xt70rx93bg7h https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt70rx93bg7h/data/mets.xml The Kentucky Kernel Kentucky -- Lexington The Kentucky Kernel 2003-11-12 Earlier Titles: Idea of University of Kentucky, The State College Cadet newspapers  English   Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. The Kentucky Kernel  The Kentucky Kernel, November 12, 2003 text The Kentucky Kernel, November 12, 2003 2003 2003-11-12 2020 true xt70rx93bg7h section xt70rx93bg7h MAYOR ISAAC'S POLICIES ARE INAPPROPRIATE I DIALOGUE, PAGE 4

 

DANCE ENSEMBLE STEPPING
OUT IN FALL RECITAL I KEG

httpzl www.kykernel.co

 

 

 

-r. ITx-i.

JONATHAN PALMER I KERNEL STAFF

Dust from construction sites rises and causes smoke alarms to go off, said a UK police spokesman. Smoke detectors can be covered up
where construction takes place, but only for a short time. Here, construction workers are at a pedway being built on South Limestone.

UK police respond to two or three false alarms daily;
alarms caused by popcorn, construction and pranks

By Ben Faln
STAFF VIRITER

When Linda Haulk
heard the fire alarm buzzing
in her office two years ago,
she thought little of it, leav-
ing her eyeglasses sitting on
her desk.

"I thought it was going
off like it always had." said
Haulk, an administrative as-
sistant for UK‘s office of le-
gal counsel. “It had been
common for it to be a false
alarm."

But this alarm was dif-
ferent. “It continued
buzzing." she said. “It didn't
stop like it usually did.“

Haulk never returned to
pick up her glasses.

Her office was in the Ad-
ministration Building. and
that day was May 15. 2001.
the day fire gutted the build-

ing.

Considering how often
false alarms go off on cam-
pus, it may not be surprising
that Haulk didn't take the
alarm seriously at first.

UK Police. whose job it
is to secure areas during fire
alarms, respond to two or
three false alarms a day. said
Cmdr. Travis Manley of UK
Police Communications and
Information Services.

Last month, false fire
alarms prompted evacua-
tions from the Patterson Of-
fice Tower and the Class-
room Building.

“False alarms are very
frustrating for us.“ said Gar-
ry Beach. UK's fire marshal.
“They‘re dangerous to the
general public."

Beach said that it's not
uncommon for a fire truck to
crash into another person's

car while responding to an
alarm.

“And the other side of a
district isn’t as well-protect-
ed if a real fire breaks out
when we’re checking out an
alarm that‘s false.” Beach
said.

The No. 1 cause of a
false alarm is burnt mi-
crowave popcorn, he said.
Burnt popcorn causes so
much smoke that it will set
off an alarm.

“If people would just
watch their popcorn. we
wouldn’t have as many (false
alarms)." Beach said.

Another cause is con-
struction and the dust that
arises from it.

“Dust reacts the same
way smoke does and will set
off smoke alarms." Manley
said.

Beach said that UK has a
policy where smoke detec-
tors can be covered up where

See ALARMS on 2

If people
would just
watch their
popcorn,
we wouldn’t
have as
many (false
alarms).”

- Garry Beach,
UK fire marshal

 

Alpha Xi De

JONATHAN PALMER I KERNEL STAFF

closenextsemesteriorthethlrdtimeslnce

rentsoutahou

selocatedinsororityclrcle.

lta sorori

ty closing in spring

Sorority faced declining membership and funds;
Alpha Xi Delta has closed and reopened twice

”mm

STAFF WRITER

Alpha Xi Delta. which
just returned to campus two
years ago, will be closing its
doors for the third time.

On Oct. 14, members of
the UK sorority announced
they had voted to close their
chapter on campus at the
end of the spring 2004 se-
mester.

Members said the main
reasons for closing are de-
clining membership and
lack of money to allow for a
full experience of the sorori-
ty. The chapter reopened in
2001.

According to Office of
Greek Affairs' statistics. Al-

‘pha Xi Delta membership

has had an overall decline
from 70 in 1993 to 29 mem-
bers in 2003. The sorority
had 22 returning members
and 7 new recruits this fall.

“I don‘t even know that
they could predict the de-
cline." said Pat Jennings. di-
rector of public relations for
the Alpha Xi Delta national
headquarters.

Susan West. director of
Greek affairs. said having
more members lessens the
cost of being in a Greek or-

See AZD on 2

 

Faculty worry
about retirement
funds, donations

JONATHAN PALMER I KERNEL STAFF
Arturo Sandoval, a professor in the College of Fine Arts, expressed
his concerns at the meeting Tuesday night.

Meeting held for BOT to communicate with faculty;
money matters were a major part of the discussion

By Cara Blevins and Chrissy Tigas
STAFF WRITERS

 

UK faculty members are worried about how their retire
ment plans will work when the time comes. they said at a
meeting Tuesday night.

Some are concerned that there is no single central bank
account for benefits for retirees and active employees.

“This retirement is our life’s blood: it's what you worked
for your whole life." said Board of Trustees member Marian
Moore Sims.

At a meeting set up for the BOT to communicate with
faculty, employees debated over not only retirement but ath-
letic versus academic donations. (dministrative woes and
faculty participation.

Reworking employee benefits and retirement packages
was proposed as a response to recent budget cuts, but the
leaders of the discussion at Worsham Theater said there was
no easy solution UK can pursue.

“This was a sort of a first for faculty to get to together to
express personal concerns as well as (concerns) about their
classes that students may not be aware of." said University
Senate Chair Jeff Dembo.

Dembo. BOT faculty trustees Davy Jones and Michael
Kennedy and American Association of University Professors
Chapter Co-President Alice Christ led the two-hour discuss
Sion.

Jim Timmons. an associate professor of dentistry. was
one of about 30 faculty members in attendance.“I came out of
curiosity and was interested in retirement dialogue.“ Tim-
mons said.

Kennedy said diverting 25 percent of the money donated
to athletics to go to academic programs is an option to put
more money in the general fund. However: a more likely plan
would be to ask people who donate to athletics to also donate
to academics. he said.

“If Tubby Smith went on the air and said we need sup‘
port for academics. people would listen." said Bob Marshall.
a communications disorder professor

About 30 percent of donors to UK Athletics donate to aca-
demic programs as well, Kennedy said. He said President Lee
Todd should raise donations by 10 percent this year.

Besides tackling funding. faculty members expressed
concerns about administrative issues. The most common top-
ic faculty addressed was the rapid growth of Todd's staff. The
administration is growing and faculty are required to teach
more classes with larger enrollment, which lowers faculty
morale. Sims said.

“It doesn't seem fair.“ she said. “I think our careers as
teachers are in jeopardy because we can no longer attract the
best and the brightest in our field due to salary. Instead they
go for the CEO presidential positions."

Another UK faculty meeting will be held Nov. 14 from 2
pm. to 4 pm. at the Chandler Medical Center in room HS 201.

E-mail kerneltaukjterlu

If Tubby Smith went on the

air and said we need support

for academics, people would
listen.”

- Bob Marshall, a communications disorder professor

 

Apple's iTunes great for downloading music I count. m a '
Fitch deals withfamiiydeatm Minimums

INSIDE

Newsroom
Phone: 2574‘!!!» I E-mali: kernelOukyedu

Classifieds
Phone: 257-2871 I E-mall: classifiedsOkykerneixom

Display Ads
Phone: 257-2872 I E-motlzedvertlslngOkykernel.com

first issue Free. Subsequnt Issues 25¢

Contact
Us

 

The Student Newspaper at the University of Kentucky, Lexington

 

 BEST COPY AVAILABLE

 

 

I WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 12 2003 I KENTUCKY KEIIEI.

continued from page 1

sonstrurtion is taking place.
but only fora short period of
time Permission has to be
t:l anted through l'K's Physie
usl Plant Division.

"We don't like to cover
.liem up. but we can." Beach
cud.

'I'Iie third main cause of
misc alarms is what tire offi
rials call ‘maIii-ious.” Beach
\ aid,

l‘vlalit'ioiisness includes
setiieone opening a fire exit
iloor or pulling a red box on
the wall. known as a pull sta»
iioii, ‘

“l~'raternities used to
have an awful lot of mali~
cious false alarms.” Beach
\Iild. “But it‘s greatly im
proved."

Reat Ii said that false
=‘iarms at fraternities hap-
vened more when alcohol
was allowed on campus.

Burnt popcot n is also
‘v-ss of common occurrence
Eian it used to be. Beach

.id.
"The residence hall staff

fontinued from page 1

:anization because it pro-
vides more money for the lo
’1I chapter.

“A lot of (fees .llltl duesl
depend on the size of the
'lit‘pter.” West said,

Alpha Xi lleita closed in
{he spt ing of Nd. then l‘(’tll"
:anized and opened in the fall
if 199i. Wes? \‘llt’I It closed

gain in the spring of 211111.

‘iien reopened lit the fill of

.ix‘tll.

Both iliiszmis were he
arise the \(il‘i'l ::\ collidt‘it at
HHI to pay tor inani‘ th'll\'l
s West said

Alpha Xi Ileita also has
'n on ("1lll[)l‘t.\ sorority house.
which the \tvl'fll‘lIV leases
" om lflx' After waiting an al-

V;

.1 «MW-'1! :IJW“ “Wt“

Jr

aka-.3; “Waxjwiwjlfl III

MM WW:

has been doing a better job
with providing a lot of
kitchens." he said. noting
that most popcorn burns
more easily in the mi-
crowaves often found in
dorm rooms.

But false alarms are still
a problem.

"It‘s the old story of cry-
ing wolf." Beach said. “It‘s
aggravating to students.
those in the residence halls
and for professors trying to
teach."

()nly days after the fire
at the Administration Build-
ing. Haulk and her col-
leagues temporarily worked
on one of the upper floors of
the History Patterson Office
Tower. only feet away from
the gutted Administration
Building

While working. they
heard a fire alarm. and
llaulk and others hurried
down several flights of
stairs.

“We didn't know if it
was a fire or not. and we
weren‘t going to find out,"
she said. "We observe (the
alarms) now. and we always
take our purses."

E-mail
lzfain u Irrkernelcom

lotted amount of time. UK
may lease it out again.

"Once the chapter is
closed for 15 months it reverts
back to UK." West said.

Members in good acade-
llil(‘ standing will be. granted
alumnae status. but some
can‘t join another sorority ac-
«cording to Greek rules.

"First year students have
\et lo initiate. so they may
into another sorority." said
l’anlii-llenic President Vanes-
sa Hahn. “ ‘hose who joined
last year or before will not be
able to ion: another sorority"

Alpha Xi Delta has more
than 130.0110 initiated inein
hers and is represented on 112
college campuses nationwide.
ieeording to its national Web
\ilt‘ at \\'ww.alphaxidelta.tirg.

Members of [IRS Alpha
Xi lit-lta declined to comment.

E—mail
unmrrm u Airli‘ernelt'tmz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UNIVERSITY OF KENIUCK

Selectedreportsmadatolllmm
Nov.2,2003toNov.8,2003.

Nov. 2: items stolen from a green Chevrolet S-10 period at 050 Rose St.
at Chandler Medical Center at 7:44 pm.
Nov. 2: License plate stolen from a van during a football game Nov. 1,
reported at 9:11 pm.
Nov. 2: Suspicious circumstances at 330 Hilltop Ave., report made at
11:23 pm.
Nov. 3: Theft from a vehicle at 300 Alumni 0r.; report made at 6:18 am
Nov. 3: Theft from a vending machine on third floor of 160 Funlthouser
Drive at 8:37 am.
Nov. 3: CD player stolen from a green Honda Accord at Greg Page
Extended Lot at 10:10 am.
Nov. 3: Harassing communication reported at 769 Woodland Avenue at
10:36 am.
Nov. 3: Graffiti sprayed on the wall next to the pool entrance at the
Aquatic Center, 1000 Complex Drive, at 10:59 am.
Nov. 3: Hupcaps stolen from a vehicle at Donovan Hall at 12:13 pm.
Nov. 3: Theft from a vehicle at 701 Woodland Ave.. reported at 4:59 pm
Nov. 4: Assault in progress at Rose Street and Columbia Avenue at
12:58 am.
Nov. 5: Theft from a green Jeep parlted at W]. Young Library reported
at 2:05 pm.
Nov. 5: SuSpicious person taking credit card applications at the
Commons at Kirwan/Blending Complex investigated at 4:49 pm.
Nov. 5: Suspicious person panhandling in front of Kirwan Tower. gone on
arrival at 6:07 pm.
Nov. 6: Citation issued for drug/marijuana use at 761 Woodland Ave. at
3:05 am. _
Nov. 6: Disorder/Fight investigated at 740 S. Limestone St. at 3111 pm.
Nov. 6: Shoplifter in custody at UK Bookstore at the Student Center.
Assistance given at 4:07 pm.
Nov. 6: Theft from a Volvo on Complex Drive reported at 5:16 pm.
Nov. 6: Harassment in progress at 770 Woodland Avenue at 9:37 pm.
Nov. 6: Report made for drug/marijuana use at 101 Avenue of
Champions at 11:05 pm.
Nov. 7: Keys reported stolen from third floor of 179 Funkhouser Dr. at
10:05 am.
Nov. 7: A man involved in an altercation with the Dean of Students at
460 Cooper Drive at 10:37 am.
Nov. 7: Criminal mischief to a blue 1997 Saturn reported at 3:44 pm.
Nov. 7: Arrest made for alcohol intoxication at McDonald's on South
Limestone Street at 11:54 pm.
Nov. 8: Arrest made for alcohol intoxication at 769 Woodland Avenue
Nov. 8: Report made for drug/marijuana use at 300 Alumni Drive at
4:44 pm.
Nov. 8: Complaint of an assault at Kirwan Tower at 10:45 pm.
SourcezPolicereportsandllKPoloeWahsiuat
http://wwvultym
Compiled by Staff Writer Ben Fit.

 

 

Correction

An article in Wednesday's Kernel incorrectly
named State Senator Alice Forgy Kerr.

To report an error. call The Kentucky Kernel at
257-1915.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

{it

 

 

 

 

iiiiii

How
JAY LENO

 

 

(it)
( ANADIA

ii 1\I11\

PURE. NA'I'URAI. I;IV\R.-\N I I I I)
From the purest place on earth ullllc‘\ tIlillllllll\I\ ot [Iii Iiielti ~1
quality, Every diamond 1\ created with [Itc‘ cum Inlit~ ot n lllilt\

but not every diamond I\ created cciiiaI I \l‘t‘llcllcc lIlL . INI‘ .‘c 11111
of the Arctic, embodied in mm diamond

Gem Source

508 \outItIJniI Ilt
I359} 1H8 HUS
III-(i Inn \11

-CELI\IIlll\\111\l‘\\k,\i.i\ilIiIiII|I"l1 ,,

 

 

PLANET
S A L 0 N

THE RAIN SPA

Voted one of America’s

TOP 200 SALONS

Invites you and a friend to come
and receive 50°/o off.

If two students with a valid UK or LCC ID
come in on Sunday or Monday to have their
hair done or any other service, they will
each receive

50% OFF

(‘ome to one of our two Lexington locations:

2909 Richmond Road (next to Gold’s Gym)
(859)266-2727
or
3181 Beaumont Center Cir.
l 8591-296-2202
(behind Beaumont Center-next to Krogers)

COMING SOON: Hamburg Pavilion Location

Start your year with a hot new look,
provided by Lexington’ s most
advanced salon team.

( may m/ir/ until Der. I. 2005 wit/1 stylist and Senior Stylist Level

“J1“ SHOWTIME

TONIGHT!

Comedy Caravan

featuring

Ross Duncliffe
Student Center Cat’s Den

IIIE IIIlSl I’llWEIIfIII III"! III KEIIWIIII SN 13
23311 IIIEIIIIIASIIIIE 33

 

It!"

8:00 pm

 

:zamzfsmpbcsasmw

1i

9)

mar ‘ii’£s—oiiv. mvtksrniiiéotiél a”

Apple's iTunes a good marketing scheme

 

 

A Whole New Way to Pas and idles

Apple's iTunes Online Music Store has sold over 15 million tracks since its April launch. Time Magazine
named the "ones music store Invention of the Year.

Apple’s iTunes has a music
format different from Mi-
crosoft's Windows Media Au-
dio. which Gates had
hoped to be the dom-
inant music file for-
mat.

I like Jobs' latest
venture, even though
Apple has already
run into legal issues.
Apple Corps. the
company the Beatles
formed to manage
their business ven-
tures in 1968, sued
Apple Computer over the
summer for alleged trade-
mark violations. Apple Corps
said that Apple Computer
was only allowed to use its
name and the Apple logo for
marketing outside the music
industry.

Apple Corps filed a law-
suit against Apple Computer
in 1989. It was settled out of
court for $27 million when is-

 

Steve JOIIS.
Apple Co-Fullder

sues of digital music soft-
ware came up. The settlement
also dictated that Apple Com-
puter not enter the
music business.

But the market-
ing blitz continues
and doesn‘t look to
slow up any time
soon.

Last month.
Pepsi announced a
deal with Apple to
promote free down-
loads of songs with
Pepsi purchases
from iTunes” online music
store. The Los Angeles Times
reported that Apple and Pepsi
would be awarding about 100
million free songs.

Despite the legal scuffle.
iTunes is great for music
lovers. The iTunes software
is free to download and com-
parable to other computer
music packages like Music-
Match 7 in which the full ver—

PHOTO FURNISHED BY APPIE

sion isn't free.

While file sharing on the
Internet is still rampant. 99
cents is not a bad deal to pre-
view and download the song.
which you can burn onto as
many CDs as you like. A ma-
jority of that 99 cents is still
going to the dreaded record-
ing industry whose recent
tactics have stripped all feel-
ings of compassion I‘ve had
for them. However. as some-
one who buys CDs regularly.
the new Apple venture is ex-
tremely convenient, time-sav-
ing and easy to use.

Apple‘s Web site is al-
ready adorned with raves and
quotes from the Time Inven~
tion of the Year article.

Hell hasn't frozen over.
My day of buying CDs in
stores probably has.

DerekPooreisaiournaIism
junior.llecanhereachedat

dooore®kykemekcom

 

 

OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (OIA)

Information Sessions on:

Brittany Internships. November 11‘“. 4:00 p.m.. 245 Patterson Office Tower
Burgundy and Deauville Teaching Assistantships. November 20‘“.

STUDY ABROAD N EWS

318 Patterson Oiiice Tower

Fall 2003 Scholarship competitions:

Caen Scholarship for a semester study at the University of Caen. Normandy. France

deadline: January I6. 2004

Heidelberg Scholarship for a year of study at the University of Heidelberg. (iennany

deadline: November IS. 2003

National Security Education Program (NSEP) Scholarships
to a year to study languages critical to national security - deadline: January lo. 3004
English-Speaking Union, Kentucky Branch. Scholarships , for summer study at Oxford and

Cambridge deadline: December I. 2003

Study Abroad Fair: November 19. 2003. 9:30 am. to 2:00 p.m.. Whitehall ('lassroom Building.
first floor meet representatives from UK sponsored and affiliated study abroad programs

For more infonnation. visit the UK Office of Intemational Affairs. ill Bradley llall

fedcrally—funded scholarships for up

 

 

 

UK Hocnv nus rm. 8. SAT.

 

 

   

  

I III ill Hill ‘4'

  

vs. OHIO WESLEYAN
MIDNITE - LEXINGTON ICE CENTER

 

 

 

 
  

  
 

Free dinner every wednesday night

STUDENTS.
Please Join us for a great meal

Refresh y0ur

" - Mind

Body and a brief worship service

every wednesday night, 7 pm @

5W” St. Augustine's Chapel. 472 rose 5"“?

lutheranepiscopalCM uk Icc@qx.net
254-3726 or 489-1222

Based on the Alcohol Education Office (2003) random
Survey of 786 UK students. Alcohol Education Office
859.257.9687
I drink - the alcohol content of l2 oz. beer or
4 02. wine or I oz. distilled spirits.

 

 

 

 
  
   

NOW HIRING
SEASONAL

- Earn $8.50/h0ur
~ Weekends Off

Available Shifts:
Preload - 4AM-9AM
Day - iiAM—APM
Twilight - SPM-IOPM
Night - liPM-AAM

Or visit online at:

Equal Opportunity Employer

seasonal employment.

 

PACKAGE HANDLERS

- Consistent Work Schedule
- 3-1/2 to 5 Hour Shifts

For more information, call:

1-888-WORK-UPS

www.upsjobs.com

Benefits are not available for

Making the
hofidays
happy

for our
customers.

 
 
 

 
 

 

 
   
  
  

  
 
 
    

 

 
   
 

 
   
    

 

     
    
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
    
 
  
  
   
  
  
   
    
  
  
  
    
   
    
    
  
   
    
  
 
   
  
  
  
    
  
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  

 
   
  
     
 

  
 
   
 

 
 
 

  
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
    
 
 
  
   
 
  
 
   
 
  
 
  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
    
    
     
     
    
   

DIALOGUE

4 } WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 12, 3003 I KENTUCKY KERNEL

 

  

MWMMV

Dust reacts the same way smoke does and will set off smoke

alarms."

- “MMdflmmdMMuMMe-hhm

 

THE. NEW FACE“
OF

Lemuel-rod

ORGANlZeJ) CRIME \zA

  

 

 

 

 

It

. ‘ \_
\ Cy I

"UNTAGGoED KEG m,
" PEDDLINC—a ., GAMREV.

 

 

 

JMHEIRJIEINIQN

Lynch and Smart exploited

Sunday night, television viewers had to
make the difficult choice of what to watch at 9
pm. The choices were a special made-for-TV
movie on CBS. or a special made-for-TV movie
on NBC.

The competing programs, which ran as
part of network sweeps week, were “The Eliza-
beth Smart Story” and “Saving Jessica
Lynch." Both had the same feel-good appeal
and the same “giving America hope” message.

To pit Jessica Lynch and Elizabeth Smart
against each other, like a pair of heavyweight
boxers in the ring at the MGM Grand, is
shameful. First of all. it makes a mockery of
the hardships these girls endured.

It is unfortunate that these traumatic or-
deals will be dramatized and commercialized
for the sake of ratings. It is also a disservice
for the American public. Are people so inca-
pable of keeping up with the news that they
need their information nicely packaged for
them in the format of a made-for-TV movie?

And are we supposed to tune in to these
movies because it will make us feel patriotic?
Both films were promoted as being good for
our country and something that all true Amer-

icans should tune in to. Loving your country
is one thing, but to have to sit through a movie
that depicts an already over-analyzed and
over-talked about story is another.

Simply making these movies is bad
enough. What is even worse is that they air in
the same 9 pm. time slot. The made-for-TV
movie format would allow the general public
to watch the events of these two women unfold
right before their eyes, possibly answering any
questions they may have had.

But to have the films air at the same time
forces people to choose between one or the oth-
er. If the two respective networks truly cared
about informing Americans about the stories
of Smart and Lynch, they would have aired
the movies on different nights, allowing peo-
ple to view both. It was all about ratings.

Only time will tell who wins the battle of
the kidnapped sweethearts. But does it really
matter? Neither movie will do anything to bet-
ter the lives of anyone, with the exception of a
few people‘s Checkbooks.

This editorial appeared in the Massachusetts Daily Collegian (Ii.
Massachusetts-Amherst).

 

Isaac incapable of solving city's problems

Fiftyone percent of you asked for
Teresa Isaac to be your mayor. and less
than a year into her term she‘s left me do-
ing something I never dreamed I‘d do
fondly recalling Pam Miller.

Since she took office in January. Isaac
has done little to justify the public‘s slim
decision in her favor.

The only solution she‘s been able to Josh

muster to address the city's financial m
mama

 

 

crunch is tax. tax. tax.

A new "public safety" tax, a higher
property tax. an increase in insurance pre-
mium fees. Isaac seems blind to the fact that Lexington’s
city taxes. especially payroll taxes. are exponentially higher
than those of almost every Kentucky county; yet surround-
ing cities can't hold a candle to our budget quagmire. But
Isaac. like many liberal politicians. seems to think raising
taxes is the grand solution to all of society's woes.

Lexington can‘t even keep police officers and fireman in
the city because our wages aren‘t competitive. Before Isaac
decides to push for a tax on walking in the park to pay for
higher city worker salaries. she should examine some of
her own wasteful city spending practices.

Isaac's main agenda item has been the government
takeover of Kentucky American Water Co. Since the city
council decided to pursue condemnation of the company
under “imminent domain" laws. well over half a million
dollars of taxpayer money has been spent in the legal fight
between Lexington and RWE. the German Company that
owns Kentucky American. Proponents of the takeover have.
drummed up support by tricking citizens into believing the
Nazis are coming to take all our water.

Kentucky American is a private company that is run in-
credibly well. Lexington water bills are extremely low. com-
paratively. The city has absolutely no business trying to
take over this private company. Yet Teresa Isaac has wasted
valuable taxpayer funds in this senseless fight ,,, funds that
could have been used to raise salaries for police officers and
firefighters or fix the god-forsaken holes in the road left over
from “Ice Storm 2003."

What makes a bad policy decision even worse is the fact
that Isaac has used outside lawyers to pursue condemna-

tion. Lexington already pays top dollar for a team of city
lawyers. yet taxpayers are saddled with a bill for outside
council to go along with the checks we write for the city
lawyers. Furthermore. there's over $150 thousand worth of
legal bills we‘ve yet to pay on top of the half-million plus
we've already spent.

What‘s worse. by most estimates. the legal fight would
take several more years to resolve; and we're already ap-
proaching the million dollar spending mark.

Beyond the financial impact of the city's pursuit of con-
demnation. Isaac and her allied councilmembers frighten
me with their imperialist drive to take over a private com—
pany. We‘ve reached a point where government can seize
any property it likes simply because it sees the potential for
a new stream of tax revenue. The FLOW folks might not be
so happy when a wrecking crew comes knocking on their
front door because the city wants to build a golf course
where their house is sitting.

Isaac made a few more enemies last week by embarrass-
ing eight city council members who voted against her do-
mestic partner benefits plan. The council voted eight to four
to reject her proposal: little did the eight naysayers know
that Isaac already planned to implement the plan regardless
of their votes. acting on advice from the city lawyers she'd
previously deemed incapable of handling the condemnation
battle. Isaac says lawyers told her she doesn't need the coun-
cil‘s blessing to go forward with her plan, something she
failed to mention before the councilmembers cast their
meaningless votes.

So why do we even bother electing councilmen if Isaac
has no use for their votes? Regardless of your opinion on
certain policies. the democratic process should be respect-
ed. I wonder if Isaac agrees. Thus far into her term, she's
shown a fundamental contempt for working with her
fellow officials.

But hey. you get what you ask for. The majority of Lex-
ingtonians asked Isaac to run the city. and now we’re all
reaping the rewards. Hopefully. a few Novembers from now.
we‘ll ask Isaac to pack up and vacate her office.

JoshSuliivanisaloernailsmandpollticalscienceseniorJiecuho
reached atlsallvaanykernelxoin

Editorial Board
Andrea Uhde. Editor in chief

Josh Sullivan. Dialogue editor
Sara Cunningham. Managing editor
Paul Leightty, Ast. Dialogue editor

 

John Wampler, Photographer
Stacie Meihaus. KEG editor

lies Blevins. Staff columnist

Anne Bornschein. Copy desk chief

 

 

Frivolous lawsuits
and free handouts
hike health costs

Although the debate has been tabled
recently, there are many issues that are
now hotly debated regarding health care
reform. In the mid-90$, Republicans at.
tempted an overhaul of our medical sys-
tem after regaining control of the house
in the 1994 elections.

However. these efforts fell short along
with Hillary Clinton’s earlier attempt to
pass national health care legislation.

Basically, this has left Americans
stuck in the proverbial balance between
private care and socialized medicine.
What problems are there, and what solutions should be en-
acted? Much of the problem with healthcare has been
caused by the government itself. Regulation, regulation and
more regulation along with free health care to certain por~
tions of the population has inflated costs dramatically.

This has increased the demand for health care while de-
creasing the supply. because doctors spend so much time fill—
ing out forms. Did you know that there are more health ad-
ministrators per patient than doctors?

Some may be asking why any of this matters. College
students are generally more healthy than, say, the elderly.
However, when we graduate, many of us will be working for
companies that will offer health insurance as part of an in-
surance package.

Many states have laws that force insurance companies
to lower their rates for seniors, so the insurance companies
pass the costs on to younger: healthier patients. Patients our
age cost about one-third as much money as it costs to insure
an elderly patient. However, you won’t see the savings in
your own insurance premiums.

Some feel this should be allowed in order to provide
health care for seniors who can‘t afford it. However, it must
be noted that all seniors have Social Security and Medicare.
Poverty level seniors have Medicaid, and a prescription
drug plan for seniors has just been passed. All hospitals ac-
cepting money from these government programs by law
cannot turn away a patient. Government is even subsidizing
the cost of Viagra for seniors.

Why pay for recreational sex for some and not pay tu-
ition for others? Seniors show up at the voting booth. College
students don‘t. Sadly, seniors pay more outof-pocket health
care costs than they did before Medicare was conceived.

In the current healthcare system, a triangulation of
cost-shifting occurs between the government. insurance
companies and hospitals or doctors. Government funds only
pay a portion of the hospital costs. Insurance companies
sometimes refuse to cover procedures the government man-
dates they cover. Doctors and hospitals run unnecessary
tests to garner more monies from Medicare or insurance
companies and avoid litigation from patients. which in turn
creates a backlog of patients.

States without malpractice limits have insurance pre-
miums so high that some doctors are going on strike or leav-
ing the state altogether. States with malpractice caps tend to
have better doctors because conditions are more friendly.
Nurses and general practitioners are qualified to perform
many procedures that are sanctioned for doctors. which also
causes inefficiency.

Some point to Canada or Britain‘s socialized medicine
programs as successful, but there is such a backlog of pa-
tients that several thousand wait months or even 2 to 3 years
for vital treatment, or they are flown. lodged, fed and operat-
ed on in another country — usually the United States, at the
expense of taxpayers in their countries. New treatments are
not as readily available in other countries as in the US.

Government regulation has artificially inflated the
costs of healthcare. Doctors are getting tired of spending
much or their overhead on administrative costs and mal-
practice insurance. Private medical insurers are tired of be-
ing forced to insure high-risk patients that drive up the cost
of