So Long, Simon Care!

In the Midwest, an important electoral battle ground territory, one public university reversed its health mandate just days prior to the big decision from Washington. Lou Anna K. Simon, president of Michigan State University, announced that students will no longer have to purchase insurance as a condition of enrollment. MSU made the right move while Washington continues down uncharted territory.

The Supreme Court’s much-anticipated ruling on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act – better known as Obama Care – upheld the polarizing piece of legislation, by a judicial tally of 5-4.

On the flip side, MSU has voluntarily opted to rollback its student health care mandate.

Freshman students, as of this past spring semester, were required to show proof of health insurance or pay an annual fee of $1,505.

President Simon, who once thought that the nation’s ninth largest campus ought to concern itself with the medical insurance market, announced the policy reversal June 25. This past February, the administration heavily defended the measure in the legislature. Despite vast public outcry, the State News reports Simon instead claiming that MSU does “not have a relationship with a hospital that would permit” coverage.

A student-led initiative spearheaded by activist Nick Kowalski, chairman of MSU Campus Conservatives, got the ball rolling. He first wrote about the outrageous policy on his blog and the College Conservative. An email and call-in campaign followed, whereby folks were directed to express their grievances with the administration.

Evidently, government overreach into individuals’ private lives strikes a chord with America. The repeal of the real deal is forthcoming.

MSU Students Say N-O to Spartan Care

 

As the U. S. Supreme Court mulls over a decision on the constitutionality of the health care mandate, one collegiate executive plans to implement it anyway.

 

Michigan State University president Lou Anna K. Simon fully supports an insurance authorization for current freshman and incoming students. The uninsured are automatically roped into a $1,505 per-year school-sponsored plan. To date, around 700 students have been forcibly charged the fee as a matter of continued enrollment.

 

On behalf of students’ rights, several factions stand in opposition.
Part of a joint effort, a pair of officially recognized organizations – Campus Conservatives and Students for Life – sent a letter this week to President Simon highlighting the faults of the ill-advised policy. The mandate will “place an unnecessary financial strain on students who are already suffering from high costs of tuition, student debt, and an economic recession. “ “It is not the role of the university administration to dictate the health care of students,” continues the letter.

 
The editorial board articles of late sum up the point. On March 26, the piece entitled “Mandatory health care ails students” describes the detrimental consequences of the authoritative scheme. Spartan Care will add “another large cost to college bills, and it’s just giving students another fee to worry about paying on top of the expensive price of college to begin with.”

 

Republican lawmakers have also voiced their concern. State Representative Bob Genetski, who chairs the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education, expressed an issue with the legality of the measure: “It sounds like the early onset of Obamacare and I don’t know that that’s their right to put it in” (MichiganRadio.org). House Republicans are advocating for students while counteracting President Simon’s misguided views. However, public funding may be lowered if MSU fails to alter its stance. “It’s unreasonable that MSU is forcing some students to pay for required health insurance,” proclaims The State News, “[b]ut the university obviously isn’t too concerned with students’ opinion on the matter, seeing as they likely will give up funding to keep the health care that many students don’t want or need.”

 

The hefty health care fine could determine key academic decisions. It is nearly equivalent to an additional four-credit hour course for an in-state lower division student. Promising students may consider attending an alternative school (i.e. as Western Michigan, Central Michigan, Grand Valley State, or Wayne State) due to the added cost of living. “We are concerned that this mandate will drive potential applicants away from Michigan State University and discriminate against our current student body,” declares the letter.

 

Whether for financial gain or petty political points, or both, Spartan Care does not belong at MSU. Top-down rule by decree is wrong for the student community and it is wrong for America.

Simon Says: Spartan Care for All!

The administrative bureaucracy is at it again. As of next fall, Michigan State University is mandating that each of its nearly 48,000 students purchase health care insurance.

That is right, folks, the People’s Republic of Sparty is carrying water for Obama, the looming Supreme Court ruling notwithstanding.

But that cannot be true, can it? Look no further than this excerpt from the student government propaganda piece to find out:

Spartans, did you know that beginning this 2012-2013 academic year, all students enrolled in MSU will be required to have health insurance? It is important to be aware of the upcoming changes and make sure that we are prepared. MSU offers a student health insurance plan through Aetna which has good coverage but it is important to know that you have options. ASMSU offers you affordable, quality alternatives which provide the coverage you that need and at a prices that you want [sic]. In a side-by-side comparison our plans, including the ISP plan is the best option for both affordability as well as range and flexibility of coverage.

These plans are customizable to the student and whether you are an international student or looking to get off your parents insurance, we can help you find what you are looking for. If you have any questions, concerns or need help getting started, contact the ASMSU Health Intern atspartanhealth@asmsu.msu.edu. We are committed to connecting students with their options, and ensuring that we bring to student attention those alternative options which are competitive in affordability without sacrificing health coverage.

See what I mean? Even the student newspaper editorial board is against the terrible measure.

If we are compelled to abide by the arbitrary policy preferences of elite administrators, who is to say we won’t be forced to use birth control? Women must be on the pill, men have vasectomies. There is no stopping the madness.

And that is not all. ASMSU, the student government assemblage, is pursuing a resolution to encourage gender-neutral housing assignments on campus. The male-female dichotomy is becoming blurred in East Lansing. What’s next? Gender-neutral restrooms could be on the horizon.

Students will be prevented from enrolling in courses merely because of their lacking the purchase of a service. Education takes a back seat to the liberal-regressive agenda.

Tyrannical rule from the top-down is wrong for the student community – and it is wrong for America. Apparently President Lou Anna K. Simon does not believe in individual liberty.