xt78kp7tqj4r https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt78kp7tqj4r/data/mets.xml The Kentucky Kernel Kentucky -- Lexington The Kentucky Kernel 1978-03-27 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, March 27, 1978 text The Kentucky Kernel, March 27, 1978 1978 1978-03-27 2020 true xt78kp7tqj4r section xt78kp7tqj4r ‘ KENTUCKY
er
an independent student newspaper
Volume LXIX, Number 122
Monday. March 27, 1978
21
University of Kentucky
Lexington. Kentucky
Excusez moi, s’il vous plait
Kentucky's James Lee shows complete disregard for the welfare of
Arkansas" Steve Schall as he drives to the basket in Saturday’s
NCAA semi-final game between Kentucky and Arkansas. Lee's first
In St. Louis
UK win resurrects defense . . .
BY DAVID HIBBI'I‘S
Sports Editor
ST. LOUIS — As Kentucky ap-
proaches the championship game of
the NCAA tournament, its last two
tournament wins might resurrect
thoughts of the first six games last
year.
In those six games, UK played a
combination man-toman and 1-3-1
defenses so tenaciously they held the
Opposition to a meager 59.5 points a
game.
Since then, Kentucky coach Joe
Hall has spent the maority of his
time criticizing the lack of defensive
intensity by his veteran team.
Meanwhile, the offense — directed
by guard Kyle Macy — has been one
of the best in the country, keeping its
shooting percentage between 53 and
54 percent all season.
In the recent wins — a 5249
squeaker over Michigan State for
the Mideast Regional championship
and Saturday’s heart-throbbing 64-
59 win in an NCAA semi-final game
against Arkansas—the Wildcats
found their lost deferse.
“Whoever said Kentucky doesn’t
have quickness should have their
head examined,” Arkansas coach
Eddie Sutton said, almost in
disbelief of UK's ability to stay with
the Razorbacks’ dazzling speed.
“Defensively, they were out-
standing in the first half. I didn’t
realize they could pay as good a
man-to-man defense as they
played."
In the first minute of the game,
UK‘s defense appeared to be in
disarray as Arkansas raced to a
quick 4-0 lead on a steal and driving
stuff shot by guard Ron Brewer and
a layup by forward Jim Counce.
But forward Jack Givens started
half efforts help UK squeak past the Southwestern Conference
champions, 64-59. Forward Jack Givens looks on.
himself and the Wildcats on their
way with a 17-footer from the side.
The Arkansas triplets, guards
Sidney Moncrief, Brewer and for-
ward Marvin Delph, showed why
they have become so reknowed. The
trio took turns swiping weak UK
passes and repelling the inside shots
of Kentucky center Mike Phillips
and forward Rick Robey.
Yet the clawing Wildcat deferse
prevented Arkansas from taking the
game home early.
When Givens exercised his quick
defense to pick off a pass and dart
uncontested for one of h's rare two-
handed stuff shots, UK had it’s first
lead of the game at 13-12. The 6-4
senior forward‘s crowd-stirring play
came only 10 seconds after Arkansas
center Steve Schall had picked up a
devastating fourth personal foul.
Continued on page 5
. . . to face challenge tonight
BY BOB STAUBLE
Assistant Sports Editor
ST. LOUIS — “...this time we've
come to win it all."
Rick Robey had just been
reminded by a reporter of Ken-
tucky's loss to UCLA in the NCAA
final three years ago. Robey
promised a different story tonight as
UK again enters the championship
contest. this time playing the Blue
Devils of Duke University.
“We used up all our energy in the
lnciana game (the 1975 regional
championship. which UK won 9280).
We felt we‘d done all we could do.
But this time we've come to win it
all.“
“By game time Monday night,
we‘ll know all there is to know about
Duke," said UK forward Jack
Givens.
What Givens and h's teammates
will find is a Duke season that has
turned out to be a bit of a surprise.
Tonight‘s final game should test the
youth of Duke against the ex-
pa'ience of Kentucky.
The North Carolina team has not,
numerically speaking, been out of
diapers all that long Center Mike
Gminski and forward Gene Banks
are only 18 years young, while
Banks‘ partner at forward, Kenny
Dennard, is .just a year his elder.
Guarrk Jim Spanarkel and John
Harrell add the needed maturity (1’)
with their whopping 20 years each.
Just by figures then, Duke
shouldn't have gotten where they
are. But the Atlantic Coast Con-
ference Blue Devils upset Notre
Dame Saturday, 90.86 — and in the
process, Duke came of age.
Gminski did most of the damage to
the eighth-ranked Fighting Irish,
scoring 29 points and grabbing five
rebounds. The afoot-ll sophomore
went 13 for 17 {mm the floor and hit
on 3 of 4 from the free throw line.
“I got geat passes from my
teammates. Everything I got came
out of our offense; I wasn't doing
anything special to get the ball,”
Gminski said.
Continued on page 5
Employee insurance
plan's fate
depends
on survey results
By DEBBIE MCDANIEL
Kernel Staff Writer
An insurance survey seeking
employee input on this year’s in-
surance contract rte-negotiations
was recently distributed to UK
employees by the Employee
Benefits Committee.
Last year, protesting employees
blocked the committee’s recom-
mendation to Presidait Singletary,
saying the University’s voluntary
health insurance program be
handed by one company. They
proposed the employees’ major
medical policy — handled by
Teachers Insurance And Annuity —
and the basic hospital coverage —
handled by Blue Cross-Blue
Shield — becombined into one basic
merical plan handed by 8088.
At a March 14, 1978, health in-
surance meeting, an employee used
last year’s argument against the
plan, saying, “Under the Blue Cross
plan we would be expected to buy
their base (basic plan), even though
we didn’t need it. That would be
rather exparsive."
Vice President of Business Affairs
Jack Blanton said, “A small number
of people (several hundred) were
economically disadvantaged by that
plan and objected to it.”
Jesse Well, president of the
American Association of University
Professors on camprs, disagreed.
“Hundreds and hunch-eds, if not
thousands," of protesting
secretaries, staff, grounds people
and AAUP members objected.
“I was one of many people
protesting, and the AAUP passed a
resolution asking the President to
postpone making the change,” Weil
said.
The committee recommended
combining the insurance plans after
TIAA asked for a 30 percent rate
increase and 80-88 offered a
cheaper rate.
After comparing the long term
rate stability of the two agencies, the
committee discova'ed that BC-BS
charged a reinsurance fee to protect
groups against rate increases
following costly claims. “TIAA said
six claims out of 3000 were im-
pacting our rates,” said Personnel .
Division Director Bruce Miller. The
six claims were for amounts over
$25,000 each.
Otmer differences between the
insurance companies include:
— TIAA has a $250,000 claim limit
for active employees which drops to
$50,000 for retired employees, while
BC-BS maintains the $250,000 limit
for active and retired employees.
— TIAA pays 80 percent of
medical costs over the amount
deductible. BC-BS pays all amounts
we the deductible.
— BC-BS, mlike TIAA, allows
policy conversion from the
University’s group plan into a
private policy in cases of death or
employment termination.
Singletary heard arguments from
the protesting employees last
summer. He then asked the com
mittee to conduct a survey to find
‘ what options employees would favor
in a new insurance program.
“The University administration is
thoroughly apirised of the fact that
there are a number of people who
don’t want the base type of irr-
suraw:e,” Miller said.
UK l‘surance Buyer Charles.
‘Emerson said, “The committee
must consider what it believes is the
best plan for the largest number of
people, considering the cost in-
volved”
Employee Benefits Committee
Chairman Dr. Howard Bost ap-
pointed a four-person subcommittee
chaired by Student Health service
Administrator Jean Cox to draw up
the survey and distribute it to all
full-time employees.
The survey provided information
on 80-88 and TIAA insurance amd
questions regarding current and
additional benefits. Space was
provided for comments. Cox
reported a 40 pacent return of the
surveys, one half of them with
cormnents.
Continued on page 6
today
the teams:
University of Kentucky
“WILDCATS”
vs.
Duke University
“BLUE DEVILS"
me coaches:
Kentucky
JOE B. HALL
Duke
BILL FOSTER
the records:
Kentucky
29 WINS. 2 LOSSES
Duke
27 WINS, 8 LOSSES
the lineups:
Kentucky
JACKGIVENS. H. I.
RICK ROBEY, 6-10.f.
MIKE PHILLIPS, 6-10. c.
KYLE MACY. H, g.
TRUMAN CLAYT‘OR.6-I. g.
Duke
GENE BANKS, 6-5. I.
KENNY DENNARD, 6-1, f.
MIKE GMINSKI. O-Il. c.
JOHN HARRELL. H, g.
JIM SPANARKEL. s-s. g.
the media:
Television
NBC. CHANNEL I8. 0 PM.
Radio
WBKY. 9|.8 PM. 9 EM.
WVLK. 5!. AM. 9 PM.
I I
inside
THE RUTLES: ALL YOU NEED IS CASH, a
television spoof of the Beatles which aired last
Wednesday, is reviewed on page 4.
state
AS KENTUCKY MINEBS prepared to return
to work today, the possibility of picketing by
their “union brothers" lurked in the
background.
If the demonstrations surface, they could
delay a qu’ck resumption of full production.
Construction workers, who build tunneh and
tipples, are members of the United Mine
Workers but have been unable to reach
agreement with the Association of Bituminous
Contractors.
SHELBY COUNTY SLIPPED by Covington
Holmes 60-06 in Saturday's state huh school
basketball tournament.
Holmes had a two-point lead with two
seconds to go in regdation play, but a
desperation basket by Shelby County's Charles
Hurt at the buzzer forced the game into
overtime.
The contest was finally settled when Shelby
County's Norris Beckley hit a pair of free
throws with 34 seconds left in overtime.
nation
PRESIDENT CARTER IS to end a year-long
policy process today by announchg the first
cornprehara‘ve urban strategy ever developed
in the White House.
Sources familiar with the plan say it would
cost an addtional 82.6 billion for urban
program, plus aubority for spending an
addtional 81 billion. Tax credits to stimulate
job creation and economic devdoprners would
cost the Treasury $1.7 billion.
weather
MOSTLY CLOUDY AND COLD today with a
chanceofalewsprluklesormflmlesthis
morning. low toniht in the mid w.
KENFiSe
editorials 8’ comments
Steve Ballinger
Editor in Chlel
Did Gabriel
Managing Editor
ihomes Clark
Assistant Managing Editor
Charles Main
Editorial Editor
Nell Fields
Auietant A rte 4'
Entertainment Editor
Jenn ier Garr
Sta]! Artist
David Hibhi' 'ttl
Sports Editor
Bob Stauble
Assistant Sports Editor
Waiter Tunis
Arts & Entertainment Editor
6 Fish
Bic new
Jim IcNair
like Newer
Betsy Pearce
Copy Editors
David O‘Neil
Photo Manager
' Jeannchhnu
Photo Supervisor
Rescission resolution
reveals" reform needed
Kentucky received national attenton again last
week for action on the Equal Rights Amendment
to the US. Constitution. The publicity was
caused by Lt. Gov. Thelma Stovall’s veto of a
resolution withdrawing Kentucky’s ratification
of the amendment.
Stovall had threatened to veto the resolution if
she got the chance, and she seized the op-
portunity when Julian Carroll left for a vacation
at Myrtle Beach. Carroll said he was only aware
of rumors that Stovall might veto the measure,
but the governor, a long-time supporter of the
ERA, is probably not displeased by her action.
Stovall had desperately opposed the measure
as presiding officer in the Senate, where it first
won approval. The resolution’s supporters in-
censed many by using a bit of parliamentary
iegerdemain, “piggybacking,” to get their bill
through. The tactic was to substitute the
amendnent for a study resolution dealing with
the Kentucky retirement system.
It’s uncertain what authority Stovall was
ac ting on when she decided to veto the rescission
measure. Legislative resolutions do not require
the governor’s apjrovai, and several state
representatives and senators, along with the
right-to-life advocates, have called for the veto to
be nullified. The Lieutenant Governor justified
‘ her decision became of the questionable
strategem used to pass the resolution.
Even if the veto is illegal, the spirit it was done
in should be applauded As an affirmation of
equal treatment for all, the ERA is needed in the
constitution. If Stovail’s action can help preserve
Kentucky’s 1972 ratification of the ERA, so much
the better. Even if the ieg'slature’s neanderthal
resolution stands up, it and similar rescissions
by three other states are probably illegal. There
is no provision in the comtitution fix with-
drawing ratification of an amendment.
The way that the Kentucky resolution was
passed, though, should inspire some action
toward reforming the state legislature’s
procedures. The end-of-session logjam, caused by
bad weather, prompted many unusual steps to
get bills through
Predictably, Stovall mid other ERA supporters
in the leg'slature had heavy criticism for
“piggybacking” and promised to seek reform in
the next session. But if the bills getting wedged
through in 1980 are for things they support, it’s
doubtful that reforms will be made.
111e NCAA Championship:
'It is fitting that their last game should be here...it is the climax
atrium :-
”‘CRIMINALU ,
1.-IiSliEm
of a story that began when they were high school seniors'
ST. LOUIS -—- it will all end here
tonight. in a drizzly gray city that
boasts the world's largest croquet
wicket. Kentucky‘s four seniors will
play their last game far from home,
which is sad, but it will be for the
national championship — which
isn‘t sad. »- ' ‘ ‘
Only a handful of Kentucky fans,
those lucky enough to get tickets,
will be watching as the Wildcats
cash in their chips. They’ll play in a
dusty swealbOx known as the
Checkerdome, which looks like it
was built back around the time the
guys in the big wooden horse pulled
the old backdoor play on the city of
Troy. All the other UK loyalists will
have to be content with watching the
tube, fighting the nausea that
usually accompanies a Curt Gowdy
analysis
dick
~ gabriel
“I
it‘s fitting that the last game will
be played for the national title, not
because this is the best team in the
country but became it will be the
climax of a story that began when
the Fantastic Four were still high
school seniors.
it all started with rumors.
“Givens and Lee have already
said they‘re signing with UK."
“Well, I don‘t know; i heard they
were visiting UCLA."
“Oh, that‘s just so they can use up
their recruiting trips and do some
traveling. They‘re coming here."
‘ftnws mom momma: summertime Fountains sun/mow» 3e
wwwwommmwamnmwummmummm
But who else were the kentucky
recruiters going for? They definitely
needed size, but six players would
graduate at the end of the follwing
season. There would be big holes to
married during the Christmas break
and he eventually transferred. lie
has gone on to be a nothing at
Marshall U. That left the twin
towers: Rick Robey, who had an
fill. gig for assaulting tables, chairs
Everybody in the world wasaner
Moses Malone. And Kenny 'iiiggs
was doing wonderful things in
Owensboro. And another
Lexingtonian, Tates Creek’s Tyrone
Dunn, was drawing some attention.
“Just think, man in four years
we‘ll have a starting lineup of
Givens and Lee at forward, Malone
in the middle and Higgs and Dunn at
guard. We‘ll be unstoppable!
it didn't work out that way. Higgs,
who managed to gather a reputation
as a renegade along with his
basketball accolades. Higgs wasn’t
quietly forgotten by the UK staff.
The noise came from the UK fans,
mostly from down in Owensboro.
Dunn ended up at Pikeville College,
for Pete’s sake, and Malone shocked
his diapers to beccome the youngest
player in the NBA and the first ever
to go directly from high school to the
pros.
in their place, we got giants—
three of them.
Probably the least of the three was
one Danny Hall, from Betsy Lane
iligh. He was the biggest player in
the state his senior year, but he was
less than dominating. His team was
beaten by around fifty points in the
state tournament.
As a UK freshman, Hall showed
that although he could throw a mean
pass now and then, he had all the
grace and coordination of Donald
Duck.
Against the coaches' wishes he
8 watér coolers in pursuit of loose
balls — which he -~im-
mediately assumed were h's, much
to the delight of h's coaches, and
Mike Phillips, whose “throw it up
any way you can” shooting style
helped him shatter Jerry Lucas’s
state scoring records in Ohio.
They were teamed up with Jack
Givens and James Lee — both left-
handers, best friends off the court,
suddenly rivals on it. There were
problems, though not immediately.
With Bobey, then Phillips, then
itobey starting in the middle and
Givens adding scoring punch off the
bench, the rookies helped the
Grevey-Conner buncch to the finals
of the NCAA tournament in 1975.
Kentucky fans thought of the next
three years and smiled.
But then the trouble started during
their s0phomore year.
“Hall’s starting BOTH Robey and
Phillips? it‘ll never work." To the
sccond-guessers’ credit, it didn’t
work at first, but then Robey tore
up a knee and the arguments
became academic. _
With Robey on the bench, Phillips
was the only man on the roster over
(i-foot-s and he responded. With two
and sometimes three enemy players
hanging all over him he responded,
leading the Cats to the 1976 National
invitational Tournament Cham-
pionship.
With ugly bruises still swelling on
his shoulders, the exhaisted Phillips
Lr \ -\
SHIN“
(“warm we.
happily held_ court for reporters
after victories, secure in the
knowledge that he was finally
getting a chance to strut his stuff.
Robey’s injury was also important
in that it gaveJames-Lee a chance to
prove, more to himself than to
anyone else, that'die could do
brilliant things as a starter. It was
just a twist of fate that he’d have to
spend his career as a sixth man...
Because of attitude problems,
both with his role. and his grades,
James ‘had considered transferring
after his freshman year. Some said
he would go to Kentucky State,
where he could score at will and live
happily with an astronomical
average and no ink. But during the
NIT, Lee seemed to find the inner
peace he needed. He stopped pouting
and grew up.
During the next season it became
painfully obvious'that Kentucky had
no outside shooting. Givens and
Larry Johnson were effective only
from as far as 15 feet, so it was easy
for teams to set up defensive camp
in the lane, and club Phillips and Lee
whenever they got the ball.
So Uk imported a sharpshooting
freshman guard with blond hair and
nicknamed him “white lightning”
and the fans sat back and waited for
the national title to return to
Lexington. Only it didn’t happen that
way.
Kentucky, ranked number two for
all but about four hours (between the
time unbeaten and top-ranked San
Francisco lost to Notre Dame and
the time the cats lost to Tennessee in
Knoxville), placed all its hopes on
the shoulders of the freshman guard.
Jay Shidler responded as most
freshmen do — erratically. The 25-
footers that fell early in the year
would’nt drop later, to the tune of a
40 percent shooting average. 0p-
posing teams again started camping
out near the Kentucky big men,
hacking away.
The 1977 dream ended in the east
regional at College Park,
Maryland, against a North Carolina
team that beat the odik and hit 33 of
36 free throws. Kentucky fans bit
their lower lips and vowed
vengence.
They’ll get it tonight, because the
Cats will beat Duke. They’ll mug the
Blue Devil’s, who’ll still be giddy
from their upset victory over
Digger’s Dopes, Notre Dame.
it won't be easy, but Kentucky will
win its fifth title and here’s why. Not
once after any victory this year have
the Kentucky players allowed
themselves to sit back and grin and
say, “yeah, that's alright.”
There have been gleeful moments,
like the one that came after the
Mideast Regional Championship
and the win over Arkansas here
Saturday. But there still hasn't been
that euphoric feeling of satisfaction,
became these players are saving it.
They won't feel it until after they‘ve
won it.
They’ll feel it tonight.
Dick Gabriel is the a journalism
senior and the Kernel Managing
Editor. ilis column appears every
other Monday.
Letters to the Editor 1
NOW asks
boycott
The Lexington-Bluegrass chapter
of the National Organization for
Women has joined in the growing
b0ycott of Nestle products,
specifically Nestle’s Quik, Nestle’s
Crunch, Tasters’ Choice, Nescafe,
Nestea, Libby and McNeill-Libby
brands. NOW asks you to join them.
The story behind the boycott is the
story of how a lifesaving product
has been turned into a life-
destroying one.
European and American birth
rates have gone down dramatically,
but the population of the Third World
continues to grow. In order to keep
their profit margins high, infant
formula companies have been
heavily marketing their pr0ducts»
there. Nestle is the largest
distributor of infant formula
(Lactogen) in the Third World.
Third World mothers have no
clean water with which to mix the
formula, no suitable pots for
sterilizing the bottles and nipples, no
refrigeration, and often the in-
structions for its preparation are not
in the language of even the literate
people in these countries. The cost of
the infant formula can cost from 25-
40 percent of their daily wages.
Became of this expense, mothers
are forced to water the formula
down to make it last longer. When
the tin is used up, if the mother does
not have enoughmoney and if her
breast milk has dried up, she will be
forced to give the baby something
else, such as cornstarch mixed with
water, tea or sugar water. The result
is malnutrition, diarrhea, infection
and, eventually, death for the infant.
The earlier in life malnwrishment
occurs, and the longer it persists, the
more likely intellectual devel0p-
mcnt will be impaired.
incontrast, breastfed babies, even
if their mothers are underfed and
drink contaminated water, will be
immunized against local infections,
and will not show symptoms of
malnutrition until six months to two
years of age. Breast milk is readily
available, sterile, nutritious and
free. But to increase profits, cor-
porations promote artificial formula
to Third World women.
An aggressive and misleading
promotional campaign by the infant
formula corporation tells women
that the way to health, beauty and
status is to use formula products.
The mothers want to do what is best
for their children and end up buying
the products.
Boycott the products mentioned
above. Write to the President of
Nestle and tell him you are
b0ycotting and why. His add‘ess is:
Mr. David E. Guerrant, President,
the Nestle company, 100
Bloomingdale Road, White Plains,
NY 10605. Sign a petition that NOW
is circulating in support of the
boycott. Tell your friends that until
Nestle changes its sales practices,
you will refuse to consume the
products of injustice.
Terry Willingham
UK alumna
The Kentucky Kernel welcomes letters and
commentaries submitted for publication. Articles
must include the signature, address, phone num-
ber, year and major if the writer is a student.
Commentary authors should have expertise or
expo-fence in the area their article pertains to.
The Kernel editors have final decision on which
articles are published and when they are published.
The editors reserve the right to edit submissions
Letters policy
because it unsuitabiiity in length, grammatical
errors, or libelous statements. All letters and
commentaries become the property of the Kernel.
The best-read letters are brief and concern
campus events, though commentaries should be
shat-essay length. Letters and commentaries can
be mailed to the Editorial Editor, Room 114.
Journalism Building. University of Ky. «50, or
may be delivered personally.
__ - 7, .__._. _L. .i
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commentary
For middle class
Republicans endorse
tax. credits for tuition
It is a rare occasion for the Kernel to
publish anything that motivates ’me to
respond. However, the endorsement of the
Carter tuition plan in the Feb. 24 issue is the
straw that broke the camel's back. As
chairman of the UK College Republicans. I
am compelled to acquaint the student body
with the Republican alternative. which is
much better.
Income tax credits for college tuition is the
Republican solution for lessening the impact
of spiraling education costs for all
Americans. In providing direct tax relief,
preventing expensive administrative costs,
andn allowing college students and their
parents to finance their own education. it
presents an intelligent modification of the
current system of relying on a mix of
government grants and loans.
The average young American is finding it
increasingly difficult to afford the costs of a
college education. And since college is not
necessarily the instant key to employment
and security it once was. more and more
Americans see it as an unneccessary luxury
and go without it.
The basic premise of the present system is
that grants will serve primarily low-income
students. loans will aid middle-income
students, and the bighincome families in our
society do not need any assistance.
This is a false assumption, collapsing right
in the center. The present government loan
program offers insufficient aid to the mid-
die-income student. A variety of disturbing
statistics point this out. The College En-
trance examination board has shown that
the cost of attending a public college has
risen 40 percent in the last five years, from
$1,782 to $2.790. Private college costs have
jumped 35 percent in the same time, from
$2.793 to $4.568. Meanwhile, as of January.
1975. only 4 percent of all the Basic
rlducationanl Opportunity grants went to
studmts whose families have incomes over
$12.000. For the class of students entering
college in 1975. all federal grants paid only
8.4 percentn of their total expenses.
The record for loans is even worse. The
two government loan programs. national
direct student loans and federal guaranteed
student loans. covered only a small 6.2
percent of the college costs for the class
entering in 1975. The program that sup-
posedly offers adequate support for the
middle class is obviously failing.
The repercussions are significant. While
lower-income students only have to cover
322 percent of their total casts. and upper-
incorne students pay an even smaller 29.6
percent. a middle-income student must
personally raise 41.6 percent of his costs.
(These figures have taken into account
grants. scholarships and family assistance.)
A student‘s only recourse is a loan. and we
have seen how effective that has been in the
past.
So while enrollment for lower and upper
income students has remained fairly stable.
college entrance from middle income
families had plunged 22 percent per year
from 1969 to 1974. a numerical decline of
1.310.000.
We are worried that too many deserving
studeits are barred from the benefits of
higher education because they cannot afford
it. Tuition tax credits are our way of moving
to solve this dilemma. And it has a number of
advantages over the ineffective loan
program
First. tax credits gm: money directly back
to the deserving taxpayer With loans. in-
terest must be paid once a student
graduates, in addition to paying off the
principal. Instead of branding students as
debtors just as they are trying to get on their
feet financially, tax credits help to develop
self supporting and self-reliant students by
returning tax dollars.
Second. unlike loans, tax credits require
no burgeoning bureaucracy to administer
the program. Students can forget about
hassling with confusing and probing
financial questionnaires. Colleges can
reduce the amount of paperwork churned
out. Both can escape. to some extent. from
the web of externally imposed government
regulations. The size of government can be
cut back. A measure of freedom can return
to our cOIIeges and universities.
’l‘hird. tax credits do not disrupt our
economy. While present governmental aid to
education goes through the college to the
students. tax credits go directly to the
studmts or their families. Instead of having
to depend on which college offers the best
financial aid package. students can use the
money from their tax credits at the college of
their choice. Instead of the government
deciding which colleges “pay or perish,"
students make that decision.
Increase freedom of choice and reduced
costs. These are the benefits tax credits
would bring.
We also encourage other ideas and
programs. including the following, that give
studmts greater control of their individual
education:
Higher Education Trust Fund Act. -
Congressman Hamilton Fish, R«New York.
has introduced legislation to provide tax-free
savings accounts for parents saving for their .
children's college education. Parents would
be allowed to savethe lesser of $750 per year. ‘
or 15 percent of their income. not to exceed
$750 per year.
If parents decided to put aside the full $750 .
per year for one dependent. they will deduct
that amount from their gross income as
though they had one additional dependent.
Excess Credit Refund. The tuition tax
credit bill introduced by Senator Robert
I’ack wood provides for “refundability.” ;
This means a student entitled to a $500 credit ‘
f pr higher education expenses, but who pays
only perhaps $200 in taxes because his in-
come is so low. would receive a $300 refund
from the federal government.
Removal of the Social Security Earnings
Limitation. Congressman Steve Simms. R-
Idaho. has introduced legislation to remove
this limitation, and Republicans have
pushed hard for it in this Congress.
At first glance it may appear not to be a
studmt matter. but some 100,000 students
receive Social Security because their
parents died while they were of school age.
They receive Social Security benefits similar
to those Over 65. and with similar restric-
tions At present. they are not allowed to
earn over $3.000 a year or $250 in any one
month. If they do their benefits are jerked.
This puts the students in a constraining
postiion: since the benefits many times are
not enough to pay for the type of school they
are interested in; and if they get a good job
they have to quit or work only for a limited
amount.
It is evident to me. and many others as
well. that the Republican Party has a better _
alternative to assist the student in the high
cost of an education. It is inconceivable to
me how the Kernel, “an independent student
newspaper". could posibly endorse the
('arter plan. when the alternative is more
beneficial and economical.
Therefore the UK College Republiccans
denounce the Kernel for endorsing a bill that
has nothing to offer the middle-income
student. and challenge it to prove that
students have no great need for tax credits!
If passed. the Carter proposal will be one
more blow against the middle class by the
I )cm0crats.
Gregory D. Blackburn
L'K (‘ollege Republicans
Editor‘s response: The Kernel supports
President ('arter‘s Middle Income
Assistance Act because it will provide aid to
specific groups at a much lower cost than
other proposals (such as $1.5 billion vs. 34.7
billion for the Packw'ood plan).
('urter‘s plan is superior because the
alternatives set no limit on family income.
All students from wealthy families with no
need could take advantage of tax credits. at
the expense of taxpayers. including the
middle class ones.
('artcr's plan would aid five million
students in 1979. two million more than at
present. "is program would expand the
Basic (‘urant program and e\tend the grants
to more students. Also. federal student loan
support would rise. and would be available to
students whose income used to above the
cutoff mark. Work-study expansion. con-
struction of facilities for handiccapped
students and more money for research are
included in the plan.
There are better ways than handing out
money without considering where it goes;
the easy system of ta\ credits. (‘arter's bill
would give nct‘tlt‘d aid, at a reasonable level.
to those w ho need it most.
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THE KENTUCKY KERNEL. Monday. March 27. 1978—3
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