An advisory committee to NIU President John LaTourette met Dec. 9 to begin the review of an increase in student fees for fiscal year 1989 requested by the University Health Service of about $4.32 for 12 credit hours.

Dana Mills, associate director for administration of the University Health Service, presented to the President’s Fee Study Committee a proposal requesting an increase in student fees. The increase would provide an extra $3.48 for every 12 credit hours of enrollment. Among the increases, the $3.48 would help to eliminate projected operating deficits, 48 cents would go toward the creation of a $20,000 cash reserve, 96 cents would help provide a cholesterol screening program and 48 cents would be allotted for rapid strep throat testing.

The health service members requested funds to provide a cholesterol screening program. According to Mills’ proposal, the need to determine people’s cholesterol in order to reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems “is particularly appropriate in a college community because of the group’s general concern for health and fitness, and the potential that cost-effective prevention will be successful.” The proposal stated that about 20 percent of the college community has high cholesterol levels.

Huda Scheidelman, a student committee member majoring in nursing, said educating students about high cholesterol does not help significantly reduce their chances of getting coronary disease. “I wish education was the answer, but I venture to say that none of the students that have high cholesterol know about it.”

osemary Lane, health service director, said cholesterol testing machines could be set up in various places on campus for mass screenings.

Lane also emphasized the need for a more effective strep testing program. It currently takes the health center workers between 24 and 48 hours to obtain results from strep throat testing. “Rapid strep testing is being requested by the clinical staff because it’s what the students have requested,” she said.

“If the student fee is not increased, we will probably charge the students on an individual level” for rapid strep throat testing, Lane said. The health service is projecting about 5,500 strep tests being performed in FY89, she said.

Eddie Williams, a committee member and vice president for finance and planning, said the committee should “include everything that is reasonable (in the health service fee) so the health center does not get into fees-for-services. It does affect the students. They don’t have the money. The committee should include everything we can in the health service fee.”

The proposal also recommended the health center eliminate its third shift in order to reduce the student fees requested by the center of about $1.08 for 12 credit hours. Mills said there are “not enough patients between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m.” to keep the health center open.

Lane said that students who need medical attention during late-night hours would be advised to go to Kishwaukee Community Hospital, which is covered in the health service insurance policy.

“Fifty percent of the people who come (to the health center) at night have to go to Kishwaukee Hospital anyway. The other 50 percent are minor injuries that could wait until morning,” she said.

Gary Gresholdt, administrative associate to student affairs Vice President Jon Dalton, said an average of about two people a night come to the health center for medical treatment during the late night hours.

The committee did not make a preliminary decision regarding the proposals and will further review the proposed health service student fee increase and a proposal for a Northern Star student fee increase later this month. Final decisions made by the committee will be presented in a report in February to LaTourette.