating potential insur ance carriers and seeking bids this summer. It is the group’s intention to have a contract signed and the plan in place by September. Before the OUS plan can be in stalled, the state’s three largest universities must first resolve con tracts with insurance carriers. Dickenson estimates that the mandatory insurance policy would be implemented in fall 2001 on this campus and at Ore gon State University and PSU. It would go into effect at Oregon In stitute of Technology, Eastern Ore gon, Southern Oregon, and West ern Oregon universities this fall. New Study Comparing MS Treatments Two multiple sclerosis treatment therapies, used by thousands of patients, will be compared for the first time in a head-to-head trial that is endorsed by the National MS Society (www.nmss.org). If you have relapsing-remitting MS and have never been on inter feron beta therapy, you may be eligible to participate and receive at no cost: • Interferon Beta-1 a drug treatment for at least one year • Medical examinations (including MRIs) • Coordinated healthcare with your current doctor There is no placebo portion of the study (everyone receives active drug). To find out if you're eligible, please call Jennifer Botelho at Oregon Health Sciences University at 503-494-7963 or visit www.mspatient.com. Make fiwytfdFf arth Day Support Campus Recycling steel mug plastic mug T-shirt canvas bags reusable luijch bags O/V SA\LE April 19th & 20th EMU Courtyard 10am - 4pm Does your future include'working with high-risk youth? Be a mentor with Bolder Options. 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