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Pacific Union College Campus Chronicle 3
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By Colleen Uechi
Throughout the morning and early evening of Nov. 6, PUC students flocked to the waiting shuttles for a trip to the polls. Later that night they crowded into the Campus Center to watch the vote counts build across America.
President Barack Obama, the Democratic incumbent, kept Gov. Mitt Romney, the Republican challenger, at bay in a
decisive victory, securing his place in the White House for one more term. Upon the announcement, Obama supporters in the Campus Center roared, chanting “Four more years!” while triumphantly waving and passing around “Obama Territory” signs.
“It was just really exciting for me to see how many people were excited about voting and the democratic process,” said SA Executive Vice President Danielle Hagood, a senior psychology major. “I had been getting mixed media messages, so I didn’t know how [the election] was going to fall. I only had my hopes.”
Obama’s 332 electoral votes topped Romney’s 206, and the former also beat the latter in the popular vote by nearly three million. Speculation over swing states provided drama in the final hours. Romney was victorious in North Carolina (15), while Obama took Ohio (18), Virginia (13), Wisconsin (10), Colorado (9), Nevada
(6) and Iowa (6). Florida, another swing state that Obama eventually won, garnered unwanted attention when ballot counting became so backed up that official results were not submitted until Nov. 8, well after the rest of the nation.
Results also came in on a PUC-related item on the Napa County ballot: the controversial Measure U.
Continued on pg. 3
vol. LXXXIX no. 3THURSDAY, 15 November 2012
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Silverado Brewing Co. Closing
Around the Hill
The Great Health Plan Debate
Season Showdown
By Alex Blum NEWS pg. 3
By James Shim, Daniella Rodriguez and David O’Hair SPORTS pg. 4
By Tosh Giles and Alex Belko OPINIONS pg. 6
By Amanda Navarrete, Edgar Momplaisir, Tosh Giles and Webbo Chen OPINIONS pg. 7
The Silverado Brewing Company is closing Nov. 25 after serving PUC students and locals alike since its July 2000 opening.
Recaps and updates from Pioneer sports as the volleyball, cross-country and soccer seasons come to an end.
Writers flesh out the pros and cons of the new program.
Winter, summer, spring and fall vie for popularity points.
Election Day Fever Hits PUC Campus
By Brooke Hiebert
This year, Pacific Union College implemented a new student health plan. This health plan covers all services under the health services and the career and counseling center, which together is now the health clinic.
“PUC health clinic is designed now to provide [students] with professional delivery of services,” said Michael Jefferson, Director of the career and counseling center.
This academic year, students will find that there is a medical doctor and a physician’s assistant available during the week at health services and a psychiatrist at the career and counseling center on Fridays. Students can receive prescriptions without leaving campus.
The 12-month plan (Sept. 1-Aug. 31) covers students while on campus or anywhere nationwide. When students are outside a 50-mile radius of PUC, they go to www.myfirsthealth.com, enter a zip code and select a doctor. However, when students are outside the 50-mile radius, they will still need to call in and get a referral from health services.
Last year, PUC spent between $100,000-200,000 in un-budgeted health care costs for students. When the California State Department of Health and Human Services said that health insurance companies needed to provide better plans for students, PUC reviewed many possible options and hypothesized that “we can do better,” as Gayln Bowers, director of human resources, said.
“Across the country many changes in health care are happening,” said Sandy Sargent, a registered nurse and director at health services. “Enrolled students may have carried their own plan in the past, but we found that in attempting
Jonathan Soto and several other students cast their votes at the fire department. Hollie Macomber
The new plan looks to expand the health clinic’s reach. Allison Regan
to provide comprehensive care many of these plans were not accepted in our area, creating a barrier to accessing necessary services.”
PUC is charging $600 a student per year. Though some feel the new fee is rather high, others argue that it is cheaper, as the average fee across the U.S. for student health coverage is between $850 and $950 a year.
Jefferson said that PUC spent months negotiating the terms for this plan, so that students are ultimately paying what an employee at the St. Helena Hospital would pay.
Between 50 and 70 percent of colleges and universities across America have health plans built into their tuition. Bowers said that instead of raising tuition, PUC decided to only implement the health plan costs. Tuition is typically raised four percent, but the health care costs only account for a two percent increase in costs.
Some health plans have coverage for St. Helena Hospital or the Queen of the Valley in Napa, but many have Kaiser Permanente. The nearest Kaiser hospital is in Vallejo or Santa Rosa, resulting in a longer drive to appointments. The new plan allows students to phone a nurse ready to give a quick triage and medical direction 24/7. Each health plan card carries the necessary phone number.
The clinic still offers free nurse check-ups and can contract with any doctor necessary. An appointment and fee is required to see the general practice physician and/or physician’s assistant, who are on-site daily.
Sargent added that, in the future, health services also hopes to include more specialized care options, such as physical therapy and massage, orthopedic care and gynecology.
Preventive care is also fully covered under this
plan. Vaccines, check-ups, immunizations and all other preventive services are at students’ disposal on campus. If ADHD, depression or other mental health conditions are suspected, students can make an appointment at the career and counseling center. These actions are all considered preventive care.
At the beginning of last year, PUC told students to show proof of insurance by the start of school. Bowers said that 70 percent of the student body didn’t respond to this. Thus everyone is being automatically enrolled in the plan, an action which is prompting students to better understand how health plans work.
Bowers called it an “opportunity to understand [yet] another component of their education process.”
Breaking Down the New PUC Health Plan
2 no. 3
NEWS & FEATURE
Meet the Senior Officers for the Class of 2013
Hollie Macomber, PresidentSonora, Calif.B.S., Social Studies & A.S., Photography
Plans after graduation?I am applying for the Student Miss ions program. ... After a year abroad, I plan on starting my MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching).
Most embarrassing moment in college?I was about ten minutes late to my very first college class because I didn’t know there was a walkway from the parking lot to the classrooms, so I walked around on the
road. When I finally did get to class, every seat was full so the teacher had me sit on the floor. At the time, I was mortified.
Risa Baroi, SecretaryLoma Linda, Calif.B.S., Business/Pre-Med
Plans after graduation?After graduation, I plan on spending a year doing missionary work in a hospital in India before beginning medical school.
Most embarrassing moment in college?[Once] my roommate and I got locked out on the balcony of the cafe. We didn’t have our phones with us so we had to yell for help, but people
thought we were yelling at them instead and looked at us as if we were crazy.
Matthew Frias, Chaplain Loma Linda, Calif.B.A., Theology
Plans after graduation?I’m hoping to have a conference call. ... I want to get my Masters in Divinity from Andrews University and later on work on my Doctorate in Ministry.
Most embarrassing moment in college?It was my first week as a freshman, and I just woke up in the middle of the night to go to the restroom. I was walking back to my room, and ... I realized
that it was the wrong room. Come to find out it was my RA’s room ... and it was my first time meeting him.
Krystal Aldred, HistorianSacramento/Modesto, Calif.B.S., Graphic Design & minor in Fine Art
Plans after graduation?Probably get a job. But as far as where, I don’t know. I plan on ... just applying everywhere and see what happens. I love this area, so I might just want to hang around.
Most embarrassing moment in college?I was drinking a Snapple (Mango Madness, I think), and I have a tendency to shake the bottle before I take a sip. So I picked up
the bottle and gave it a good shake, and unfortunately I forgot the lid was off, and needless to say, I [smelled] like mango for the rest of the day. Oops!
Paige Nielsen, Sergeant-at-ArmsNorth Hollywood, CAB.A., Spanish & A.S., Theater/Film
Plans after graduation?Get a job using my Spanish skills in a classroom or grad school.
Most embarrassing moment in college?Doing a Michael Jackson-inspired flash mob musical in the cafeteria. Yeah, that happened.
Eric Logan, ParliamentarianParadise, Calif.B.B.A., Accounting
Plans after graduation?Honestly, everything is up in the air right now. I will have a job after g r a d u a t i o n , a n d depending on where that job is, that is where I will live. I’m putting it in God’s hands once again.
Most embarrassing moment in college?Honestly, I can’t think of any. Perhaps I’ve shut them out of my mind.
Daniel Monnier, Executive Vice PresidentBakersfield, Calif.B.B.A. with emphasis in Accounting & Management
Plans after graduation?I aspire to have a career in the field of health administration. … After living in Grainger for four years, I’ll definitely be nostalgic once I move out. Nothing will replace those Grainger showers.
Most embarrassing moment in college?In a non-conference [basketball] game I was on the wrong end of an
alley-oop. It was a nasty dunk. I never should have been standing where I was. Unfortunately, I didn’t (still don’t) have the hops for payback. My teammates didn’t let me hear the end of it.
Carolina Meza, Social Vice President Oxnard, Calif.B.S., Psychology
Plans after graduation?I have always wanted to be a missionary, so I am considering going somewhere this coming year instead of going to graduate school right away.
Most embarrassing moment in college?As I was paying [in the cafeteria], I dropped my strawberry shortcake on the floor in front of the cashier. I just messed around saying, “I guess God did not want me
to have dessert today.” Since no one came to clean it up right away, I started cleaning it myself.
Oscar Villa, TreasurerSanta Paula, Calif.B.S., Business Administration
Plans after graduation?I am looking forward to getting a job after graduating. Not sure where yet, but wherever they take me, that’s where I’ll go. Preferably in California.
Most embarrassing moment in college?I don’t have a most embarrassing moment, but I do tend to be embarrassing almost on a daily basis.
Hollie Macomber and SA Photo Team
These officers will plan senior banquet, graduation and otherwise lead the senior class this year. Compiled by Giovanni Hashimoto
vol. LXXXIX 3THURSDAY, 15 November 2012
NEWS & FEATURE
Election Day continued from pg. 1Much to the relief of the PUC administration,
which campaigned heavily against what it believed to be a faulty piece of legislation, the measure did not pass, allowing the college to retain its current land designations. According to the Napa County’s tallies at 11:29 p.m. on Nov. 6, voters totaled 60.38% against the measure.
PUC President Heather Knight reported the results in an email to the college, saying she was “grateful and humbled” to bring the news to students, faculty, staff and the PUC Board of Trustees.
“For this incredible show of support, I personally and sincerely thank each one of you,” Knight continued. “We now look forward to working with all local residents, including Save Rural Angwin,
to preserve this special place that PUC has called home since 1909.”
In the weeks leading up to the election, Hagood the Student Senate and student services collaborated to make sure there were ample opportunities for students to participate in the election action. Voter registration forms were available at a booth in the cafeteria, and on the deciding day, Hagood and the student senators added patriotic décor to the Campus Center to go along with the televisions running day-long election coverage. Shuttles were also provided from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. to carry students from school to the voting station.
“I started my day with coffee and democracy,” said super senior Shanna Crumley, who arrived at the polling station at 8 a.m. A double major in intercultural communications and Spanish, Crumley took a special interest in this year’s election, as she will soon be a spring intern in Washington, D.C., at the Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration.
“Romney’s and Obama’s foreign policy positions directly affect the state department’s work,” Crumley said. “… As an intern … I’m going to get some exposure as to how they work through critical issues, and that will change based on who is in leadership.”
A total of 138 students took advantage of the offered shuttle services, while countless others took their own cars or mailed in absentee ballots to hometowns or states. Some cast their ballots for the very first time, having recently reached the minimum eligibility age for registered voters.
Dominic Young, a freshman studying political science and pre-law, was one of them.
“I did the whole Instagram and Facebook thing, taking pictures of my ballot and location,” said Young, who turned 18 this past May. “Being able to vote in this election meant a lot to me. ... I really enjoy politics because [it’s] all around us; it doesn’t just stay in the classroom.”
Freshmen weren’t the only ones experiencing new opportunities on Election Day. For many seniors, it was the first time they would be old enough to participate in a presidential election, as they were just under the required age during the 2008 campaign.
Senior Matt Frias, a 21-year-old theology major, found his Nov. 6 experience “more exciting” than the first time he voted in California’s 2010 gubernatorial elections.
“The things I voted for are actually affecting how I’ll live after college,” explained Frias. The Loma Linda native registered with the Napa County to be able to cast his vote on Measure U, an action that several other PUC students took as well.
After the polls closed, students watched the voting results in the Campus Center at a party hosted by the College Democrats club.
“Not to sound cliché, but it did hit me more this time that this is a privilege,” Crumley remarked. A recent summer mission trip to Argentina, she said, reinforced this thought. “I got to talk to people who didn’t have any say in their government. ... Just the fact that we can go to a poll without fearing for our lives or our family is a big deal.”
Nov. 6 brought many changes for the 50 states.Allison Regan
Silverado Brewing Company Announces Nov. 25th Closing
By Alex Blum
The Silverado Brewing Company is closing Nov. 25 after serving PUC students and locals alike since its July 2000 opening.
The business is co-owned and operated by two generations of the Fradelizio family. The other owner is brew-master and fourth-generation Napa Valley native Ken Mee.
Jennifer Fradelizio is currently a manager at Silverado Brewing Company and daughter of co-owner Michael Fradelizio. She spoke excitedly about menu items and assured that the restaurant would remain open until 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 25. Laughingly, she added that it looked as if the
The beloved burgers and soft drinks of SBC will bid farewell to the Napa Valley. Allison Regan
bar would not close until 2 a.m.When asked why the restaurant
is closing, her tone was less certain.Kendall Jackson Winery
has acted as landlord of the property since 2007. The winery has decided to buy out the restaurant’s lease for purposes that remain unknown. “[I] have a feeling they have a plan for the property, but [I] don’t know what it is,” commented Fradelizio.
Kendall Jackson owns the Silverado Brewing Company facility, including space that wraps around the parking lot area. The restaurant’s visible location on St. Helena Highway is a plus, attracting the attention of passersby. There is speculation that Jackson plans to move the Freemark Abbey Winery into the Silverado Brewing Company’s current location, as it is a more prominent position on Hwy 29.
Though popular for its burgers, salads and other specialties, the restaurant features a few standout dishes. Hot menu items are tied between the “absolutely amazing” lamb burger and fish and chips, which are a “very big seller,” according to Fradelizio.
In a showing of neighborhood approval, the lamb burger was voted “the winner in St. Helena’s Best Burger Battle.” The 2010 competition originated with eight self-appointed judges who got into a discussion one day on where to get a really good hamburger in the Napa Valley.
The Silverado Brewing Company’s name is commonly shortened to “SBC” by students who enjoy stopping by for an inexpensive sit-down meal.
“SBC is a great place to go to order a burger and watch a game,” said Benjamin Noirjean,
a student at PUC. “I’m sorry to hear that the restaurant is closing because it has such a great atmosphere and good service.”
In addition to sports games televised on large screens, the Silverado Brewing Company hosts a weekly trivia night each Tuesday. The lucky winners are rewarded with free food and beverages.
Management confirmed that 46 employees are currently employed at the Silverado Brewing Company. Of these employees, some are local high school and college students. The restaurant’s closing will impact these individuals as well as others invested in the business.
Customers of the successful and popular dining location have yet to hear of its replacement.
FRI
Showers
58°45°
SAT
Showers
59°41°
SUN
Few Showers
58°41°
MON
Cloudy
61°38°
TUES
Partly Cloudy
63°38°
WED
Partly Cloudy
62°38°
Weather ForcastA N G W I NTHURS
Mostly Cloudy
66°41°
“Thank God it’s almost Thanksgiving break!” Considering the gloomy weath-er and all of our massive to-do lists, that’s probably what’s going through your mind. Enjoy the weather wherever you go!
4 no. 3
SPORTS
By Brittany Brown, PUC Assistant Athletic Director
For their final race of the season, the Pioneers men’s and women’s cross-country teams traveled to Rocklin, Calif., to Wil-liam Jessup University. The teams competed in the Cal Pac’s eight-team regional championship on Nov. 2.
Both the women and men ran a course in the backland of Sacramento.
Even though both the men’s and women’s team placed seventh out of seven com-peting squads, Coach Philip Toohey made remarks as to the improvement of the team throughout the season. “The year ended with all winners,”
Toohey said. “Cross-country is a very personal sport, and across the board with team average we took almost five minutes off our team time from day one to the last.”
Sophomore Lindsey Hen-ning, who had the fastest time on the PUC team, ran her best race with an 8:02 pace on a three-mile course, almost a half-min-ute off her regular pace. Me-lissa Yong ran an 8:08 and Meena Kim came through the finish line with an 8:12.
On the men’s side, Uziel Barba, PUC’s fastest male in the race, came in first place with an average of 6:46. Right behind him was Evan Smith, with a nearly similar average of 6:47.
Later on in the race,
sophomore Wes Moore, who recently came off the injured list, was pulled by teammate Eliseo Canete to complete the course.
“My personal reason for running is that [although] you can read the Bible and know the word of God in-spired by men, where we run [in the woods behind PUC], well, this is the hand of God,” Toohey explained. “Our time together as the sun rises and our legs get warm around the second mile; well, I just would not miss it for the world. We are blessed as a team for abundance.”
PUC’s cross-country teams are officially done for the year, but there will be contin-ued training for a marathon set in March 2013 in Napa.
By James Shim
Second-year men’s basketball coach Kirt Brower and the Pioneers started their season home opener against non-conference opponent Southern Oregon University early Friday afternoon, Nov. 2.
The Pioneers were faced with a difficult task, as they had to play with essentially no depth on their bench. Due to NAIA rules, only nine out of the 18 players on the team were eligible to play. Among those eligible were new recruits Ben Vincent and Trevor Nogueira, as well as returning players Will Bell and Taureaus Maxwell.
The Pioneers started the first half on a positive note, as they kept the game competitive and within reach. They also played solid defense, as Will Bell had a ferocious block in the first half that got the crowd roaring. The team had a strong showing, as they closed out the first half with only a five-point deficit, trailing Southern Oregon, 41-36.
The second half was much the same, as the Pioneers continued to fight and keep the game competitive. As the game clock was ticking down, the Pioneers were dealt a blow when forward Derrick Brown sustained an injury that caused him to leave the game. His presence was missed, as he was one of the Pioneers’ most productive players that afternoon with 18 points and five rebounds.
The Pioneers’ lack of depth remained a challenge, as Southern Oregon was able to go on a scoring run with only a few minutes left on
the clock. The Pioneers made a strong effort to come back, but a well-timed time out by Southern Oregon allowed them to regroup and ultimately stop a last-minute comeback by the Pioneers.
Once the clock hit zero, the Pioneers fell to Southern Oregon, 87-76. Despite the loss, the Pioneers had a solid outing as four players were able to score in double digits. Nogueira and Vincent both had a strong outing, as Nogueira tied for the team high in points with 18, while Vincent had 13 points and seven rebounds.
“Ben Vincent and Trevor Nogueira both played their first games as college players,” Brower noted. “That’s a lot to put on freshmen, but they handled it well.”
Senior and team captain Bell also had a great all-around game, leading the team in rebounds with eight, to go along with his 12 points and two blocks.
The Pioneers had little time to rest, traveling to Oregon to face Oregon Institute of Technology on Sunday, Nov. 4.
After a slow first half, the Pioneers were out-rebounded 44-37 and also committed 19 turnovers. The team failed to mount a comeback as they dropped another game, 68-54.
Despite an early two losses, the Pioneers still have plenty of time to grow as a team and familiarize themselves with Coach Brower’s playbook before conference games begin on Jan. 12. Until then, the Pioneers must continue to use the remaining games before conference play as a
tune-up, and also use that time to grant eligibility to those who are still ineligible under NAIA rules.
Men’s Basketball: Pioneers Still Finding Chemistry
Men’s and Women’s Cross Country: Running Season Reaches Finish Line
Congratulations to the Intramural Champions!
Bob Paulson
PUC runner Evan Smith powers through the Sacramento woods in the Cal Pac regional championship. Pioneersathletics.com
Guard Will Bell scans the court for an open teammate in PUC’s showdown against Souther Oregon.
JJ Massey
Back, from left: Leo Moore, Matt Phelps, Daniel Monnier, Tim Giang, Jordan Monteith, Keith Hicks,
Aaron Jewett, Grayson Meadows. Front, from left: Dan-iel Rendon, Cameron Mitchell, Collin Smith,
Ryan Gullett, Max Magpayo.
Back, from left: Sym Valencia, Dana Yoon, Clarissa David, Krystal Park, Rachel Kaneakua,
Kristen Beall, Tarynn Machado. Front, from left: JoAnn Mauries, Erin Tablang, Caroline Kim, Janine Enriquez.
vol. LXXXIX 5THURSDAY, 15 November 2012
SPORTS
By Daniella Rodriguez
As the PUC Pioneers prepared to play their final four games, all the hard work, dedication and heart that was poured into the season was put to the test. On Oct. 21, the hard loss PUC took earlier in the season by the Menlo Oaks was by no means daunting to the Pioneers as they faced off once more, going in confident on their home turf. This time around, they started off strong as senior
Wagih Goda scored a goal within the first 10 minutes of the match. The team was ecstatic to score their first goal of the season; however, Menlo took the lead soon after and finished out the first half, 2-1. The Pioneers fell short in the second half as both Goda and goalie Mina Michael suffered minor injuries, and the Oaks scored three goals as the crowd counted down the final minutes of the game.
Just two days later, the team geared up to face the Cal State Maritime
By David O’Hair and James Shim
With the end of the season near, the wom-en’s volleyball team took on Simpson Univer-sity Oct. 27. The Pioneers competed well, los-ing in four sets, 11-25, 25-20, 17-25 and 22-25.
Although the Pioneers were off to a slow start in their first set, the women were able to regroup and win the second set easily. Strong blocking from Iyesha McNab and service streaks from both Alexandra Santanello and Jackie Davis led to an excellent set by the Pioneers.
Despite the great defensive efforts by senior Melissa Yong and freshman Sarah Cusick, who had 13 digs apiece, the Pioneers fell short as Simpson prevailed and secured overall victory in the fourth game. The night ended with Simp-son winning three games and PUC winning one.
The Pioneers played well, with sophomore Jenna Glantz leading the team with 13 kills. Right behind her were hitters Cusick and se-nior Calai Brown, as they posted six kills each.
Senior setter Lauren Woolley also had a great game, as she finished the match with 28 assists and one ace.
Coach Brown noted that, “We need to limit our errors and execute the little things. It is rough when you have two miscommunication errors in one set and lose by three points. We have to do everything well when games are that close.”
Women’s Volleyball: PUC Falls Just Short on Senior Night
Setter Lauren Woolley puts the ball in position for a potential kill from teammate and outside hitter Calai Brown.Allison Regan
Teammates and opponents watch defender Louis Molina on the brink of a kick.Allison Regan
Men’s Soccer: Final Whistle Sounds on Tough Season
After their loss at Simpson University, the Pioneers faced off against William Jes-sup University on senior night on Nov. 1.
Seniors Yong, Brown and Woolley played their final home game in the “Covered Wagon.” With a packed gym, the three seniors were recognized for their hard work and dedication over the past years. Unfortunately, the Pioneers just fell short as William Jessup was able to defeat the Pioneers in four close sets: 25-27, 21-25, 25-21 and 15-25.
William Jessup came out strong and took the first two games. In the first set, the Pio-neers had an 18-12 lead over the Warriors but could not finish the game, losing 25-27. With unforced errors at untimely moments, the Pio-
neers and the strong serving of Warriors’ senior Hannah Baldwin, Jessup closed set two, 25-21.
The Pioneers were able to win the third game with great play from Woolley and Glantz.
Despite their play in the third set, the Pi-oneers fell short in the fourth set, as they could not close out set four.
Glantz ended the match with a total of 16 kills and nine digs, while libero Yong posted 15 digs and Brown contributed with three blocks and four kills. Freshman Nathalie Rojas had a strong match stepping in for the injured McNab with six kills and two blocks. Woolley contrib-uted with three aces and 32 assists for the night.
Keelhaulers for the second and last time this season. The team strong-ly held their defensive position by continuously guarding against 24 total shots on goal from the oppos-ing team, and pushed forward with their own shots on goal from Mina Botros, David Ramos and Goda. Despite the clear heart and soul that the Pioneers put onto the field, they returned home with a 2-0 loss.
“Persistence and dedication even in the eyes of defeat is important, and I think that just keeping our heads up was one of the hardest lessons,” said senior defender Randy Castanaza, who has long been one of the team’s biggest anchors. Castanaza continu-ally cited his teammates’ dedication and intensity throughout the year regardless of the record or score.
Excitement returned for the final home game of the season, bringing a huge crowd down to the PUC field to watch the Pioneers battle against the William Jessup Warriors. As senior players Amgad Ramzy, Castanaza and Goda prepared themselves for the last time they would play on the PUC field (senior Jean-Pierre Tan will return next year), fans cheered and enthusiasm brewed among the players. The Pioneers started the first
half slowly and lethargically, with two players injured within the first 15 minutes. In the second half, how-ever, the team turned it up to full blast as defensive player Truman Chung returned to the field and the rest of the players returned to life, increasing their shots on goal to a total of 10 ver-sus Jessup’s 8. However, the Pioneers ended the game with a loss of 2-0.
Oct. 31 brought the final game of the season. A cold, rainy day, a reduced roster and the weariness of a hard season left the Pioneers drained for their grand finale against the Simpson University Red Hawks. Despite all the obstacles, the team managed to score a season high of two goals—one by junior midfielder Ramos and the other by sophomore Joseph Cruz—and defend against 19 shots on goal by the Red Hawks. A significant improvement over their previous Simpson match, the Pioneers ended their season with a 6-2 loss and a cel-ebratory meal at Hometown Buffet.
“One of the things I’m really looking forward to next year is just being with the guys again,” said Tan. “Next year I expect there to be a little bit more ex-perience out on the field, so hopefully we’ll produce some better results.”
6 no. 3
OPINIONS & EDITORIALS
PUC’s New Student Health Plan: The Downside
PUC’s New Student Health Plan: The Upside
By Alex Belko
With the new school year came a class of new students and a new health insurance policy provided by PUC.
Now, having health insurance is a mandatory policy that President Obama has implemented across the United States. It has been approved by the Supreme Court and has since been a common debate topic in politics and in most people’s ev-eryday lives. I’d like to bring up some issues that arose with PUC’s new health insurance plan. After casually talking to PUC students, I found that most seem to be asking the same question: “Why do I have to pay for another health insurance plan when I already have coverage under my parents’ health insurance plan?” That is a very good question, and I myself am wondering the same thing. Talking with my father, a health insurance actuary who works for Blue Shield, raised many more questions.
This new health insurance is at least going to somewhat benefit those without health insur-ance and will bring them a sense of security. It is definitely necessary for those without in-surance to now have some coverage, but my question is, why make those with health insur-ance already purchase a new health insurance plan? In my opinion it is simply unnecessary.
Along with this, the health insurance that PUC provides is self-funded. The Affordable Care Act directly states that “as of this posting, coverage provided under self-funded plans does not satisfy
the individual mandate for insurance coverage; however, further advocacy efforts are underway.”* What I take this to mean is that the health insur-ance that PUC provides is technically not good enough or not even defined as health insurance since it is self-funded insurance. So, all those people without health insurance already now have insur-ance that is insufficient under the federal mandate.
Some may say that this new coverage is better than most people’s existing coverage. I see this statement as very troubling when you look at what the plan actually covers and doesn’t cover. For example, ac-cording to PUC’s health insurance, the plan does not cover “injury sustained while (a) participating in any interscholastic, intercollegiate, or profes-sional sport, contest, or competition; (b) traveling to or from such sport, contest, or competition as a participant; or (c) while participating in any prac-tice or conditioning program for such sport, con-test or competition.” The plan also does not cover dental examinations, eye examinations, injections, birth control and sleep disorders, to name a few.
Furthermore, PUC’s plan is an unnecessarily added expense for some families that my father and I believe has the potential to get worse. During the 2011–2012 school year, PUC was proud to inform parents and students that tuition, room and board would not increase for the next school year, which clearly implies “no cost increase.” PUC seemed to omit the added cost of a mandated health plan. An-other fault of this health plan was that PUC did not
notify families until late July, providing a postcard that I feel put an inaccurate spin on the coverage.
Overall, this new health care plan is simply unnecessary for those with health insurance al-ready. On top of this, the health insurance that some students already have is definitely better than this insurance, from what I can gather. To take it even further, the insurance that PUC provides now is not considered proper health coverage according to the Affordable Care Act.
PUC is an academic institution, not an insurance provider, and it’s a concern to blindly jump into the individual health insurance business without fully understanding the significant cost exposure. I can only hope PUC has engaged benefit consul-tants about this issue and specifically discussed with health care actuaries the inherent financial risks associated with individual health insur-ance. Do not force parents and students already struggling to pay tuition to unnecessarily throw away $600 per student per year. Once again, my father, who is a health insurance actuary, is will-ing to answer any questions people may have. His email is [email protected]
*See: http://www.acha.org/Topics/Af-fordable_Care_Act/Summary_of_FAQs_for_IndividualCoverageClassification.cfm
By Tosh Giles
This year, students returned to PUC to find they are now covered under the new Student Health Plan. Many students are already covered by their parents’ insurance, so this came as a surprise because they don’t need the medical coverage. For other students, this was a blessing, as it eliminated the extra expense of paying for their own coverage. For others, it meant coverage for the first time. Though some have protested the new plan, in my opinion it is incredibly beneficial.
To make this plan possible, PUC capitalized on relationships with lo-cal health care providers to establish contracts with all students to take advantage of medical services at what I view as a greatly reduced rate. These relationships make it possible for every student to be included in the health plan for less then a two percent increase in tuition, a minuscule cost, considering the benefit offered. In fact, for the first time since 1984, tuition was not increased, despite this new school-wide heath plan being added.
While an additional tuition charge of $600 is now listed on the PUC website, I looked through my school records to investigate the actual charges being added to my account, as well as comparing prices provided by National Center for Educational Statistics (nces.ed.gov), and found
that cost has not really changed.As Gayln Bowers, the director of
Human Resources, has pointed out, in the past, students were required to provide proof of insurance coverage to Health Services, although most never did. Additionally, those who could not provide proof of cover-age were required to pay for a per-sonal insurance plan from an out-side provider. Often the cost of the deductible alone was high enough to end a student’s college career.
Every student must be covered by some insurance, but students failure to provide proof of coverage made it necessary for PUC to purchase outside coverage, much like um-brella insurance. This cost has always been reflected in tuition prices, but never listed as a separate cost. The new Student Health Plan simply re-placed this previous expense with coverage that actually provides stu-dents with care for relatively minor illness rather than only in urgent, major and unexpected circumstances.
According to the plan, all students, including foreign and married stu-dents and those over the age of 26, receive equal coverage. Visits to a general practitioner do not require a deductible, something very few plans provide. So, the next time your room-mate has a stomach flu, head cold or migraine, they have no excuse to avoid a checkup or getting medication. If
the visit requires additional tests or medications, the only thing charged is a $5 co-pay. You will no longer have to listen to them complain and sniffle through the night or remind them to clean up their used tissues.
To add even more value, mental health and behavioral coverage is included. Treatment for everything from learning disabilities to depres-sion, anxiety and personality disor-ders is fully covered. This offers a school-wide benefit by supporting the morale of the student body as a whole.
To make this more personal, I will explain how the health plan has im-proved my life. I have never had the means to deal with my ADHD un-til now, at the age of 25. Last year, like other students in the past, I was faced with two options–drop out of college or pay for treatment out of pocket. Office visit ranged from $75-150 a month, with prescrip-tions matching this cost. Under the Student Health Plan, my treatment is free, and medication costs an af-fordable $10. Within a matter of months, my treatment costs will out-weigh what I pay PUC for coverage.
Here’s another example. Let’s say I catch a flu that comes anywhere close to what I had last winter. I will no longer have to tough it out while almost passing out during a final after barely finishing the hike from Brookside Park to Irwin Hall.
I will not be forced to sneeze and cough incessantly in class, exposing classmates to my terrible affliction so that I can avoid retaking an entire quarter of classes. Instead, I can get treatment. For a grand sum of $5, I will be able to see a physician, on campus, who can prescribe the an-tibiotics needed to bring my flu to a manageable, non-contagious level.
Please allow me to encourage you not to look at the health plan as an extra expense with little per-sonal benefit. Rather, see it as an updated, more inclusive method of keeping the student population free of disease and distress, and all at no additional cost to tuition.
Cheers to a healthier, happier PUC. For more information, visit:
http://www.puc.edu/campus-ser vices/student-health-plan
The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the writers. They do not reflect the views of the Campus Chronicle in any way.
vol. LXXXIX 7THURSDAY, 15 November 2012
By Webbo Chen
Disregarding all you read about spring, summer and fall, allow me to walk you through a wonderland of a season.
Imagine a season of no allergies. It’s a comfortable season. It’s a season of predictable weather. This season is winter, and winter is the best!
Winter is a sight for sore eyes and a symphony for the ears, providing beautiful landscapes of snow and fog along with the soothing sound of rain. Imagine snuggling up under heaps of blankets, steamy beverage in hand, while watching a nice warm fire. Or, for all you snowboarders and skiers, how about enjoying that scrumptious bread bowl of chili or chowder after shredding up the slopes?
Please don’t even get me started on Christmas. Only winter can provide us Christmas music’s sweet invasion of the radio, decorations lining the streets and stores and the “feel good” sensation with which the Christmas spirit warms our hearts. Well, I guess if you live in the Southern Hemisphere, you must settle for a swimsuit Santa riding a surfboard pulled by dolphins. Fortunately, we northern folk get the real North Pole deal.
Winter is a hard act to follow. Spring brings allergies, and nobody likes allergies. I’ll concede that the motif of new life with chirping baby birds is sweet and all, but the allergies that tag
along make the chicks so not worth it.Sure, cynics will say the winter
cold inhibits us from enjoying our day. However, these cynics forget that the summer heat is even more ridiculous in the same respect. The colder it gets, the more clothes we wear. The hotter it gets, well, we can only go so far before it becomes indecent exposure. Modest is hottest!
Although winter is cold all day every day, at least we know what to expect. Fall, on the other hand, is ridiculously unpredictable. Some days are as sunny as summer and others as cloudy as winter. Heck, fall won’t even hesitate to give you both seasons in the same day. Fall is so two-faced that it even has two names, as if one is not enough.
I’ll admit that I haven’t started watching Game of Thrones, but boy, have I heard stories. One of the most epic quotes from this show fails to work with any other season. Spring is not coming, neither is summer, fall or autumn. “Winter is coming” my friends, and if you don’t like it, then may the good Lord have mercy on your soul while we fans of winter laugh at your misery.
By Edgar Momplaisir
When talking about the greatest sea-son, it’s a no brainer. We’re not talking about armpit stains and mosquito bites or terribly dark, cold days until a groundhog says so. When talking about the greatest season, it’s spring.
Think about it. After a dead winter, life starts to bloom. Color returns to our blank lives. The flowers blos-som, the sun hangs out more and beautiful birds follow you singing as the entire town breaks into song.
Okay, maybe that was too much. But spring is a time of rejuvenation. We dump that excess from winter. Like the special someone who dumped us on December 24 but came back February 15 or the duster jacket you bought because you looked “rad” but you just ended up getting pneumonia! We wash it all over with showers. And like that teacher pointlessly told you, “April rain brings May flowers.”
Spring has the best celebrations. Sure, there’s that Fourth of July thing and some people still go to Warped Tour because “they’re keep-ing the hardcore movement alive.” But that can’t match undead rappers at Coachella, Mardi Gras (only for
music) and Easter! Easter gets wild! My church shows the most awesome movie. The dude lives in the end!
Just like its colors, spring is lively. It’s a time of rebirth and moving forward. Throw the pigskin around if you say stuff like that, go to Berryessa and spend the entire time on your iPhone instagramming it, count down the days until you are out of school to count down the days you come back. Or if you’re a senior, count down the days till job searches and loan bills. Actually, don’t think about that. It’s
OPINIONS & EDITORIALS
By Amanda Navarrete
This season is so great that it has two names. Let’s start with the leaves. After months of the same colored leaves, summer can get a little old. Midway through September though, you’ll notice those green trees have a splash of red, orange and yellow that start to cover the ground be-low. And who doesn’t love a big pile of crunchy leaves to jump into?
The sun still makes an appearance for that daily dose of vitamin D, but a chilly breeze saves you from sweat-
drenched clothes. The mild weather is even better without those dreaded allergies that flourish in the spring.
For those who mourn the end of summer barbecues, fall-themed food makes coping much less pain-ful. Drown your sorrow in a bowl of mashed potatoes or a slice of pecan pie. Whatever the choice, a cozy sweater makes it easier to hide the effects of the abundance of comfort food and endless cups of pumpkin spice lattes.
Autumn has the best food holidays–whether you’ve got a massive sweet tooth (Halloween) or enjoy inducing yourself in a food coma while watch-ing some football (Thanksgiving).
Speaking of which, sports fans can rejoice with football and bas-ketball seasons starting. Sud-denly, Mondays got a little easier.
Overall, fall tops all the other seasons in the weather, food, fash-ion and sports categories. If you like good things, you like fall.
By Tosh Giles
Remember being a kid on summer break, running free, staying up late to watch movies and swimming in the pool with friends? And, in high school, borrowing the car and go to a movie or the beach. Even now, there is still time to attend music festivals, take road trips and BBQ on a warm evening.
As the spring rain finally disappears, the need for those annoying extra layers of clothing does too. Flip-flops, shorts and t-shirts are finally back! There is no need to remember a jacket or umbrella. A towel might be needed, but only if you’re afraid of air drying after catching a wave at the beach.
Louis Armstrong says it best in “Summer Song,” with “love... is like a summer day... still and warm and peaceful.” The only thing missing is ‘long and beautiful.’ Allow me to explain.
Summer mornings are calm and quiet, the perfect time to sit on the patio and sip coffee before beginning your day. As the sun warms your entire body, your mind has time to slowly wake. There is no need to rush, you have plenty of time. You
Four-Season Showdown: It’s That Time of the YearMorning sun, afternoon hail? The fickle weather at PUC prompts the debate: which season is the best of them all? Our writers make their cases.
don’t have to get up while it’s still dark at 8 a.m. in December. And if the sun comes out at all in those winter months, it disappears by 5 p.m., leaving the world cold and dark.
Your day offers extended daylight, meaning more daylight to pack in fun activities around your daily responsibilities. Sunshine also helps the body produce vitamin D, which builds the immune system, wards off depression, builds better health and lowers stress-causing hormones.
Everyone knows that feeling of driving with the windows down as the wind in your face wisps away your cares while summer classics like The Beach Boys, Katy Perry, Vampire Weekend or Kaskade blast through the speakers.
When the evening arrives, it’s time to relax on the patio or by the pool again. As Sublime says, “summertime, and the livin’s easy.” Grab something cold to drink and enjoy those perfect mid-70s temperatures. And have no fear, the fun is not over. Walk the streets of town, go out dancing or find a small outdoor concert. For the romantics, there’s evening walks, breathtaking sunsets, bonfires and stargazing. The possibilities are endless.
Whatever your fancy may be, whether it’s a trip to Hawaii, sun tanning by the pool or dancing through the night, summer is the reason I can live through the grey, rain-filled days of the other season. The end of summer means returning to the daily grind. No one wants that.
SPRING
SUMMER
WINTER
FALL
8 no. 3
Fall break has finally come, and with it; new movies. Check out these two highly anticipated films set for release during PUC’s fall recess. Compiled by Nic Miller.
Happy Thanks-giving!
Fancy Turkey Art Challenge!
It is Thanksgiving. Therefore there has to be some sort of art project involving the delicious fowl. Using the turkey outline below as a base, create a masterpiece. There is no limit on what you can do with your turkey. Color it, paint it, fold it, cut it. Make it your turkey. Post a photo of your completed piece on our Facebook wall by the end of Thanksgiving day for a chance to win awesome prizes. Ready? Go!
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Fall Music PicksMelancholy Fall PlaylistWinter’s chill and ominous fog have silently crept into our mountain abode bringing a transition in apparel, mood, and music choice. Presented for your enjoyment today: a playlist best suited for a slow, rainy day. Head on over the Chronicle’s website to listen to the full-length tracks.
A Not So Silent Night ConcertFeatured bands include: The Killers, The Shins, Metric, Two Door Cinema Club, M83, Passion Pit, Imagine Dragons and more. December 7-8, Oakland, $65 Check live105.com
Just Hit PlayFall Movie PicksThe Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Pt. II Nov. 16Whether you love it or you hate it, part deux of the conclusion to Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series lands in theaters.
Life of Pi - Nov. 23The book-turned-movie just may be the next big, rendered wonder. Will the film hold true to the novel? See for yourself.
“Batman - The Dark Knight...in real life”This Youtube video proves anyone can make a Batman sequel.
Check out our Melancholy Fall Playlist on Spotify here!
