MULTIMEDIA

Health Center provides efficient, quality care

Sep. 6, 2006

After a recent visit to Hudson Health Center, I feel compelled to share my story.I have lived in Athens for almost six years now, giving me ample time to hear the horror stories about Hudson. I will admit that I have received sub-par service in the past as well. However, my most recent visit to Hudson was enough to reverse 6 years of stigmatization. The new lobby is beautiful. The chairs are comfortable, the room was a cool temperature and the soft colors were relaxing. I do not know who is responsible for the design of the new lobby, but they should earn many kudos. I also want to address the level of care I received. Everyone I spoke to was pleasant and helpful. The nurse took time to listen to my concerns, and the doctor took the time to explain what was going on, as opposed to simply writing a prescription and sending me on my way. Despite what you have heard about Hudson, they can do a great job with typical ailments. With the new environment and the attitudes that I encountered today, I hope Hudson is on its way to establishing a better reputation. Katie Nutter is a graduate student in sociology.

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Summer flicks, all-around must picks

Sep. 6, 2006

Summer 2006 was a three-month onslaught of obscene gas prices, stifling heat and disastrous overseas conflict.In other words, it was prime time to duck into a dark, air-conditioned room, spend a couple hours with a bunch of strangers and forget about politics and petroleum. But in case you were too busy facing the music and the heat, here are some summer movie highlights:Funniest Movie: Strangers With Candy. Amy Sedaris and her ex-junkie-prostitute alter ego Jerri Blank made a nearly flawless leap to the big screen in a prequel to the brilliant-but-cancelled Comedy Central show. Most Pleasant Surprise: The Descent. Horror movies with no-name casts are being churned out by the week, but this British import is among the scariest films ever made.Most Unfairly Panned: Lady in the Water. I hated M. Night Shyamalan's The Village as much as the next person, but his twisted fairy tale, though flawed, was an intriguing ' at times moving ' tribute to how ideas and storytelling are society's foundation.Best Performance: Meryl Streep, A Prairie Home Companion. While Streep made The Devil Wears Prada less of a snoozer, her real summer triumph was in playing a neurotic, lovelorn folk singer in Robert Altman's masterpiece. Biggest Scene-Stealer: Sacha Baron Cohen, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. Will Ferrell passed the scene-stealer torch to Cohen, who played a gay, Perrier-swigging French race car driver who catches up on his Camus on the track.Biggest Letdown: Miami Vice. Michael Mann can still make a beaut of an action scene, but he also threw in an expressionless Colin Farrell and one of the most ridiculous romances in recent years.Worst Movie: Down in the Valley. This idiotic, overlong Taxi Driver mish-mash might be a lower career point for Edward Norton than the time he spent nancing around in a purple costume in Death to Smoochy.Best Movie: A Prairie Home Companion. The two most deliriously wonderful hours of the movies this summer ' and, incidentally, the best so far this year ' were Robert Altman's Companion

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Athens, start your engine

Sep. 6, 2006

Athens' ruling rockers are back in town for a raucous, rolling show that will give Athenians the Southeast Engine fix they need after a long summer. Formed in 1999 by lead singer Adam Remnant and drummer Leo DeLuca, Southeast Engine truly took shape when the pair started taking classes at Ohio University and practicing in their dorm rooms.We would drink beer and play until 4 in the morning

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County fighting to prevent return of fired dispatcher

Sep. 6, 2006

Athens County is appealing an arbitrator's ruling that a fired 911 dispatcher should be allowed to return to work.The dispatcher, Warren Ferguson of New Marshfield, was terminated Nov. 17, 15 days after allegedly coming to work intoxicated and sexually harassing a female coworker. Ferguson, who had worked as a dispatcher for about 10 years, filed a grievance, and on June 6 arbitrator Mitchell Goldberg ordered that Ferguson should be allowed to return to work after providing evidence from a physician or mental health provider that he was fit to return. After being reinstated, he would need to provide this evidence every six months for two years.Matthew Baker, Ferguson's attorney through the Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, said the arbitrator's decision in June was binding and he thinks Ferguson should be reinstated.Ferguson has provided the evidence required to return to work, Baker said. The county commissioners refused to reinstate Ferguson, and OPBA has asked the court to intervene and order the reinstatement with retroactive pay from June 16. In his June decision, Goldberg said Ferguson qualified as a troubled employee because of personal problems at the time of the incident. According to court records, he had been through several surgeries and was dealing with the serious health problems of family members. He had been receiving treatment for his stress-related problems

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An ensured problem

Sep. 6, 2006

For most of us, a persistent cough or an unusual pain is a quick doctor visit, a small co-pay and an inconvenient trip to Walgreens. But for those without health insurance, a doctor visit is too costly, and sufferers wait until that cough becomes pneumonia or that pain becomes bone cancer before finally heading to the emergency room and racking up huge medical bills.The Census Bureau recently announced a 2.9 percent increase in the number of people in the U.S. without health insurance ' a record 46.6 million or 15.9 percent of the population. In 1987, only 12.9 percent of the population did not have health insurance. That alone should merit an effort by employers ' the primary health care providers ' health insurance companies and the government to come together to solve this problem. It's their employees and constituents who are suffering.It's not just a liberal, humanitarian endeavor or one that should only matter to those who cannot afford health care. The insured have to pay more to subsidize the cost of the uninsured ' an additional $922 per family's insurance plan in 2005, according to a study by the consumer group Families USA. Uninsured patients only pay on average about a third of the costs of their care, leaving the government and insurance providers to pick up the tab. Moreover, since uninsured patients know that their doctor or hospital visits will be expensive, they often do not get routine checkups that could prevent more serious medical problems. When they do finally decide to get medical attention, it is an emergency room visit that costs an estimated six times more than treatment at a doctor's office. One percent of uninsured Americans even visit the emergency room as their primary source of care, according a 2000 survey by the Kaiser Commission.Medical care is also a huge cause of bankruptcy. Fifty percent of all bankruptcy claims can be partly blamed on medical expenses, according to the National Coalition on Health Care. It is time, past time, for this looming issue to be resolved. As politicians begin their pre-election banter, the uninsured problem is one that must be addressed. Health care should not be a luxury. Politicians on both sides of the fence need to put aside partisan squabbling and work toward that goal, for all Americans' sakes.

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Drink and Play

Sep. 6, 2006

Fall Quarter is an exciting time for Ohio University students: a time to experience parties, new classes, friends and of course, drinking games. Drinking games, especially in college, often offer a unique social experience. Since I have been in college

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Landlords lamenting new law

Sep. 6, 2006

It started as an attempt to give student renters information about the city housing code.But now local landlords are railing the ordinance as insulting and unconstitutional

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Mayor agitated by Council's break from procedure

Sep. 6, 2006

Mayor Ric Abel said yesterday that City Council acted illegally when it adopted an amended ordinance authorizing a new contract for city employees, and he asked council members to call a special session to adopt a new ordinance for the same purpose.Reiterating that he would veto the ordinance adopted at Tuesday's council meeting, Abel said its approval was illegal because it changed the contract already agreed upon by city officials and negotiators from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.City Council only has authority to accept or reject a labor contract

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Lacrosse

Sep. 6, 2006

The Ohio lacrosse team's offense will gain more support and experience this spring as the Bobcats added a new assistant coach to the staff.Head coach Allison Valentino announced that Paula Habel was added to the coaching staff last month after Habel was recommended to her.One of my coaching colleagues recommended her to me and I was really excited about all the experience she already has

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3 City Council members 'chilled' by ethics commission

Sep. 6, 2006

A December advisory opinion from the Ohio Ethics Commission creates a chilling effect on Ohio University employees who might run for public office, city Law Director Garry Hunter wrote in a letter Tuesday to an OEC representative. As a result of the opinion by OEC Chief Advisory Attorney Jennifer Hardin, three City Council members employed by OU did not vote on ordinances concerning development on OU-owned land. The main subject of the opinion was an OU administrator who did not vote.Hardin added in the opinion that the OEC had not previously considered the differences between council members who are university administrators, faculty or contract employees.The OEC has received at least one similar request for an advisory opinion from a university community, according to Hunter's letter.In his letter, Hunter requested a chance for the city to tell the OEC why state ethics law should distinguish between university administrators and other university employees.

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Trail funding on the right path

Sep. 5, 2006

Nelsonville residents likely will be able to enjoy their city by bike or take a stroll on a new 1.86-mile bike path connection to the Hocking-Adena Bikeway, and they have $800,800 of state funds to thank. The Nelsonville bike path is one of 35 community-enhancement projects totaling $14.5 million that Ohio Department of Transportation is supporting this year. The enhancement projects are a different way to use transportation

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Escape textbooks with leisure reads

Sep. 5, 2006

Summer is the perfect time to catch up on books that appear on no syllabi, and actually to enjoy them. But don't be alarmed ' any of these books would complement the homework routine nicely.Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

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Council OKs new labor union contract

Sep. 5, 2006

Athens City Council adopted a controversial ordinance yesterday authorizing a three-year agreement with the AFL-CIO and a local union to give union members an annual pay raise of 4 percent. Councilman Jim Sands, D-at large, said the agreement was a standard contract with the AFL-CIO and the local American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union, which has fewer than 50 members. However, it caused a stir among council members because of a wording change to the original proposal. Through the contract, union members would have the opportunity to contribute to the union's political action committee through a voluntary payroll deduction.Some elected officials were upset that the word voluntary was added as an amendment to the ordinance. Sands, councilwoman Carol Patterson. D-at large, and mayor Ric Abel said they were not opposed to the idea of the voluntary deduction but disagreed with the fact that City Council renegotiated an agreement that a negotiation committee already had addressed. This is one of the dumbest pieces of legislation I've ever heard

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Football Notebook: Backup quarterbacks grab face time in opening victory

Sep. 5, 2006

As the Ohio football team gained a lead over Tennessee-Martin during Saturday's home opener, coach Frank Solich seized the opportunity to give all of his quarterbacks some playing time. Returning starter Austen Everson struggled early on but became more effective running the option in the game's later quarters, finishing the day 8-for-17 with 49 yards in the air. Everson also rushed for a touchdown but wound up with negative yardage on the ground. I need to work on executing

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A workable Plan B

Sep. 5, 2006

The FDA recently approved over-the-counter sales of Plan B, commonly known as the morning-after pill

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Soccer: Ohio picks up 1st win at home since September '05

Sep. 5, 2006

The scoring came early but not often for Ohio in its 1-0 victory over visiting Robert Morris yesterday. Ohio (1-2) took the lead for good when forward Lindsey Price sailed a high, arching corner kick that Rachael Goulding headed into the back of the net just 1:35 into the match. The assist was a small change of pace for Price, who was the squad's leading goal scorer in 2005.I always look for Rachael because she's the tallest

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Let go of the past

Sep. 5, 2006

Once upon a time, college students registered for classes in person, waiting anxiously in line as full courses were crossed off bulletin boards, forcing them to frantically rearrange their schedules before they reached the front of the line. Then came the telephone age, with programs like Ohio University's TRIPS, which made the process easier, and continued even through the dawn of the Internet age that led to easier online registration.But times change. OU recently let go of a vestige of the past by retiring TRIPS on Sept. 2, another example of OU's continuing efforts to simplify services so that students can complete their educational errands with the click of a mouse. TRIPS, which had outlived its necessity, was certainly ready for its quiet death. Being computer savvy is a necessary skill for today's OU students, who no longer receive their much-dreaded tuition bills from the mailman and can now check their complicated DARS online. All students should be capable of operating Web registration. But while the movement towards technologically centered services is appealing to those who are used to shopping online while listening to iPods and instant messaging friends, such progress is only as valuable as its convenience, reliability and security. The outbreak of security breaches last year, which OU has taken steps to repair, show that campus computers are far from infallible and need oversight to ensure they are protected from hackers. The university's efforts to save students time and money by becoming more Internet-friendly deserve applause ' as long as online services receive the necessary upkeep, so they do not become more troublesome than the in-person registration of previous generations.

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Volleyball notebook: 'Cats earn honors

Sep. 5, 2006

Following the Ohio volleyball team's nine consecutive wins en route to a three-match sweep of the Mizuno Wildcat Classic last weekend, two of its members were named to the Classic's All-Tournament Team.Outside hitter Stephanie Blackburn and middle blocker Melissa Griffin were recognized for their efforts in a successful weekend for the Bobcats. Both averaged 4.11 kills per game over the two-day tournament. They played strongly and consistently

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Drunken-driving arrest should equal dismissal

Sep. 5, 2006

On the night of my high school graduation, June 3, 2004, I was riding in my former boyfriend's car when a drunken driver hit us from the side. He was driving 65 mph in a 25 mph zone. At the time, his blood alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit. He appeared to have dozed off at the wheel while attempting to return home from a party. This calls to mind the case of the Ohio University football coach Frank Solich. The Welcome Back edition of The Post prominently features an article detailing the University's football coach's recent run in with local law enforcement. From what I gather, the evidence shows that Solich was indeed driving while intoxicated. The fact that Solich was not fired by Ohio University and President Roderick McDavis is absolutely unacceptable to me. I was nearly killed by a drunken driver two years ago and I still suffer painful physical after-effects because of the injuries I received. If it is a part of the president's mission to combat risky alcohol-related behavior on campus through late-night university sponsored activities and making completion of the alcohol.edu course mandatory, then examples should be made of authority figures like Solich who have clearly violated university policy and state law by driving drunk. As a victim of DUI, I would like to see both Solich and Ohio University apologize for this behavior. Solich should not appeal his DUI conviction. The coach should consider himself lucky that he was arrested before he could injure or kill an innocent person whose only mistake was being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He should accept the punishment that the state of Ohio sees fit to give him and then issue a public apology for his behavior. This would mean a great deal to students like me who have had the misfortune of being victimized by drunken drivers by proving that the university do intend to curb alcohol abuse on campus.Mazy Hayes is a junior art history major.

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RA benefits receive $500 boost

Sep. 5, 2006

Resident assistants at Ohio University will receive an additional $500-a-year discount on their staff room rate, raising total compensation to at least $4,827 for the first year.