Newspapers / Meredith College Student Newspaper / April 1, 1998, edition 1 / Page 2
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Meredith Heratd April 1,1998 Campus News Allegations against graduation speaker explained Beth Hall News Editor Aviator and Mereditb com mencement speaker for May ‘98 Liiida Finch said in a statement that allegations of violations at two Texas nursing homes she owned were brought on by pub licity surrounding her after slie completed Amelia Earhart’s intended journey. One concern was about the death of a 91 -year old resident of Pecan Grove Nursing Home in Austin. According to her statement, the resident’s death was not (he result of negligence. She says diat his death certificate and die emergency room physician testi fy that the resident died from his worsened condition due to a uri nary tract infection and diabetes (which he had when he was admitted to the nursing home). Finch said in her statement, “Pecan Grove did receive a defi ciency for an administrative problem—failure to properly record blood sugar tests—but tlie quality of care was always good, as the resident’s doctor attested. There was notliing Pecan Grove could have done to prevent his death. 1 will condnue to remem ber him and his family in my prayers.” model Earhart had flown, on the same around-tbe-equator route Earhart had begun when she van- As of June 3,1997, the date of Finch’s statement. Pecan Grove liad not been notified of any pending action regarding the incident. The other issue dealt v;idi a 1994 inspection of the Dublin Nursing Center. Finch said that all inspec tion violations were promptly solved. “While I maintained operation of the home," said Finch, “the State sent a trustee to observe, a role i also have been asked to play at other nursing homes. At the end of that time, I invited die Department of Human Services back to Dublin. Not only did they agree that the problems bad been corrected, they gave us the highest rating the State can award to a nursing home. They found no fmancial speaker at penalties were warranted commencement on May 10, 1998. and die matter was closed.” Finch, who began invest ing in nursing homes in 1979, believes that the publicity of these allegations coincides with the publicity she received afier completing Amelia Earhart’s fabled, ill-fated journey. Finch set off Mar. 17, 1997, in a rare Lockheed Electra lOE, the same Promotional Photo islicd in 1937. Altliough other women have circumnavigated the globe (the first was Geraldine Mock in 1964), iMUch was tlie first to complete tiie flight in a I-ockheed Electra lOE. Her plane, which she restored herself, is oitf of the only two left in exis tence (only 15 were ever pro duced). Her journey, called World Flight 1997, became die central part of a compre hensive education outreach program she developed that reached millions of school students. Finch now speaks all over the world, sharing her adventure and dis cussing what she feels is Earhart’s legacy. She was quoted in a Wall Street Journal article as saying. “My mission is Amelia’s— to remind everyone diat no one has to setUe for a small life.” Finch said that none of the allegations were a pub lic issue until press cover age of the World Right began. “The Attorney General’s office fded a lawsuit against the partner ship (hat owns the facility, not against me personally,” said Finch. “Wliile 1 was traveling on World Right die lawsuit was amended to include me personally.” According to an article in People Magazine (Dec. 29,1997/Jan. 5, 1998), “awards poured in” to Finch after she completed her journey. One award for $10,000 allowed Finch to endow a school in Calcutta. “It saddens me tliat, only after the tremendous response we received from successfully com pleting World Right on May 28, the Attorney General’s office chose to disclose information regarding tliis lawsuit,” I-incli said in her statement. “It was obviously a way to capitalize on her popularity,” said John Truran, a marketing director at Keppler Associates Inc., Finch’s agency. “I’m not sure of the final settlement. I diiiik she has divested in nursing homes.” Bill Rodgers. Music/ Speech/ Theater professor and the chair man of Meredith’s convocation committee, worked with Madra Britt in Continuing Education, Rebecca Huffsteder, senior class president and graduate Heather Wilkin to decide on a graduation speaker. “We chose Finch because she is a dynamic speak er who's in the news,” Rodgers said. “She speaks on motivation al subjects like ‘Soaring High’ which is most appropriate for a commencement address.” Rodgers said he had not heard about any of the controversy sur rounding Finch’s nursing home violation allegations. mmw mmmi Channel lO'e a§W student talk show dally on MCTV @ 4ptn ApHi 1 topic: Eliea Deboskey Charlie Goodnight's Cotoic LIVE Audience Day! Call x^44-€’ for free tickets! undl exams. 40daysumil graduadoiL HEY SENIORSl! , i Don’t forget to flir out your Last Will and Testament forms on page 5 of this week’s Meredith Herald. This is the last time forms will be published. All forms are due April 8th in 325 Barefoot at 5:00 p.m. . EXPERIENCE continued from page 1 At 2 p.m., visitors attended die closing session witli a “Salute to our Little Sisters” from members of die sophomore class and remarks from ‘98-’99 SGA President Shannon MacFarlane. Many of the prospective students shared tlie same sentiment as Sarah Hroza, a future member of die class of 2002, from Albertston, NC. “I love it,” she said. Hroza aUxjady knows she is coming to Mereditii diis fall. During tlie day, students and parents were asked to fill out evalu^on forms. The completed forms will be read dioroughly by admissions counselors to fmd out what diey can improve on or what tliey did well. Remarked one student on her evaluation: “You truly infatuated me widi this place, and I feel very wel comed and wanted, especially by our big sis class.” A family from Maryland said “diis was a positive, wonderful, and very informative experience." A stu- d«it who has already decided on Meredidi said, “I can’t wait to come. See you in the fall.” One parent said (bat Experience Meredidi! helped her daughter’s “apprehensions.” The overall impression of Experience Meredith! was diat it served its purpose to inform its visitors and make them more comfortable with Meredith. Said Hube: “It was very much a community effort from the current students and faculty. TTie prospec tive students and dieir families seemed very pleased. W'e were delighted with the d:iy.”
Meredith College Student Newspaper
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April 1, 1998, edition 1
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