By Wilson Cannon | Guest Writer

Over the course of Spring Break, while many students relaxed in the sun, members of APSU’s chapter of the Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society stood on the State Senate floor to receive a special honor. As part of a joint resolution, the society was presented a framed proclamation to recognize their award for best chapter 2009.

“It was thrilling,” said Minoa Uffelman, the organizations faculty adviser. Uffelman and a small group of students and faculty traveled to Nashville on Thursday, March 11, to receive this special honor. The framed proclamation will soon be on permanent display in Harned Hall.

Out of several hundred chapters APSU was selected as best in their size division for 2009. Phi Alpha Theta had sponsored several events that year, including the hosting of two annual history conferences.

The History Honor Society is a social and academic organization that promotes the study of history through research and teaching. Students interested in joining must complete 12 hours of History with a 3.1 GPA. The society takes an active role on campus; taking part in several APSU events like G.H.O.S.T. and Plant the Campus Red, as well as private functions such as round table discussions with faculty.

David Nelson serves as assistant advisor for the organization. “It was a great experience,” Nelson said. “It was the first time I had been on the floor. I was surprised how small the room was; it seemed so

Nelson feels the award and state recognition will help bring attention to APSU and its achievements. When asked if the society will go for best chapter again this year he said, “Yes, we’re getting ready.”

By Greg Rabidoux

The debate over health care reform started with over-heated town hall meetings, many punctuated with loud, angry outbursts.

It ended with an ugly confrontation between Tea Party protesters and several Members of Congress on the west front of the U. S. Capitol. In the middle was an often bitter discussion over the future health of our nation.

Late Sunday, March 21, the U. S. House of Representatives, by a narrow vote (219-212), passed sweeping health care reform legislation. Far from perfect, it is a major step towards fixing our broken health care system.

The new law will greatly alter our system of care and provide coverage to millions of uninsured Americans. It seems destined to sit alongside the historic 1965 Medicare program in both its meaning and scope.

The debate itself was long (over a year), often fraught with deliberate distortions (“death panels” anyone?) and seemed a lifetime removed from the last time the subject was broached (“Hillarycare” is now Madame Secretary of State).

But before the pundits and prognosticators start obsessing about who won, who lost and the political price of passage (here in Tennessee, Democratic representatives Cooper, Gordon and Cohen voted for, their fellow Democrats Tanner and Davis against, and Republicans Wamp, Blackburn, Roe and Duncan against), let’s take a brief look at what this legislation will actually mean.

Nationally, the reform will eliminate pre-existing conditions as a reason for denial of coverage, close the Medicare “donut hole” for seniors, make recision the practice of dropping individuals once they get sick, unlawful, create an exchange where individuals can purchase policies and finally provide coverage to millions of currently uninsured Americans. In Tennessee alone, roughly 900,000 Tennesseans will no longer be without any basic health care coverage.

In Tennessee’s Congressional District 7, where I am a candidate for U. S. Congress, reform means improved coverage for over 500,000 residents, tax credits for up to 150,000 families and 13,200 small businesses to help with coverage and nearly 100,000 Medicare beneficiaries will no longer endure the huge gap between drug costs and subsidies.

Additionally, about 9,000 residents with pre-existing conditions will no longer be denied care and nearly 50,000 students will now be able to obtain coverage on their parents’ insurance plans. There will also be funding for 12 community health centers in the district and the cost of uncompensated care will be reduced by an estimated $42 million annually.

But perhaps just as importantly, tragedies like the parents of a little boy locally who had to hold a barbecue to try and raise funds to pay off their several hundred thousand dollar debt they had incurred due to his pre-existing illness and denial of coverage, will be a thing of the past.

My opponent, Marsha Blackburn called the passage of the bill in part a “death to freedom.” The only thing that died a bit more Sunday, March 21, was reasoned and informed debate. That seems to happen a lot when Mrs. Blackburn weighs in on important national matters.
Ironic really, since this reform will mean a renewed chance at life for so many Americans and Tennesseans who desperately need it.

By Jenelle Grewell | Assistant News Editor

The new Tennessee law to allow handguns to be carried by handgun-carry permit holders in parks, Public Chapter 428, went into affect Tuesday, Sept. 1. The Associated Press reported 70 cities across Tennessee have decided not to pass the new new Tennessee law.

Clarksville was one of the cities to opt out of the law in July. A month after Clarksville chose not to pass the law, City Council members struck down a resolution to repeal the ban proposed by Fourth Ward Councilman Wallace Redd.

Lance Biles, APSU director of Public Safety, said the law would not affect APSU campus. “The laws about guns on campus did not change,” Biles said.

The Associated Press went on to report a second vote on the new law after Clarksville Police Department Deputy Chief Mike Parr said 58 of the more than 13,000 crimes committed in Clarksville last year were committed in parks.

Supporters of the ban say it will protect park users, especially children. However, opponents say the ban will create a patchwork of rules that ruin the law’s intention, which is to make it possible for people with licenses to have more freedom in carrying guns into more public places.

“Any time you have a weapon, it gives you more reason to abuse them,” Biles said.

Some APSU students shared Biles’ concern. Robert Gallowitz, a sophomore marketing major said, “I think the law will cause more problems and that it is unnecessary to have hand guns in parks.”

Brooklyn Singleton, a freshman undecided major said everyone has a right to bear arms and doesn’t see the big deal.

“If people are concerned about the safety of children then they shouldn’t want guns to be carried, period, because children are not only in parks,” Singleton said.

It was also reported that with so many cities opting out of the new law, people in support of the law are pressing lawmakers to take the decision out of the hands of local city governments and up to the state.

“I think the decision should be left up to the state. [Allowing guns in parks] would just cause mass confusion from state to state,” Gallowitz said.

Richard Locker of the Memphis Commercial Appeal wrote on the newspaper’s Web site, www.commercialappeal.com, that he hopes Governor Phil Bredesen will do his part to urge legislature to “roll back some of the gun laws it passed this year at the urging,” he said, “of a relatively few but passionate people.”

Biles said this law would probably never affect the APSU campus. He said such a law is unnecessary when the campus has such a dedicated security force.

For the complete list of Handgun Carry Permit T.C.A. codes, log on to www.tennessee.gov/safety/handgun/handguntca.htm.

– Jenelle Grewell, Assistant News Editor

By Marlon Scott | News Editor

Zach Wamp, Republican Congressman for the 3rd District of Tennessee, is campaigning to become governor in 2010. Last month the Chattanooga native embarked on his 20/20 Vision Tour. The tour covered nearly 4,000 miles and 27 cities in Tennessee. The large red bus with Wamp’s visage even made a stop at APSU.

“I continue to be surprised by the new things that I learn. Physics at Austin Peay, for example, I didn’t know that,” Wamp said. “That’s why good campaigns make for better law makers and leaders. Because if a good campaign means your out there asking questions and learning, then you are just preparing yourself to serve.”

Described as a “common sense conservative” on his Web site (www.house.gov/wamp/biography.shtm), Wamp served in Congress for 15 years before his campaign for governor began. His legislative accomplishments include taking steps to improve education by co-authoring the Fitness Integrated with Teaching (FIT) Kids Act and also establishing the Tennessee Valley Technology Corridor.

As a candidate for governor, Wamp continues to support education, citing it as the key to success after graduation. He has specific goals he wishes to achieve in education if elected governor.

“You will improve our standing, the bottom line, the end result and education in general if we start reading better,” Wamp said. “It takes a coordinated effort from top to bottom and you have got to engage everybody from foundations to local governments to daycare and child care centers. But it starts with the governor saying that basic reading is going to be job one in public education.”

When asked about the fears expressed by most college students including constantly improving school costs and unemployment after graduation, Wamp said, “A lot of students that I have represented have said ‘Would this be a good time for me to get another degree or stay in school and get a graduate degree?’ and I am honest with them and say ‘yes.’ If you can, do it, this is the time to do it. You retool when the job market is difficult and continue to expand your education because it is a good time frankly.”

The focus of Wamp’s 20/20 Vision campaign is preparing Tennessee for the future. He asks Tennesseans what they want Tennessee to be in the year 2020.

“The 20/20 Vision came out of my heart because every generation, I think a governor needs to surface that has a long term agenda,” Wamp said. “Not just managing today’s problems.”

Wamp’s stance on issues and the last stops on his 20/20 Vision tour can be found at www.ZachWamp.com.
He and his wife, Kim, have two children in college: their son, Weston, and daughter, Coty.

– Marlon Scott, News Editor