The Michigan Daily-Thursday, November 8, 1979-Page 3
Faculty disinterest may
hurt salary law protest
By JULIE ENGEBRECHT
University faculty and staff members
said yesterday that plans to protest a
state law mandating salary disclosure
may be futile because of a la'ck of
strong support for their cause.
This lack of support was blatantly.
evident yesterday when a mere 14
people showed-up for two separate
meetings on the disclosure issue. The
meetings were held to permit those af-
fected by the law to ask questions and
express opinions on the recently passed
legislation.
ACCORDING TO Assistant Person-
in both sessions concerned how much
and what kind of information would ac-
company the list.
Participants also asked how other
state universities have -handled com-
pliance with the law, and what reac-
tions disclosure generated on those
campuses. .
HAYES EXPLAINED that the law
does not mandate any particular way of
releasing the salary informtion, and
said the University is free to design the
disclosure any way they decide. Op-
tions include simply listing names by
salary, or including that information
"The administration should lay down and take
-tlje kicks, which I suspect strongly are well-justi-
Jled."
should release the salaries with as
much information as possible to defend
the salaries. "It's the only way the
University can come out of it looking at
all good," he said. Nims has filed a
complaint with the University regar-
ding salary inequity.
One professor suggested that the
salary be copyrighted as in a book, so if
requested the information could be
distributed, but not published again.
Most of those attending the meetings
said they were concerned with keeping
the information out of the newspapers.
"Hell, most of us know what our
colleagues make within a few bucks by
now anyway," said the professor who
refused to be identified.
"Well, I wonder about that," respon-
ded Psychology Prof. James Lingoes.
Lingoes said he was concerned that
some faculty leaders were attempting
to "stone-wall" and circumvent the
University's compliance with state law.
. "When the legislature votes 100-1 (in
passing the law) they're going to get
damh punitive (if the University tries to
circumvent the law)," he slid.
"The best tactic is to be as open as
possible-numbers and everything
else," Lingoes said. "The time for
compromising was a year and a half
ago. Now we have no choice. They've
taken the options away from us," Nims
said.
4
-Kirk Minis, Undergraduate Library
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Grave Situation
nel Director Edward Hayes, the
piimary purpose of the meetings was to
giv.e the faculty and staff an oppor-
tupity to have input in the process
before the executive officers make a
recommendation to the Regents..
The University's policy that says
faculty and staff salaries are private
matters is in conflict with the state law
signed by Lt. Gov. JamestBrickley on
Oct. 26.
The law, which would force the
University to release salary infor-
mation, is an amendment to the state's
Freedom of Information Act.
FIVE PEOPLE attended yesterday
morning's meeting at the Medical
Campus, including two representatives
from the University's personnel office,
one from hospital information services,
and one representative from the
medical school dean's office.
A more vocal crowd of nine
professors and staff members came to
the meeting on Central Campus yester-
day afternoon.
Kirk Nims, undergraduate library
staff members, said the low turn out at
the meetings is probably due to the
faculty and staff's resignation to the
fact that the salaries must be released.
"What's the point of kicking our heels
now?" he asked.
HAYES, WHO conducted the
sessions, told each group about the new
law, and explained that the Regents
probably will change the University's
policy to comply with the law.
Most of the questions and discussion
with rank, training, and prior experien-
ce in order to explain why an individual
receives a particular salary.
He also said the University could
release the names and salaries
alphabetically by department, or in
Social Security number order without
including the Social Security number.
The latter method would be employed
to confuse list recipients.
One professor, who asked not to be
identified, suggested that all the infor-
mtion be released to the public, but with
a code number, instead of a name.
Others agreed the University should
explore that as an option.
"I DON'T THINK anyone needs the
data for any purpose except fun," the
professor said.
Several people expressed concern
that the lists would be available to the
general public through the library, but
Hayes responded that it is a "perfectly
legal posture for the University to sit
and wait for the request" and to deal
with them on a case-by-case basis.
Staff member Nims said by
previously refusing to give the state
legislature the information it wanted
"the University has not helped to allay
fears .that there must be something
wrong going on.
"It is inevitable there are inequities
which have existed for a number of
years with regard to faculty
evaluation," he said. "The ad-
ministration should lay down and take
the kicks, which I suspect stronly are
well-justified," Nims added.
HE SAID HE believed the University
A Menominee County farmer makes it clear that anyone daring to set foot on his property faces (six-foot) deep trouble.
SECURITY DEPOSIT ACT STIRS DEBATE:
FILMS
Ann Arbor Public Library-Antonia, 12:10, 7:30 p.m., Ann Arbor Public
Library.
Ann Arbor Film Co-op-Tokyo Story, 7, 9:30 p.m., Angell Hall, Aud. A.
Cinema Guild-The Blue Angel, 7,9:05 p.m., Old Arch. Aud. 10
Mediatrics Films-3 In The Attic, 7, 8:30, 10 p.m., Michigan Union
Assembly Hall.
SPEAKERS
WUOM-National Press Club: Joan Baez discusses her recent trip to
Cambodia, 10:15 a.m.
College of Engineering-Louis Hegedus, "Automobile Exhaust
Catalysis," 11 a.m., 2084 East Engineering.
Center for Western European Studies-J. David Singer, "From Confron-
tation to War in the European State System, 1816-1975," noon, Michigan
League.
Center for Japanese Studies-Richard.Park, "Military Government in
Japan: The First Year," noon, Lane Hall Commons.
Industrial and Operations Engineering-Vaclav Chvatal, 4 p.m., 229
.West Engineering.
Comparative Literature-Louis Marin, "A Reading of The Arcadian
;.Shepherds by f.Pousain: Towards a Theory of Reading a Painting," 7 p.m.,
MLB Lecture Room 2.
Undergraduate History Association-James Vann, "B'aroque Art and
Its Patrons," 7:30 p.m., 229 Angell Hall.
Washtenaw Reading Council-Marilyn Stickle, "Secrets For Developing
a Power Packed Reading Lesson," 7:30 p.m., Ypsilanti High School.
Rudolf Steiner School-Henry Barnes, "How Can I best Educate My 4
Child To Meet Life in the 21st Century?", 8 p.m., Rudolf Steiner House, 1923
Geddes. .
Chemistry Department-Derek Davenport, "From Genesis to the Book
of Revelation," 8p.m., 1300 Chemistry Building.'
PERFORMANCES
Studio Theatre Series-Overruled, 4:10 p.m., Frieze Building Arena
Theatre.
PTP-Broadway, 8p.m., Power Center.
Music School-Collegium Musicum, Thomas Taylor, director, 8 p.m.,
Recital Hall, Music School.
English Department-Poetry Readings, Herbert Scott, 8 p.m., Michigan
Union Pendleton Arts Center.
MEETINGS
Michigan Christian Fellowship-weekly meeting, 7 p.m., Michigan
Union.
Ann Arbor Advocates for Safe Alternatives in Childbirth-free public
meeting, 7:30 p.m., Wesley Foundation Lounge, 602 E. Huron.
Rentei
By WILLIAM THOMPSON
The interest landlords now collect on
tenants' security deposits may be
returned to renters if a bill currently in
the state legislature is passed. Tenants'
rights supporters say the bill would
bring welcome relief to beleaguered
renters, while landlords warn that the
bill's passage would drive rents even
higher.
Such threats dominated a hearing
before the House Consumers Commit-
tee Tuesday night in the State Capitol.
Before a crowd of some 60 people,
representatives for tenants and lan-
dlords exchanged conflicting testimony
on the effects the bill could have.
THE SECURITY Deposit Act, spon-
sored by Rep. Perry Bullard (D-Ann
Arbor), would require landlordsto pay
interest to tenants on security deposits,,
at a rate equal t the maximum rate for
savings accounts. It would also force
landlords to repay the security deposit
within 24 hours after notification that
the tenant will not be moving in.
"This bill is pretty simple and
eminently reasonable," said Bullard's
aide Dan Sharp, citing similar laws in
13 other states. "Their (other states')
experience has been fairly good."
Among the 20 landlords who testified,
however, nearly all insisted that the ef-
fects of the bill as law would force them
to raise rents. "I never thought raising
the rent would be helping the tenants,"
said landlord Charles Fagan. "But if it
is, I'm going to start helping them out."
YVONNE NANASI of the Michigan
Tenants Rights Coalition admitted that
rents would rise but the passage of the
bill would at least provide a legitimate
reason for an increase. "Rents are
going up anyway," she said. She was
one of six speakers who support the bill.
Hope Alexander of the Ann Arbor
chapter of the Public Interest Research
Group in Michigan (PIRGIM) called
security deposits "interest-free loans."
She stressed that "A landlord can use
security deposits.any way he chooses,
which includes making investments in
more real estate that eventually boosts
rents even higher.
Flint landlord Terry Hansen claimed,
however, that thesmoney from the in-
terest on deposits goes toward im-
provements on apartment buildings. It
would be the condition of the buildings,
he warned which would suffer with the
passage of the bill.
BUT THE landlords' main contention
that the bill would increase rents was
stated by Muskegon landlord John
Rose. "The interest (from security
deposits) is figured into the cost of
doing business," he said. "I figure it in-
to my pr6fit at the end of the year."
Bill Bailey, a tenant from Muskegon
agreed, saying "I don't see how giving
me back a $10.00 interest fee is going to
help me. My landlord would raise the
rent at least $20."
Other landlords expressed fear that
small landlords would be driven out of
business by the extra paperwork
brought about by the filing required
forms on interest payments. Janet
Green of Michigan State University's
Off-Campus Council said those claims
were exaggerated. The required
... A
,s may gc
paperwork "takes less time than un-
clogging a drain, and that happens
more than once a year," Green said.
MANY OF those testifying in favor of
the bill referred to a letter that John
Stegeman, president of Campus Ren-
tals in Ann Arbor, had written to the
committee. Stegeman's letter pointed
out that Campus Rentals has been
paying interest on security deposits for
ten years and has experienced success
with the policy.
But Ann Arbor landlord Cliff Morris
said the provision requiring repayment
of deposit to tenants who decided not to
move in would result in "students tying
up the market," by renting many apar-
tments and backing out on all but one.
Other landlords complained that the
repayment clause would leave' them
defenseless against n irresponsible
tenant. East Lansing landlord Donald
Klein said he would wonder, "Is my
apartment rented or isn't it?"
TO PREVENT this, Sharp yesterday
said Bullard would propose an amen-
dment that would permit the landlord to
keep some money if a tenant does not
move in after signing a lease.
"It would establish a maximum
penalty for failing to move in," Sharp
explained. "The penalty would reflect
the relative seriousness of the
situation" allowing a greater penalty to
be assessed against a tenant who backs
out just prior to the beginning of the
lease.
NO CHANGE
WE'RE STILL HERE
BOWL ING &
GILLIlARDS
AT THE UNION
Reduced Rates
10:00=6:00 p.m.
today.
"The landlords did raise legitimate
problems," Sharp admitted. "If we can
restructure the bill so they won't have
to fill out the IRS form, we should do
it."
Sharp said this could be accom-
plished through requiring landlords to
reduce the final month's rent by an
amount equal to the deposit interest.
Yet he warned there would be a delay
before the amendments could be added
and the bill considered further. "I don't
think we'll be able to get to it until
December.
"The hearing indicated that the lan-
dlords are pretty well organized
Bullard said yesterday, "and we are
going to have a fight on our hands to get
it out of committee. We are right on the'
edge."
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Invites you to join nim Tor
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Thurs. Nov. 8
8pm.--2a.m.
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IORSII'o
The 1980 MICHIGANENSIAN Senior Portrait Photog-
rapher is back by popular demand for a special two-
day engagement (Nov. 12 & 13).
If you missed him last Sring and earlier this Fall you
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