The Graduate Student Association reacted skeptically at Tuesday night's meeting to the University's proposals for implementation of mandatory insurance.

Graduate assistants and newly enrolled international students and their dependents must provide insurance beginning next fall. The University has decided to pay 80 percent of single coverage of graduate assistants, totaling about $280, with the remaining 20 percent to be paid by students.

However, GSA wants the University to apply the money they would use to pay for the University's policy to the student's existing policies if the student has a waiver.

GSA President Ken Martin said waiver standards, developed by the Committee on University Student Insurance, help determine if the student's insurance plan is comparable to the U.S. Guardian plan offered by the University.

Martin said $35 to $40 will be deducted automatically from the assistants' September and February paychecks.

"You've accepted the policy if you haven't said anything different," he said.

Alesia Goginsky (graduate-exercise and sport science) asked if the $280 could be applied to a student's existing policy if he or she has a waiver, but Martin said he did not think that would happen.

Graduate assistants will lose their raises to pay for the insurance, said GSA Treasurer Frank Miskiel. He suggested they strike unless changes are made in the proposals.

"They don't like to hear that from this organization," he said.

According to the standards, comparable plans should include: coverage for accident and sickness, maternity benefits for the student and dependents, a maximum benefit of at least $50,000 and payment of benefits worldwide.

The waiver standards is one of several issues the committee is debating, said Craig Millar, associate vice president for student services and chairman of the Committee on University Student Insurance. Millar said he is meeting other University officials this week to discuss problems.

In other business, a representative for the Student Challenge asked GSA to donate the proceeds from one of their movie weekends to the challenge. She said GSA would decide how the money would be used.

GSA member Andrew Jackson said the Women of Color Outreach Committee has asked GSA to co-sponsor an ice skating party for all members of the community.

Since not enough GSA delegates were present to make quorum, both issues will be discussed at the next GSA meeting.

Assistant Vice President for University Safety David E. Stormer answered questions about the parking situation at the University.