Miami Hurricane, February 01, 1994

              B ES Età VE
Filing taxes made easier by telephone system
By LISA J. HURIASH and JENNIFER RAMACH
01 the staff
Filing taxes may have lost some of its traditional headache affect this year for some students.
Students who are residents of Florida, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, South Carolina and Michigan may be eligible to file their taxes through a new Telefile system.
Residents of the seven states who used the 1040EZ form to file their 1992 taxes will be able to file by touch-tone telephone. Those who completed the 1040EZ last year were single wage earners with an income of less than $50,000.
If students are eligible for Telefile, they will receive a package in the mail, with the number and information about the program.
John Schnellmann, Internal Revenue Service spokesperson for South Florida, said there are advantages to using telefile.
“For one thing, you can dial into the system 24 hours a day,"
For one thing, you can dial into the system 24 hours a day. Also, because the IRS computer does some of the calculations, there is less chance of error.”
JOHN SCHNELLMANN
1RS spokesperson
Schnellmann said. “Also, because the IRS computer does some of the calculations, there is less chance of error. This also helps the process go faster.”
Because of the improved speed and accuracy, Schnellmann said, refunds will be sent to the taxpayer within three weeks of filing by phone, compared to six to 10 weeks when filing taxes the traditional way.
Schnellmann said students who are permanent residents of one of the seven states can access the IRS this year by telephone, but they only get one personal identifcation number |PIN| to prevent fraud.
“They’ll be locked out of the system if they keep calling,” Schnellmann said.
Schnellmann said the program has been available in Ohio for two years. "We tested it as a pilot program to work out the glitches. We had a high approval rate," he said. “I think 90-something percent of the people who used the program said they would again.”
Schnellmann said there are about 540,000 South Florida residents eligible for Telefile. He said the IRS hopes about 59,000 will actually use the system.
For students who work in Florida, but don’t live there, they can-
not use the Telefile system unless they are permanent residents of one of the other six states, said Schnellmann.
He said married people earning less than $50,000 per year will now be able to use the 1040EZ system. Next year they will be able to file by telephone.
Callers enter their social security number, wages, interest and tax withheld. The IRS then computes the adjusted gross income and federal taxable income, figures the tax and calculates the refund.
The taxpayer must then mail a paper Form 1040-TEL to the IRS. The form must be signed by the taxpayer and sent in with the W-2.
Telefile is available 24 hours a day. Schnellmann said he advises calling during the afternoon on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.
“Most people try to get things
done on Monday or Friday or first thing in the morning,” Schnellmann.
This year, for the first time, the Internal Revenue Service is mak-
Health Center offers low-cost medication
Students save on prescription, over-the-counter drugs
By JODY JACKSON
Hurricane Staff Writer
Students can get most over-the-counter cold remedies as well as prescription drugs at the Student Health Center for a lower price than off-campus drug stores, according to a price comparison.
"That’s why we're here,” said Hr. Frederick Kam, director of the Student Health Center. “We want to make it affordable for students to get medicine. We’re not out to make a profit.”
Sonia Mora, pharmacist at the health center, said they stock a limited number of over-the-counter products, but there are generic brands for most medications.
“Instead over having many types of one medication, we stock one kind and this way we can try to deal contract prices with the manufacturer,” said Mora. “The result is that our prices are a lot cheaper than what students get off-campus.”
Mora said although the health center pharmacy is mainly for prescription drugs, many over-the-counter medications have been added over the past year.
"If a student needs a certain type of over-the-counter medication, we can have it in 24 hours," said Mora.
Not all students take advantage of the health center’s ser-
vices.
"I’ve never bought medication at the health center,” said senior Warren Wise. “I don't really buy prescription drugs, but if I buy over-the counter medicine I usually go to Eck-erd.”
Ginger Fernandez, a junior, said she has bought prescriptions as well as over-the-counter cold products at the health center.
“I've bought cough medicine like Robitussin at the health center and I find the prices there are cheaper,” said Fernandez.
Kam said the health center has been very busy recently due to the flu season which usually ends in February.
"Overall, we’ve given approximately 400-500 flu shots here at the health center," said Kam. “The season lasts from late September until sometime in' February. We ran out of the vaccine and tried to order more, but the manufacturer had back orders for over 6 weeks.”
Kam said the vaccine is different each flu season, and the manufacturer only makes a certain amount according to the supply available.
“We don’t have anymore of the vaccine this season. The supply ran out because of the high demand for it.”
CHRIS BERNACCHI/Photo Editor ■ COLD SEASON'S BACK: Dr Frederick Kam, director of the UM Health Center, prepares a syringe at the UM Health Center Thursday. During cold and flu season, flu shots are available at the Health Center.
Following are prices for some brands of cold, cough and flu medicine at stores around the Coral Gables campus:				
Presciption	Eckerd's	Force Five convenience store	UM Health Center	Rite-aid
Amoxil (30 capsules, 250 mg)	$8.99	e	$4.00	$9.30
Trlmox (30 capsules, 250 mg)	$9.19	e	not available	$12.30
Over-the-Counter Contac 12 hour capsules (10)	$3.99	$5.89	n/a	$4.29
Nyquil original flavor (6 oz)	$3.49	$5.55	$2.50 (generic)	$3.19
Sudafed severe cold (10)	$4.39	$6.90	$2.50 (generic)	$4.99
Tylenol Cold (24 caplets)	$4.89	Not Available	n/a	$4.99
* does not sell prescription drugs				
TAX TIME
Filing taxes by phone
Who can use TeleFile?
•	Students who filed Form 1040EZ in 1992 and haven't moved or changed addresses
•	Students who are single, with no dependents, and still meet requirements to file form 1040EZ
•	Students who received the TeleFile tax package in the mail Some tips when using TeleFile:
•	Use a touch-tone phone to call the IRS toll-free telephone number
•	Enter your social security number, wages, and tax withheld
•	In five to ten minutes the IRS computes adjusted gross income and federal taxable income, figures the tax, calculates tne refund due, and tells the caller
•	Taxpayers must sign Form 1040-TEL, attach Form W-2 and send it to the IRS
ing forms available in a foreign language, Spanish. The widely used 1040A short form will be available in Spanish in South Florida and Southern California.
■ To obtain forms in English call 1-800-829-3676 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. and on Satur-
day, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
■	Assistance in English is available at 1-800-829-1040 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
■	Forms and assistance in Spanish is available 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday- Friday at 1-800-829-HORA.
Donations give seniors chance to leave gift
By KRISTINE BLUMENSAADT
Hurricane Staff Writer
Before this year’s clan of seniors graduate, they will have a chance to leave something behind. That’s because the class of 1992 set up a scholarship fund to be awarded to incoming seniors called the Senior Class Gift.
The tradition continues this year with the Legacy Class of 1994 Endowed Scholarship Fund.
Seniors can donate any amount to the fund by either check or credit card, said Marlen Mieres-Tejera, assistant director of annual giving. They can also donate their $200 enrollment deposit, plus interest, which they would otherwise get back when they graduate.
In the past, a junior received the scholarship directly from the seniors. This year, an endowment fund is being set up so funds can collect interest, making the most of the donations.
Recipients of the award, upcoming seniors only, are selected by the Legacy Committee based on demonstrated need. The committee was started on the premise that students lose financial aid as they
rise in the ranks of college. Membership in the Legacy Committee is open to any interested seniors.
Sophomore JoAnn Yanez said she would be willing to donate part of her enrollment deposit to a senior scholarship fund.
“I would definitely give all of it,” Yanez said.
But some seniors said they don’t know enough about the program yet to commit to donating.
“If I had more information I would donate, but I’m not going to throw money into a black box,” said senior Stephen Baker.
Christine Aiton, a senior in the School of Business, said she is not donating her deposit or any other sum to the fund.
“I personally don’t have the money to donate, nor do my parents, especially because I have a sister in college also,” Aiton said. ‘Tve spent so much money here already.”
Postcards will be sent to seniors this semester asking them to donate. A table will also be in the Breezeway closer to the date of graduation.
Five potential candidates named for vice president
By LISA J. HURIASH
Associate News Editor
Five possible Student Government vice presidential choices have been named by SG President Adam August: senior Michelle Goldsmith, executive SG secretary; junior Cristie Pecoraro, SG treasurer and Zêta Tau Alpha sorority president; junior Roger Kline, former SG treasurer; junior Mary Doyle, former Zeta Tau Alpha sorority president and junior Shawn Everett, SG pro-diversity chairperson.
August said he will announce the candidate Wednesday at the SG meeting. He said he has already
made his decision but refused to disclose his choice.
Former SG vice president and senior Gus Abalo resigned from the position last week, citing time constraints as his reason for stepping down.
August said he is waiting for the advisory opinion of the Council of Chairs before Wednesday and the SG Senate to ratify his decision on Wednesday.
Pecoraro said she doesn't want the position of SG vice president because she wants to get involved
See page 3/GOVERNMENT
This
ssue
■	TOP SEED: Gil
Kovelski, UM's No. 1 seed, battles against Pepperdine University in Saturday’s match at Neil Schiff Tennis Center.
See Sports, page 9.
■	Baja Beach Club gives feminists a wake-up call, in some people’s opinion.
See Opinion, page 4.
True Rewards not coming to students in residential colleges
By DARIN KLAHR
Contributing Editor University of Miami students using the AT&T ACUS service are excluded from AT&T’s “True Rewards” program, advertised in the Dec. 20 edition of The New York Times as a chance for customers to receive free frequent flyer miles and free AT&T minutes “for every dollar you spend on AT&T long distance.”
ACUS is a partnership between AT&T and the University’s Department of Information Resources to provide on-campus long-distance service.
Lynne Schenden, the communications director for AT&T College
and University Systems, says the ACUS service is a different type of service than what True Rewards is catering to — the residential service.
"The University system is not tied into the residential system,” she said. "It’s not like we could just turn around and do it.”
True Rewards, according to the Times advertisement, allows customers to redeem five frequent flyer miles for every dollar spent on AT&T. Customers can choose from the Delta Airlines, United Airlines and USAir programs. A press release states that nothing can be redeemed if the customer spends less than $25 within the
billing cycle.
Customers also can choose to redeem every $100 worth of calls made “for about a half hour of more AT&T long distance calls,” based on the service’s evening calling rates on Dec. 15.
MCI also offers five frequent flyer miles on Northwest Airlines for every dollar spent. The on-cam-pus University phone system, however, only allows users to directly dial long distance with the ACUS system. For example, ACUS has agreed to advertise on the back page of the University’s directory for the duration of the partnership.
ACUS has been in use at UM since 1986 and currently, more
than 170 colleges and universities participate.
ACUS Assistant Manager Jeff Lehman said ACUS was going to allow its customers to partake in the True Rewards, but that he was waiting for the company to begin the implementation.
Schnenden said any implementation would not take place before the 1994-95 academic year. “(Promotions! are something we plan a year in advance,” she said. True Rewards would be considered for next year.
“ACUS is a package that the University can tailor to meet their needs, the needs of their campus and students,” she said.
■ HELPING HANDS: Resident Assistants are responsible for much of on-campus life.
See Accent, page 6
■ For the atudents?:
What is your opinion of SG? Here’s what some people think.
See Speak-up, page 4.