Jim Brexler, the CEO of Erlanger Health System, addressed a group of students on Nov. 19 about the healthcare debate.

Do you care about the current debate on healthcare reform? Jim Brexler, the CEO of Chattanooga’s Erlanger Health, thinks you should.

Mr. Brexler spoke last Thursday on the current healthcare debate and counseled those in attendance, because “Decisions in policy being made right this minute will decide if you get healthcare in the future.” The lecture covered current problems in the healthcare system and an explanation of the most recent proposal for healthcare reform.

The two main problems provoking the current healthcare reform are the high costs of and limited access to healthcare. Brexler mentioned three particular causes of high costs. First, the threat of expensive lawsuits causes doctors to practice “defensive medicine” and over-treat patients. This helps doctors protect themselves from being sued, but makes the patient’s visit quite expensive. Second, the incentive structure of our current system encourages doctors to keep patients sick. Doctors make money when people are sick and need continued treatment, and this can negatively influence a doctor’s approach to a patient. Third, Brexler notes that our country tends to practice medicine with a focus on the latest technology instead of preventative treatment. Many people in expensive intensive care units could have solved their medical issue earlier and cheaper if they had received treatment sooner.

Limited access to medical care comes from these high costs of healthcare and insurance companies’ rational policy of not selling insurance to those with preexisting health conditions. This combination leaves about 47 million Americans presently without health insurance. (Though, admittedly, not all of these people lack insurance because they can’t afford it. Some can afford it, but have just chosen to not purchase it.)

The question is if we can create a system that will adequately fund our medical needs. By all accounts, our current system does not do this well. Currently, the U.S. spends about twice as much on healthcare per capita than any other country, yet is not even close to having the healthiest populace.

The current proposal for reform addresses these issues with a focus on wellness, expansion of coverage, efficient and affordable care, quality care, and better patient information systems.

A reform of tort law (civil law) is also part of the plan. This will help control the lawsuits that cause doctors to over-treat patients. The plan also wants primary care doctors to play a bigger role in providing care instead of specialists. This shifts the system’s focus onto general wellness and treating sickness sooner rather than later, which will in turn decrease the need for expensive, critical care. If the proposal is implemented, general physicians will soon be in enormously high demand, considering that 47 million Americans would suddenly have access to healthcare.

The plan also includes an individual mandate, which means that everyone will be required to get medical insurance. More people having insurance will distribute risk and costs among more people, making insurance less expensive on the average. Insurance reforms are a part of this individual mandate and will expand coverage by making it illegal to refuse health insurance to anyone (even those with preexisting conditions.) Along with this comes a government-run health insurance exchange, which will broker different options and allow individuals to customize their plan. There’s still a big ideological debate on this issue, with liberals wanting the government to highly regulate prices in the exchange and conservatives wanting the ability to completely opt-out of the exchange and rely solely on prices offered by the private market.

Brexler concluded his lecture by encouraging each of us to participate in this debate politically and to live healthy lives (the main point of the debate is, after all, our health). Politically, bipartisan cooperation will be necessary. If liberals and conservatives don’t engage in meaningful debate and reach some level of agreement, Brexler warns of a displeased Republican party that will only criticize any problems that emerge from the reform. This may serve party interests, but it will not solve the issue in the long run.

Today American corporations import products from all over the world—products which are often made by the hands of children and slaves.

Many prominent corporations are currently opposing a bill that would ban products made from child and slave labor. They are “worried” about what will become of their businesses when they do not have these products. They are worried specifically that such a bill would prompt further investigation into the origins of their products. While there may be other ideological reasons to oppose this specific bill, this rationale is disturbing.

The truth is that slavery is not dead in America, but is a part of our everyday life. It is convenient and cheap and we benefit from these products daily—all the while perpetuating a unjust system.

When we buy products, we are taking part in a global exchange. Our decisions affect not just us, but also the producers selling their products to us, the employees of that producer, and the individuals who made the products.

Who are these people? If we’re honest with ourselves, the answer is that we don’t really know. The rise of mass production and large manufacturers has diminished the relationship between creator and consumer. Our focus has in many ways shifted from the individual to what is cheap and efficient.

We have no idea what the situation behind our products is. We buy a shirt that says “Made in Vietnam” and that’s really all we know about where it came from. What we often fail to realize, though, is that many of these products have stories behind them, some of which are far less glamorous than the shoes we just bought.

Today American corporations import products from all over the world—products which are often made by the hands of children and slaves. Businesses know that these products are cheap and that they can make a significant profit off of them.

As American consumers, we are either ignorant of this exploitation or we just don’t care enough to change the status quo. In the past, businesses would dismiss the origin of their products. But now they are not only publicly acknowledging their dependence on slavery, but refusing to rid themselves of this source of income.

We should not be okay with this.

But what can be done? If a solution exists, it isn’t an easy one.

One solution that is often suggested is to support the fair trade movement. Companies such as World Next Door, Better Way Imports and Invisible Children’s Mend Program are committed to providing conflict-free products to the consumer as well as economic stability to those who create these products.

Of course, ideological conflicts arise even within this movement. Fair trade is limited in scope, and may even be causing more long-term harm than good. Just because a product has the “Fair Trade” stamp on it doesn’t mean that this is the best way to help developing communities.

So what should our response be? Is it really reasonable to boycott shopping at Walmart, Ikea, Hanes and L.L.Bean? I won’t pretend to have a clear-cut answer. In fact, this is one of those issues that just seems to get more complicated the deeper you investigate. But I do know that as Christians we should be at the forefront of that investigation. If nothing else, this should be something we are praying over and discussing–working out as a community what it means to seek justice and see the end of slavery in our day.

The Campus Stewardship Committee (CSC) has been working hard this semester in several areas regarding the conservation of materials God has graciously given us. But most people don’t realize who the actual faces of the CSC are. Take a minute to read about the work that’s being done and the students responsible for doing it.

The recycling program has recently expanded to Founders, as described in this week’s Bagpipe article by Sarah Dollar.

“It is very encouraging to watch how quickly Founders has made recycling a part of its daily routine,” said junior Alex Whitaker, the recycling supervisor in Founders. “More and more, I am amazed at the numbers we are getting on weekly reports.”

These reports are submitted by practical service workers every two weeks detailing the amount of recycling, how well students seem to be responding, and what can be done to improve the program as a whole. Sophomore Hannah Sluis is supervisor of recycling in Andreas Hall, the first residence hall to embrace recycling at Covenant. Each of these supervisors is responsible for conducting research and compiling reports and evaluations of the recycling program in their respective buildings.

Jacob Snuggs, Energy Conservation Lead of the CSC, has been conducting research on the various ways to reduce energy usage at Covenant. This includes researching what various other U.S. colleges are doing and reporting statistics to the CSC, laying a foundation for future programs. This research will greatly impact how the CSC will promote conservation of energy at Covenant next semester.

Melanie Berg is our Food Conservation Lead. Melanie’s responsibilities include exploring various tangible ways that food can be conserved and stewarded on campus, such as composting. She has been meeting with the Food Service Committee and is currently working to provide Fair Trade coffee from Greyfriar’s in the Psychology Commons.

Remember those snazzy advertisements for the World Next Door surveys in the Great Hall in September? Casey Cochran, as Visual Education/Advertising Lead of the CSC, is responsible for those. She believes that the importance of stewardship really needs to be better promoted across campus.

Thus far, not only has Casey handcrafted each of those advertisements, but she has also created individual recycling labels for Founders and recycling advertisements in Andreas. She is currently working on a large project for the Andreas lobby. Casey uses recycled material for all of the visual aids she creates.

The Campus Stewardship Committee meets every week, and Lauren Westerman serves as Secretary and Treasurer. Please take the time to thank each of these hardworking individuals for their efforts and dedication to stewardship.

"Runway for Africa," spearheaded by Lara Berger, seeks to raise funds to send Bibles to Christians in Uganda. Coming this Saturday night to the Great Hall.

It is estimated that over 500 million believers worldwide do not have their own Bible—over 200 million in Africa alone. You can help!

I own five Bibles. Five. And that’s just me, personally, not to mention all the Bibles my family has around the house. Yet I still struggle to do my devotions every day. Think about it. How many Bibles do you have in your room right now? How about in your parents’ house? How often have you considered what a blessing that is?

Now shift your thoughts over to the continents of Africa and Asia and picture clinging to one page of the Bible—memorizing it because it’s the only Scripture your own. Or imagine passing around a single Bible between a congregation of two-hundred people.

It is estimated that over 500 million believers worldwide do not have their own Bible. Over 200 million of these are in Africa alone.

After spending some time in Uganda this past summer I realized the enormous need for the Word of God in our lives. Unfortunately, this is the last thing people should be lacking. The Word of God is living and active, and it changes people. Let’s do something about it!

I remember one day in Uganda when my team and I were going door-to-door sharing the Word of God. We stopped at the first house we saw. Here, we met some beautiful women who were cleaning up breakfast. I made a bold move and asked my teammates to leave me behind and pick me up at the end of the day. That’s when I met Judith. She spoke hardly any English, yet in our limited conversation I discovered she was Catholic, though not “born again.” I had the opportunity to help her prepare lunch, bathe the children and learn about her life. When I left, I left her my English Bible with a message in the front. I knew that she couldn’t read it, but I know it will prod her to visit the church where a friend, Pastor Henry, can read the Word to her. Judith changed the way I view evangelism because it’s not about the number of converts, it is about creating trust, even if it’s for only two days. It’s about serving each other and in doing so sharing the Gospel. And giving away my $15 Bible was hardly a sacrifice. As much as I loved my personal Bible, I can buy one hundred more without it really hurting my bank account. It was a sacrifice of friendship and an opportunity to be an instrument of God.

This Saturday, November 21, CAB will be hosting the first ever Runway for Africa. We have 21 contestants representing their halls who will be strutting down the runway, showing off the latest fashions picked out by their very own hallmates. The categories will cover such themes as Scots pride, modern or contemporary style, and even Thanksgiving. Troy Wooten (our very own Menutainment chef), Beverly Frame, and Thomas O’Ban will be judging this competition for the best catwalk, tackiest clothes, best energy and more.

The entrance fee will be $1 (or bring a Bible to donate and get in free) and 100% of this money will go to either shipping donated Bibles overseas or buying vernacular Bibles for pastors in Uganda. Student Senate has agreed to match our donations dollar for dollar. So, if an entire hall comes they would raise $50 for Africa!

Bring your friends and your halls out for a fun night of watching contestants act crazy on the runway while bringing the Word of God to every tribe one dollar at a time. It’s in the Great Hall at 8 p.m.—be there.

Where are the future leaders of America? This is a cliché question and the same cliché answer always accompanies it—the future leaders of America are all around us. They’re beside us in class, they’re in our dorm rooms, they walk past us in the halls, and blah, blah, the motivational speech goes on.

Until very recently, that my response was the same. Meaningless question equals meaningless answer. Cliché.

I was in a Student Senate meeting last week and we were discussing an event to raise money for a charity called Operation Net. Alex Anderson was explaining that the charity is run by some mysterious student named “Greg.”  Assuming I didn’t know him, I just tuned out, until his last name caught my ear. The founder of Operation Net was Greg Pittman, a fellow freshman!

I have hung out with Greg numerous times and had already subconsciously thrown him in the general category of “everyday college Joe.” However, Greg has, on his own initiative, started an organization to bring life-saving supplies to families in Uganda in an effort to stop the spread of malaria. An otherwise common teenager got government recognition, created a website and sustained a fundraising campaign.

According to Greg’s website (http://www.dosomething.org/project/operation-net), “The goal of Operation Net is to raise as much money as possible to purchase mosquito nets which will then be given to the people of Uganda, and to spread awareness about the malaria problem in Africa.” Greg recently told me that “Malaria currently kills far more people than AIDS does in Africa today, about one child every 30 seconds. Malaria is a preventable disease and by our actions we can lower the effects of its ravages.”

Operation Net works by raising money through outreach events and benefit concerts and then sending the money via check to pastors in Uganda to purchase the badly needed nets. “Our philosophy is simple,” Greg said, “We connect the giving of the life-saving mosquito nets to the giving of the life-redeeming gospel of Christ. We don’t believe in one without the other.” According to last counts Greg has collected over 1,000 signatures on a petition to the White House and raised almost $10,000. In fact, Operation Net has been so successful that Greg and his partner have actually decided to expand their operation to Haiti, where malaria ravages as well.

As I was sitting in the Senate meeting, I realized the hypocrisy that I carry in regard to so many things. I find myself daily becoming an armchair humanitarian. I applaud effort, offer my opinion, hand out blame for missteps, and am satisfied to remain carping on the sidelines instead of getting sweaty and dirty by taking part in the game. Greg is in the game.

I would like to share with you what Greg calls the “30 year perspective.” In 30 years, will we, as a Christian community, be able to look back and be able to define ourselves only by the accumulation of wealth or our tremendous technological advances? Or will we be able to say we stepped into the lives of those less fortunate and extended grace to the poor and helpless?

Justice Week, a new occasion for Covenant, is kicking off this Saturday with a movie called “At the End of Slavery.” Each event planned for the week is the product of efforts by Covenant students, specifically through the IJM Club, Invisible Children, and the YACHT Club (Youth Against Complacency and Homelessness Today). There will be a host of opportunities for you to learn more about initiatives like Greg’s and to take action. This is a chance to get started in being the leaders of tomorrow.

In the meantime, if you see ever see Greg Pittman around campus give him a high five and tell him to keep it up!