The cost of a medical degree in Colorado
Re: “Health campus in agony; CU underfunded by any reckoning,” Nov. 19 Perspective column.
I was pleased to see Chancellor Wilson’s piece about funding for the Health Sciences Center in Sunday’s paper. I am now a second-year medical student, and committed to CU before 2005’s 20 percent tuition increase. After another 9 percent increase last year, my student debt load is increasing faster than I planned. Right now, my goal is to graduate with less than $160,000 in student loan debt. With limited grant and scholarship opportunities and inevitable tuition increases, that goal may be unrealistic. My fear is that my goal of working in primary care may be upset by a debt load that requires the income of a specialist.
The issues of tuition increases and funding cuts are critical ones for the state to consider. After several years of cuts and large tuition increases, the issue of an affordable medical education is an essential part of Colorado’s future. With an impending nationwide physician shortage, having physicians that are interested in primary care and can afford to practice in rural communities is crucial for Colorado. In two years, when I choose what area of medicine to practice, I hope my decision is driven by what I am passionate about, not by what will cover my debt.
Jesse Hostetter Kropf, Denver
National Football League s TV network
Re: “NFL Network hit with access
issue,” Nov. 23 sports story.
With the National Football
League s decision not to broadcast
its games on regular television, the
billionaires of the NFL have initiated
phase one of their long-term
plan to make loyal football fans
pay premium prices to watch every
NFL game. The NFL states that
this is just for eight regular season
games, but soon it will be all
games. Make no mistake about it,
the NFL will slowly, year-by-year
put more and more games on its
premium channel. This is the
thanks we fans get for making the
NFL what it is today.
The greed and disloyalty of any
great institution will always lead
ultimately to its downfall. Good
luck, Broncos. I may not be there
for you in the future.
Patrick Wilson, Denver
Xcel s rate hike and new coal plant
Re: “State OKs Xcel rate hike,” Nov. 21 business story.
Xcel’s talk about supporting clean energy and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is definitely a step in the right direction.
However, I have a hard time trusting their intentions when they are currently in the initial construction phases of a new coal plant in Pueblo. This plant will not only pump greenhouse gases and mercury into our environment for the next 50 years, but also will promote the very environmentally unfriendly business of coal mining. Actions speak much louder than words. If Xcel really wants to make an impact and help us move towards clean energy, then they should halt construction of this new coal plant.
Kathryn A. Ramirez-Aguilar, Boulder
Denver justice center
The process of planning Denver’s new justice center has been underway for two years, and our advisory involvement as judges has increased quantitatively and qualitatively since Klipp architects has taken over as the lead designer. Our comments and perspectives have been taken into account much more quickly as we see improved communication in meetings that take place at least weekly to address issues as they arise. For example, the comments and perspectives we provide to the design team during one session are collected and integrated by the very next session.
As future occupants of the new justice center, with expertise on the needs of a functioning criminal courthouse, we are committed to working with the design team. This includes working together to reach the high standards of design that were laid out very early in the project. We are convinced that the current collaborative process for designing the new courthouse will deliver uncompromised function and high architectural esthetic.
Andrew Armatas, presiding judge, Denver County Court
Larry J. Naves, chief judge, Denver District Court
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