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WORLD & NATION WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM BCBS fixes same-sex marriage policies BY NICOLE ZELNIKEir Staff Whiter Blue Cross Blue Shield is North Carolina's number one health insurance provider. But last month, when BCBS systematically cancelled 20 family insurance policies of same-sex couples, its reputation took a hit. "It was wrong, and it shouldn't have happened (this) way," said North Carolina resident A1 hhnman in an interview with the Houston Chronicle. "For 24 years, (my husband and I have) been on the same insurance." North Carolina resident and Eckerd College sophomore Molly Hurd was also enraged. "As a North Carolina resident and as someone who has BCBS, I'm pissed about the fact that they took away those policies," Hurd told The Guilfordian. "As someone who supports equal rights and businesses adhering to their deals, I think this is a ridiculous revocation," Hurd said. "Blue Cross, along with North Carolina, needs to start getting with the times and accepting that tiiere is more than one type of Une." Appalachian State University junior Emily Forester, on the other hand, acknowledges BCBS's rights as an organization. "BCBS is 100 percent within their rights to cancel these policies," Forester told The Guilfordian. "That's why voting on the definition of marriage was such an issue — and not only in NC." According to Kerry Hall, North Carolina's Insurance Department spokeswoman, BCBS could not legally offer family plans to same-sex couples at the time. "BCBS of North Carolina was legally bound to invalidate the policies because of standard language in the insurer's individual policies tiiat define 'spouse' as 'opposite sex'," Hall said in an interview with the Houston Chronicle. Health economics expert and Assistant Professor of Economics Natalya Shelkova speculates about the company's word choice. "I think that they mentioned a mistake in the wording of the insurance contract, but it appears strange that they could not resolve it internally without disrupting the coverage for same-sex couples," said Shelkova. 'The unwillingness to make such an effort is just bad business." However, on Jan. 29, BCBS declared a reinstatement of their policies for same- sex couples, beginning March 1. Junior and Pride President D'vorah Nadel was thrilled to hear the news. "It is nice to see a corporation (or) business that is recognizing where it has committed a disservice to people and is implementing immediate plans in order to fix it," Nadel said. Conversely, first-year and Pride member Taylor Brown believes that BCBS is getting more credit than it deserves. "Why did BCBS even change their policies in the first place?" asked Brown. "Same-sex couples were getting the same benefits initially. What difference does it make now?" As to why BCBS incorporated exclusive language to begin with. Associate Professor of Sociology & Anthropology Julie Winterich suspects an error, rather than BCBS wishing ill will on same-sex couples. "Under the new health care act, iVs illegal to discriminate by sexual orientation," Winterich said. "I doubt they intentionally sought to exclude same-sex couples (and) families, especially since they give same-sex benefits to their own employees." Ukrainian protestors endure BYAftEKENNORE Staff Writer For the last two and a half months, the protestors of the EuroMaidan movanent have occupied Independence Square Zakutnia. "Cossacks, Afghani veterans ... students who learn to cook Molotov cocktails ... and grandmothers who do not let their grandchildren to go out, while they themselves are at the forefrmit" The Square is now a weU-organized tent dty, surrounded by in Kyiv, Ukraine. During this time, they have faced fireezing anti-pcdice barricades made of tires, sandbags and ice. Protestors ■ ' have implemented a self-^uffident system of medical tents, latrines and a volunteer security force to keep out weapons and alcohol. "Ukrainians like to drink... but tiie Square is like a dry college campus," said Kaminski. hi temperatures, police violence and harsh anti-protest laws. V^y have they remained? "For the idea; be free in (a) European country," Kyiv-based journalist and student Yulia Zakutnia told The Guilforian in an email. "The name 'Ukraine' means 'on the borderline,"' explained Wall Street Journal reporter Matthew Kaminskf in a phone interview with The Guilfordian. Since the fell of the U^R in 1991, Ukraine has been pulled between the two forces on either side of that borderline — the European Union in the West and Russia in the East The tension reached a breaking point in November when Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych abandoned an agreement that would have strengthened ties with the EU. Instead, he accepted $15 billion from Russia. /-V J V/ '/■ % -.V':55a This occupation continued despite govemment s efforts suppress it "From Nov. 21 30, people stood EuroMaidan only European integration," Zakutnia. "But after ] 30, when peaceful protesters were beaten ... they began protesting against the violence and for the n president s impeachment" c More clashes with the K police followed, and, as of 0 Jan. 31, the police confirmed 1 that thr^ protestors I had been killed. 54 have “ disappeared, according to the Kyiv Post and many EuroMadian protestors brave freezing temperatures and police brutality, more have been injured "70 years of Soviet control . arrested. In one recent makes (Ukraine) a place where p>eople in jx)wer think they can skirmish, 40 p>oli'ce officers were inured. . do what they want" said Professor of Peace & Conflict Studies What will be the end result of this conflict? Jeremy Rinker. Ukrainians are still searching for a dear answer. The people of Ukraine disagreed. h I had to guess, in the short term, it is going to be very On Nov. 21, Ukrainian protestors — many of them university dangerous .,. and problematic, said Kaminski. ■ _, students — gathered in Independence Square in reaction to Zakutnia, however, takes a more hp|^fulvpa:^5efive of the Yanukovych's sudden change in policy. They took the name future. "We know what we want ... and we w^| Europe! We EuroMaidan, combining the Ukrainian word "Maidan" (meaning stand for tiwt, for d^ging the government, because we know: square) with "Europe," their goal. we will achieve that. "There are really many fantastic peoffle (in the Square)!" said Until they do, the protestors in Independence Square remain. Olympic construction ruins Russian village BY ALLIE BADDLEY Staff Writer For over five years, the residents of the village of Akhshtyr have suffered due to construction leading up to the 2014 Wtoter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Construction h^ ciepleted the village's resources and left its residents with limited running water for drinking and crop irrigation. Although Russian authorities have recognized the problem and made efforts to deliver water on a weekly basis, the residents continue to complain that Akhshtyr still does not receive an adequate supply of water. And Akhshtyr's post-oonstrudion woes do not end here. The absence of a single entry or exit ramp along tire 48-kilometer road connecting the two Olympic venues has contributed to Akhshtyr's isolation from all other Russian cities. Furthermore, villagers reported to the Human Rights Watch that there is no secure way to cross the road, which cuts through an important path. This path is the primary medium to access the main avenue connecting villagers with buses and taxis to get to school and work. VNflthout access to the path, residents of Akhshtyr say that their average commute times have increased by two hours, according to the Human Rights Watch. To make matters worse, several trucks transpOTting building materials have created nc^ and dust p^ution amidst the village. For many of the villagers, who rely heavily on crop fields for income, the resulting pollution has damaged their crops and tiireatened their livdfflhcxxis. Akhshtyr resident Tatiana Velikaia told the Human Rights Watch, "My neighbor couldn't sell anything because a layer of cement dust (had settled) on the peaches (that she was growing)." Tt is shocking that the Olympics can affect the environment in such devastating waysi," said Cassie Vaughn, a sophomore on the wcjmen's soccer team at Guilford College. Another concerned student, sophomore Harrison Houlihan, is "disgusted by theiidiculous waste of resources and blatantly open corruption." How can the Russian government make amends fen* neglecting the well being of Akhshtyr? Much of die damage done app^rs to be irrever^le. Worse, the voices of the Akhsht)^* villagers may fell on deaf ears when the spotlight leaves Sexhi after the Ol5rmpncs. Associate Professor of Spnart Studies Bob Malekoff noted the need for putting more governmental pressure on the Olympic Committee to be more respcmsible about the games. He believes that the Olympic Committee needs to look ahead when planning to host the Olympncs and anticipate potential harm to the Icxal population. In the future, if cx)nstruction isolates a village cn* has a lasting impaci on p>eople's livelihoods, human rights authorities should be consulted ahead of timp If the committee adheres to the approved planning, citizens of multiple socioeconomic classes can more fully cherish hosting the Olympics. "The games are supposed to be about unity and not about politics," Maldcoff said. As important as the 01)mipics are in bringing together coimtries from all over the wodd, damagjbng people's livelihoexis for flie long-term is no reasonable trade-off. Plus, as far as the residents of Akhdityr are ocmcemed, controversy—not unity—will continue to envdop Sochi.
The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.)
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