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viewpoi: ntJciiiii1 By WAYNE BROOKS Guest Editor Students have often accused the Thompson Health Center of refusing to give appropriate medical attention. Many students have said they have the impression that the health * center doesn't care to serve them. After investigating a recent complaint from a student whose broken arm could not be treated by the j ,1 (| 6**?? <s*4eaxjc. -in 1 m/mmm Policeman praised To the Editor: On Saturday, January 1, 1977, I found myself stranded with my sister and our three young children at the corner of College and Assembly Streets in Columbia. I had a flat tire and found that we had no tools which would suffice to change the tire. After making a great number of inquiries of service stations in the Columbia area, we discovered that no one was willing to make a service call since it was a holiday. ' wnen I was finally at my wits nts center c health center, I discovered that the grounds on which much criticism of the health center is based are not sufficient to conclude that the health center is negligent to the needs of the students. The health center is not negligent to the needs of students. If a student is told at the health center that he can't be helped, it is not because the health center does not want to help him. It is because the r - - ; . s - - ' ' ' r rt m end* a university patrol car passed, which we stopped to ask assistance in finding help. Patrolman Weaver Grayson, Badge 22, of the university police HMUirtmant /> ?"? -1 ^ - M??VUV VU1IIC IU UUT U1U 111 CI truly gallant spirit. Mr. Grayson first tried to help us secure help from a service station in town. When he was unsuccessful, he changed the tire himself for us. The manner in which Mr. Grayson acted and his kindness and consideration of ub were truly a credit to the university's police force. A man of Mr. Grayson's tauucr BdUUMX DC COHUlinKM. Donna CotHu. HIH . (Editor's twte: A copy of this letter wm also sent to U8C President William H. Patterson.) IATVI v\l mi >KJ1 lipid IJ health center can't provide the personnel and services he needs. Because of its tight budget, the health center has had to limit its number and types of personnel. The health center is funded by health fees paid by < full-time students; it receives no state funds. Elaine Crapps, a staff assistant at the health center, said the student's broken arm could not be treated because of > B [j I Radio story incomplete To the Editor: On January 17 WUSC radio went FM. For 2Mz years many dedicated students WDrked long hours to maxe cnts event happen. The university should be proud to be part of it. I was very disappointed, though, of the coverage given WUSC-FM by The Gamecock.' I looked throughout the entire stOry for the rest of the story. Terri Lya Lender Journalism Fresh maa its unf< lack of personnel, not because of negligence on the part of the health center. Crapps said an orthopedist is on duty three mornings a week and sees patients by appointment only. No full-time npthnwrfisJa am employed by the center. Employes, however, neglect to inform students of the health center's limited personnel and services. Students are often told,"We can't help you," and not told why. Employee HHH Ifjfjt Jv; ?mC&Ei, 'r If/ \V \ SOtbjff t r> 4iir uruYic Mtckn Mwrtvrtto Ryan I I MNch Sherwwtl Kurt f S#orto Editor Ctpy I tolly Wllttn MmtK i*?t --1- IW^II, ^?9?' >? BwWf ? iWF?^ ftCAftt* Htttchiflft fr| AMI. tocrtt Editor Atfvtrtl .rr__L TT"wwumwimffwi m MaNiMWR C? m wmto. TiMV i?w?? ? >? or ?*?, IHMH WW Mt to ? ctrcMMitMKt warram.'T* him Hl*ni ym* WXWyKrwiwiO 1 g?wil??i<liH mm* im|w , ttm. ??wi?rw \ "*** **??* AMrw; c Vjafc jttBttfc ,c **** M 1 JUI1U.CU. who utter such blunt and tactless responses often give students the impression that the services a student seeks are available but denied to him. Many students have accused the center of negligence because nn in dividual employed there has neglected to tell them why the services can't be provided. They don't realize that the health center's budget prohibits it from providing many of the services that locat hospitals are able to provide. Because of the actions of an employe, a student may pnnHpmn on ? ? !?? J 1 .v..v>v<>ui un clinic ucpanment. Such a conclusion may not seem justified, butit should be expected. But students must realize that one employe's performance doesn't represent the department's performance. Any employe who perfoms a service to the students should provide an adequet explanation if service are not avalible. Employes who perform services for the students are nhli^ivi tn hnth Ovv> v v MVMI ObUUVlllO and their departments. They must serve the students and seek the student's confidence in themselves and their departments. They must conduct themselves in a manner that will promote favorable public relations for their departments. Yn nA uinn /1A * ~? 11 ui iiu wixy UU 1 IUCUI1 10 sen short the health center and the many services it offers. I also do not mean to indicate that only employes of the health center have given students an unfavorable impression of a department. Many departments have been accused of negligence and all departments are vulnerable to such criticism . Department heads must protect themselves against undue criticism by stressing to their personnel the importance ot treating students with respect. 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