The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
Monday, September 26, 2011 - 5A
MHealthy debuts health,
fitness program for students
Students eligible
for fitness machine
raffle if health
goals are reached
By MARY HANNAHAN
Daily StaffReporter
Students who eat healthier
and increase their fitness this
fall may be rewarded by the
University for their healthy
behaviors.
The program, called the
Active U Autumn challenge,
allows participants to set fit-
ness and health goals and win
prizes if they meet their goals.
MHealthy has offered the
Active U challenge for faculty,
staff, graduate students and
retired University employees
during recent winter terms, but
now MHealthy is also spon-
soring Active U Autumn for
undergraduate students. The
program, which is also being
sponsored by University Health
Service and Rackham Graduate
School, will debut on Oct.11 and
run through Nov.21.
After registering online,
participants determine their
health and fitness targets and
keep a log for six weeks. If they
reach their goals, they can enter
in a drawing for prizes such
as iPads, treadmills, elliptical
machines, bikes, gym member-
ships and Wii Fit game systems.
According to Katherine
Edgren, the health promotion
and community relations direc-
tor at UHS, more than 12,000
University community mem-
bers participated in Active U
last year. If the program is suc-
cessful this fall, it will continue
into the winter, Edgren said.
Apart from Active U Autumn,
University students and faculty
have access to an array of pro-
grams offered by MHealthy,
including fitness classes, per-
sonal training, nutrition con-
sultations and cooking classes.
In addition to striving to cut
health care costs and creating
a more productive workplace,
MHealthy aims to "improve the
health and wellness of employ-
ees and reduce their risk," said
Karen Schmidt, MHealthy proj-
ect senior manager.
MHealthy was started in
2005 as part of University Presi-
dent Mary Sue Coleman's vision
of promoting a culture of health
at the University, according to
Schmidt. Though MHealthy's
target audience is faculty and
staff, some programs are avail-
able to students and community
members for a fee.
Services like consultations
with registered dieticians are
free for faculty and staff, while
other programs such as fitness
classes and personal train-
ing sessions are available to all
members of the University com-
munity, Schmidt said.
"We've really tried to take
down the barriers of cost so
folks are able to participate in
these health and well-being
activities," Schmidt said. "So
we're hoping that cost won't
keep people from participat-
ing."
MHealthy has 16 certified
personal trainers on staff and
about 2,600 appointments were
made with them in fiscal year
2010, accordingto MFit wellness
coordinator Eric Breitenbeck.
Students took up fifty-seven
percent of the appointments and
35 percent by staff.
Laurie Rau, an accountant
senior for University Hous-
ing, said she has used many of
the programs MHealthy offers,
including individual coach-
ing for weight loss and online
health courses. Rau said she has
also participated in Active U in
the past, but does not plan to do
so this year because she prefers
signing up with a group of col-
leagues.
"When it first came, people
would get their groups together
and be a little competitive and it
was fun, so I don't think there's
that friendly competition," Rau
said.
LSA junior Kelsey Root said
she doesn't know much about
the MHealthy or Active U
Autumn program and probably
won't participate.
"I'm not a big goal person or
exercise person, and I don't do
well with logging and writing
down goals," Root said.
LSA freshman Zach Reilly
said he also doesn't know what
MHealthy is and hasn't heard of
Active U Autumn.
"I think it's probably a good
idea for other people, and I
know there are people who
would totally go for something
like that," Reilly said. "I don't
look down on the idea of it, but,
personally, I'm not really inter-
ested in stuff like that."
HEALTH
From Page 1A
further support that the act has
increased the number of young
adults with health coverage.
Historically, young adults have
been the least likely age group to
invest in health insurance cover-
age, according to Matthew Davis,
an assistant professor in the Uni-
versity's Medical School and Ford
School of Public Policy.
Davis said the increased num-
ber of insured young adults is
"impressive."
"This is one of the early efforts
under health care reform as a
proof of principle that a change
at the federal level can translate
across the country," Davis said.
"We can see the effect of broad-
ening coverage, but we aren't see-
ing the strain on the system of a
very high number of people who
suddenly have coverage."
Young adults tend to stay on
their parents' plans since it costs
less to be a dependant, Davis said.
A single-person insurance policy
could cost more than $5,000 per
year, but a young adult depen-
dant's share of an existing plan
costs about $1,200 per year.
The lower cost has been "a very
good thing" for young adults, like
recent college graduates strug-
gling to find jobs, Davis said.
Similarly, Catherine McLaugh-
lin, a professor in the University's
School of Public Health, said the
option of remaining a dependant
on their parents' health insur-
ance plans offers young adults
respite from extraneous costs
since many people in their 20s are
already weighed down by tuition
price tags.
"Young adults, even if they
want health insurance and
they're willing to pay a premium
for health insurance, can't find
an affordable package, and they
can't get it through their employ-
er as part of a group," McLaugh-
lin said. "And this offers them
a way to stay as a dependant on
their parents until 26, when they
are more likely to be finished
with schooling, ready to get a
job in a place that offers health
insurance and get started on
their adult career."
Despitetheincreaseininsured
young adults, Dean Smith, senior
associate dean of the School
of Public Health, said he isn't
completely convinced this will
reduce health care costs. Young
adults - who McLaughlin and
other health care experts have
termed "young invincibles" -
do not tend to incur excessive
health care bills, Smith said.
"For most persons in this age
range, their assumption that
they're young and healthy and
not very likely to have cata-
strophic health care costs is, in
fact, true," Smith said. "So I don't
think that there's going to be a
big health effect from this popu-
lation now having better insur-
ance coverage."
Smith added that given the
provisions of health insurance
coverage statewide, the effects
were likely to be even less pro-
nounced in Michigan. Unlike
many policies in other states
that often terminate coverage
for young adults at ages 18, 21
or 22, several insurance plans
in Michigan - even before the
Affordable Care Act was imple-
mented - allowed young adults
to remain dependants until age
25.
Smith added that the provi-
sion wouldn't likely have a large
impact for University students.
Several years ago, Smith and
other University professors
conducted a study to exam-
ine whether health insurance
should be mandatory for Univer-
sity students. They found that
the number of students without
insurance was relatively low, as
was their economic burden -
like costs for emergency room
visits - for the University of
Michigan Health System.
Five percent of undergradu-
ates and 10 percent of graduate
students at the University did not
have health insurance as of Jan-
uary 2011, Robert Winfield, the
University's chief health officer
and director of the University
Health Service, told The Michi-
gan Daily at the time.
Still, Davis said at the option
for young adults to stay on or
join their families' plans would
be helpful for people continuing
to feel the effects of the reces-
sion. -
"I think what we're seeing
here is a lot of late teens and
twenty-somethings are taking
advantage of this option because
it makes such good sense," Davis
said.
FLOREK
From Page 1A
at San Diego State. Their rela-
tionship goes far beyond just a
healthy respect for an opposing
coach. Long went so far as to
guarantee the ultimate prize for
a Hoke-led Michigan team.
"Brady will win a national
championship here," Long said
after the game.
As much as Hoke made it
about just another game, there
had to be an underlying ele-
ment, even if he didn't let it
show. There was probably
nothing different before or dur-
ing the game. He wanted the
offense to score as many points
as possible and the defense to
break Ryan Lindley's will. But
I get the sense that after the
game he felt slightly compas-
sionate. Long compared the
experience to playing your
brother. You want to beat your
brother, but you don't want to
embarrass him.
Seeing him postgame, Hoke's
fagade came down a little bit.
The raspy voice stayed and he
was still supremely sure of him-
self, but he showed emotion.
That was Hoke.
It made me feel warm and
fuzzy inside. He was just like us.
But none of it matters.
We'll all forget the hugs by
next Saturday. Most of you have
already forgotten about it. That
fourth win will stay on Michi-
gan's record for the rest of the
season. Hoke's robotic ways
have Michigan 4-0. Are those
ways the difference between
this year and the past two? Do
they bring more focus, which
will prevent the perennial Big
Ten collapse?
There's no denying some-
thing different is happening. As
robotic as Hoke is, he has a bit
of wizardry in him. Whether it's
the new scheme or not, every
time Michigan seems in danger
of blowing the game or falling
out of the game for good, they
find a way to force a turnover.
Up 7-0 with San Diego State
driving? Redshirt junior line-
backer Kenny Demens forced a
fumble.
Right after junior quarter-
back Denard Robinson threw an
interception and Aztec running
back Ronnie Hillman broke a
big run to the seven yard line?
Fifth-year senior defensive end
Ryan Van Bergen chased him
down from behind and punched
the ball out.
San Diego State trying to
bring the game within two
scores in the fourth? Sack and
fumble recovery.
Michigan still can't pass.
Denard Robinson threw for less
than 100yards for the second
straight game. It still can't kick
a field goal longer than 30 yards.
Redshirt sophomore Brendan
Gibbons missed a 40-yarder
Saturday. One more injury to the
secondary still means opposing
teams will have success chuck-
ing it deep like they're running
"Da Bomb" in "NFL Blitz."
But the Wolverines are still
4-0. Hoke has the touch. And
with three of the next four
games against the bottom tier
of the conference in Minnesota,
Northwestern and Purdue,
Michigan would need a dra-
matic collapse to not have seven
wins by the start of November.
An upset of Michigan State gives
Hoke a realistic chance at 8-0.
After watching this team for
four games, do you really think
it deserves to be 8-0?
Maybe not, but it's already
halfway there.
Florek can be reached at
florekmi@umich.edu.
MORGUE
From Page 1A
year to start, whereas Wayne
County previously paid closer to
$120,000.
Dr. Jeffrey Myers, a Univer-
sity Medical School professor and
director of the University's ana-
tomic pathology division, said the
partnership benefits both parties.
The University currently
has a similar partnership with
Washtenaw County's Medical
Examiner's office, but the coun-
ty's small size doesn't generate
a sufficient number of cases to
attract fellows to the Universi-
ty's forensic pathology program,
according to Myers. The collab-
oration with the larger Wayne
County morgue will change
that, he said.
Myers added that combin-
ing the WCMEO and University
staffs will form a "core faculty
of nine forensic pathologists,"
which he described as a "huge
asset" to the University. He also
pointed out that University stu-
dents will benefit directly from
the partnership.
"Our medical students and
residents in pathology will have
opportunities to access materials
at Wayne County," Myers said.
The partnership will also save
at least $1.5 million over three
years for Wayne County, accord-
ing to a UMHS press release
issued yesterday. The press
release pointed to the partner-
ship's use of shared resources
and staffing, as well as econom-
ics of scale, as sources of cost
reduction.
Niemiec noted that foren-
sic pathologists are the only
WCMEO employees who will be
brought on the University's pay-
roll.
The WCMEO hopes the
expanded pathology staff, and
expected reduction in case vol-
ume will help the office regain
the accreditation it lost from the
National Association of Medi-
cal Examiners in 1979, Niemiec
said. The accreditation will aid
the morgue in attracting a larger
number of forensic pathologists
and employees, he added.
"We anticipate getting accred-
itation within a year or a year
and a half, and that is one of the
benefits (of the partnership),"
Niemiec said.
Though similar arrangements
between morgues and universi-
ties exist in other states, Niemiec
said Detroit's morgue is the busi-
est nationwide. In that way, he
said, it's a "precedent-setting
deal."
After the contract's three-year
period is up, there are two one-
year options available to renew
it, according to Niemiec.
"We think this is a very long-
term solution," Niemiec said.
AATA
From Page 1A
than that, and they still need
transit service," she said.
Stasiak noted that increased
crime in the Ann Arbor area was
not a reason for the proposed
Night Ride expansion.
The AATA also plans to
increase its vanpool service.
Stasiak said the service has
become popular for residents
who live outside of the AATA
service area, many of whom are
University employees.
As a part of the service, the
AATA provides vans for groups
of commuters who are going to
similar destinations, and the
members of the vanpool con-
tribute money for fuel. Because
the state offers a limited amount
of funds for vanpool services,
AATA has decided to use money
from its own budget to provide
for expanded vanpools in Washt-
enaw County, Stasiak said.
"It's a really easy way to com-
mute," she said.
Also included in the AATA-
proposal is an airport shuttle
service, an addition residents
have been requesting for several
years, Stasiak said. The shuttle
will be the first public transit
service between the airport and
Washtenaw County.
"We have issued a request for
proposals, and we are evaluat-
ing those proposals," Stasiak
said.
The AATA airport shuttle
isn't intended to compete or take
the place of airBus - an airport
shuttle for University students
sponsored by The Michigan Stu-
dent Assembly. The airBus costs
$7 or $11 per person depend-
ing on the trip and reservation
status, according to the airBus
website.
"That service plays a very,
very important role when there
are a tremendous amount of pas-
sengers traveling between the
airport and Ann Arbor at really
high-peak periods, and we don't
see ourselves replacing that at
all," Stasiak said. "In fact, we
would encourage people to use
that service."
Residents are encouraged
to comment on the projected
changes to Route 4 and the pro-
posed airport service, Stasiak
said. AATA will also be hosting
a public forum at the Michigan
Union.
City Council member Tony
Derezinski (D-Ward 2) praised
AATA for addressing the shifting
and various needs of residents.
"The plan is comprehensive in
that it not only encompasses the
areas that we should be address-
ing, but also the different modes
of transportation," Derezinski
said. "It's a very good plan, one
I think that will be particularly
welcomed by people who come
into Ann Arbor and the commu-
nities around here."
WHITE MARKET
From Page 1A
building on East William Street
was also home to the historic
College Shoe Repair shop before
it closed its doors at the end of
December after 70 years. On the
second floor of the building are
five apartments the new land-
lord plans to renovate, accord-
ing to Brendan Cavender, who,
with Jim Chaconas, handled the
building sale for Colliers Inter-
national.
Jones said the focus of White
Market, which first opened in
1949, is to provide the freshest
products to students.
"We know our customers,
and we care about our cus-
tomers," Jones said. "They're
not just numbers or blips on a
screen."
Jones added that unlike the
larger chain stores that opened
recently on State Street, White
Market offers fresh meat and
produce.
"We sell a lot of fresh food.
People think they're getting that
at7-Eleven or CVS,but they don't
do anything in-house," Jones
said. "All CVS has (is) national
buying power and a big ad."
Cavender and Chaconas said
they're open to talking to Jones
about renewing his lease but
also noted there has been a lot
of interest in the space. These
include national establish-
ments, food chains and smaller,
local companies, according to
Cavender.
The East William area also
faces a changing business land-
scape with the construction
of Zaragon West on 500 East
William St. The new apartment
complex, which Cavender said
will open next fall, will house a
retail business.
"William Street is the next
hot market," Cavender said.
SEPT. 26 IS THE LAST DAY TO
DROP/ADD LSA CLASSES
See how likely it
S is you'll get an
A in your class:
maizeandbluereview.com
This is a great chance to meet new people, work
with others, and add to your resume'.
If you are interested in being part of
a Teaching Innovation Prize program, email us:
ideainstituted).umich.edu
The IDEA Institute, 3236 Undergraduate Science Building