The Michigan Daily-Thursday, September 10, 1981-Page 5
other voices
University'
Last July, Daily summer Editor-in-Chief challenge to t
David Meyer asked University President penses to an
Harold Shapiro to explain the University's were of no cc
policy of redirection toward "smaller but books in the I
better, "and to comment on how he thinks books in the
the; University will fare under the Reagan laboratory in
administration's budget cuts. The It's not ha
*ollowing are segments of President budget. Wha
Shapiro's responses. budget and
that context.'
The primary force governing all our actions we manage t
with respect to the "redirection of the Univer- That is an ent
sity" is not fiscal, but the desire to maintain a thing to unde
quality University, an extremely high quality because we c
University. If this weren't the case, the current our students,
fist-al situation would present no special quality of whE
redeplo
us. We could always lower our ex-
y desirable level if the outcome
oncern to us. If there were fewer
ibrary, then there would be fewer
ibrary; and if we did not have new
equipment, we would do less
struction and research-etc.
ard simply to balance a smaller
t is hard is to balance a smaller
maintain a quality University in
We could always manage. But can
to be a distinguished University?
tirely different matter. So the first
rstand is that our challenge arises
care about quality-the quality of
the quality of our faculty, and the
at we do.
ying its ri
Second, although there will be, by historial
standards, a significant amount of redirection
or change in a relatively short time, most
students' choices and opportunities here will
not be sharply affected by these changes. Fur-
ther, we will make every effort to accom-
modate the needs of all students who are
currently participating in programs that may
be considered for reduction, redirection-etc.
I would like to point out that at the University
of Michigan, students have an almost un-
paralleled spectrum of course offerings. Thus,
decreasing the width of that spectrum
somewhat is hardly noticeable, if you compare
the spectrum to that of other universities.
"SMALLER BUT better" is a phrase I coined
in a speech I gave to the Senate Assembly a
esources
Belcher: City,
. Ucloses
The following is a transcribed rec-
ard of a July interview with Ann
Arbor Mayor Louis Belcher. The
iayor, now in his second full term,
discussed the city's relationship with
the University with Steve Hook,
'ummer term editorial director.
Do you believe University students
are adequately involved in city gover-
nnent?
Belcher: I don't think
whatever reason, they have
so. For
not been
than-average rents and low vacancy
rate,' do you foresee any relief in this
area? What can students do to improve
the situation?
Belcher: Well, we have seen quite a
loosening up of the market in the past
eight months, for student housing. I'm
not sure, but I think it's because of two
factors. First, I think students are
doubling up or tripling up or quadding
up, and not using as many units. I don't
know that it's happening because some
of the big campus landlords are now
dropping their requirements for first
and last month's rent, and in some
Louis Belcher
Ann Arbor Mayor
cases damage deposits. The market it-
self, because of this, probably is
becoming far more competitive. In the
long run, the downscaling of the
University of Michigan-by about 5,000
students-is going to have a trenen-
dous impact on rental properties.
I think the other thing that's going to
help is the viability of the Ann Arbor
Transportation Authority, so students
can afford to live out a little ways and
free up some of the campus market,
using a good transit system to get back
and forth.
What fundamental changes do you
foresee for the city in the next decade?
Do you expect an improving city, or one
that will be struggling to maintain its
present quality?
Belcher: I'm very optimistic for the
city of Ann Arbor, for several reasons.
Number one, Ann Arbor has made a
commitment to limit its size-by fixing
its borders. I think people can expect a
mature city-a lot more renovation of
assets, buildings and parks and so for-
th. You can see that downtown now,
there's hardly an old building left that
hasn't been renovated.
I think the city will remain very
financially viable in the next ten years.
Not because of the new industry in the
area, but because of the consistent cash
flow moving through the business
community, and of course the
stabilizing influence of the University
of Michigan. Business in the area, .-ven
through this down season, has held up
fairly well. I'm sure as we move into
better economic times, Ann Arbor will
enjoy a very prosperous decade.
What. makes Ann Arbor politics dif-
ferent from politics in other cities its
.size?
Belcher: Basically, partisan politics,
and the diversity of the population.
While we've been very concerned about
voter apathy, citizen involvement isn't
dead in Ann Arbor by any means.
People come down and voice their
opinions.
And add to that partisan politics.
There's only two cities in the whole
state of Michigan-Ann Arbor and Yp-
silanti-that hold partisan elections. So
that adds an extra dimension, and of
course an extra battle line in the
political process.
What are the pros and cons of the Ann
Arbor-University of Michigan relation-
ship?
Well, the good points are easier to
talk about, simply because there are
far more of them. The.University and
city are very close. We meet a lot
together, our planning staffs meet
together. I have open access to all
University officials, and they to us.
I think that one of the main reasons
that the relationship between the'
University and city is so much better
than other such towns is that we share
the same municipal services. I think
where it becomes testy, with Univer-
sities and cities, is where the University
will have its own police force and fire
department, and the city does the
same, and you get this competitive
spirit.
The other factor between Ann Arbor
and the University of Michigan is that
they grew up together, and there is
really a hard line sometimes to draw
between campus buildings and public
buildings and residential areas. I don't
think there is this isolation, like there
is, say, at Michigan State, where the
campus is on one side of the
street-fenced off-and the city is on
the other-and it's "us and them."
To be very honest with you, the only
problems we have with the University
are problems we mutually have-get-
ting the new hospital built, getting the
roads built out there. I can honestly
say, at this particular time, that we
don't have any problems with the
University of Michigan.
Harold Shapi
University
President
1
year and a half ago. It is widely misunderstood.
I used it at that time to indicate that perhaps
one way in which we could make ourselves bet-
ter, given external circumstances, would be by
getting smaller. I see nothing intrinsically at-
tractive about smaller. What I am after is bet-
ter. It was meant to be a suggestion, that
perhaps by getting smaller, by doing fewer
things, we can actually improve the quality of
the University. That was the idea.
We must always consider redeploying our
resources into areas that represent important
new initiatives. Another example we are
currently studying is financial aid for students.
Despite large current expenditures iA this
area, a further expansion may be desirable. If
this is the case, we will have to take some
resources which are currently being spent in
another area, be it academic or nonacademic,
and redirect them into student financial aid.
Such changes are not easy for the University
since they are almost certain to disappoint
some valued members of the University com-
munity. When we decide to make dramatic cuts
ro
in a particular program, it will be very disap-
pointing for some very good people who may
have devoted long careers to the University of
Michigan.
UNFORTUNATELY, we are at that time
when we are facing such difficult decisions.
And we may have to say what is a very difficult
thing to say: "Yes, you have done a good job
but, in our judgment, this particular area is not
central to maintaining the quality of this
University and we no longer support it."
I think we are over the hump in the sense of
large, extremely rapid reallocations. We are
not over the hump in the sense that there are
more adjustments ahead of us than behind us.
But I hope that these adjustments will not have
to be accomplished in such a rapid time frame.
Because of last year's state budget we had to
move fairly rapidly. And you never do as well if
you move rapidly as you do with if you have
time for a more thoughtful approach. So I think
we are over the hump in terms of adjustments
-Shapiro
per time interval, but there still are more ad-
justments ahead of us than we have behind us.
THE CUTS in the research budgets of certain
federal agencies, as proposed by President
Reagan, would have their primary negative
impact in the social, biological, and behavioral
sciences. The Reagan administration, in its
proposals, has dramatically cut those budgets
and increased the budgets in other areas, such
as the physical sciences and engineering. But
in the social, biological, and behavioral scien-
ces, very severe cuts are proposed.
The University of Michigan happens to have
one of the largest social science research
programs in the country, and some of our most
distinguished departments are in the social
sciences. So these proposals could have a
rather negative impact on us. That issue, of
course, is not yet resolved. It is being argued in
the Congress.
And I have some hope that at least part of the
proposed cuts in those areas will be restored. If
there is somewhat more balance to the final
program, then I think we can avoid any
traumatic impact.
IF YOU include all research elements, the
overall research bIidget that President Reagan
has proposed is not an unreasonable pool of
resources at this time in our economic history.
The question is, can we get more balance into
the program?
I am also very concerned about funds for
science education and the National Science
Foundation Fellowship program for graduate
students. I believe that the Congress and the
administration will rebuild some of these prop-
sed cuts relatively quickly. But there might be
a few difficult years ahead.
We have been ,trying to strengthejn our;
programs in thenatural scienceswithin LSA.
This is because we felt, on the whole, that we'
needed strengthening in some of those areas.
But this judgment had nothing directly to do
with job demand. In the case of engineering, It
think we are having trouble with a very high
student-teacher ratio, and we would like to
readjust that because we just do not think we
can offer a quality education unless we lower
that student-teacher ratio.. .
Our redeployment is not driven solely by job
demand. It is partly responsive to the idea that
students want to study in those areas, but I do
not see anything inappropriate in that, as long
as we do not merely move in 'response to
"fads."
Over time, these redirection changes will be
important. I am sure if you look at the year 1990
and compare it to 1980, you will see a lot of
significant changes. But if you take a student.
who is moving through the system, he or she
will find almost everything that was expected
to be in place arid, if anything, it will be better.
I don't expect it to have a major impact on
students. It'll look radical to the students who
happen to find themselves in a program that
may be discontinued, but there simply are not
going to be that many, in my judgment. So, I
think they'll be in good shape.
for the past several years. I don't know
whether it's because they feel apart
from the community, or whether
*hey're so involved with their studies
that they don't want to get involved
politically. But I've noticed quite a drop
off in student participation in local
government in the last several years.
Should students be more involved in
city politics? In what areas?
I$elcher: Obviously I do, and in
several areas. Certainly the energy
commission would be one, because it
bas a lot to do with what utility bills are
going to be, especially for renters. In
the area of pedestrian and bicycle
afety, certainly. I think the students
can consider themselves the targets,
,basically, of a lot of bad drivers. There
,re a lot of areas that we could use their
expertise and their enthusiasm.
* Students, tend to bring in new ideas.
They tend to explore many areas that
we tend to get complacent about. I think
there's a lot of involvement that would
beneficial both to the city and the
students.
Tenants issues are probably the most
'vital for students, in terms of city
government involvement. With higher-
THE COFFEE S YNDR OME
Coping with college life
I learned to drink coffee my Fresh-
man year in college. I learned a lot of
other things freshman year, but
somehow, learning to swallow that bit-
ter black stuff seemed to be of momen-
tous importance. My roommate and I
kept expensive coffee in our dorm
refrigerator and each morning one of us
would pour water from my K-mart hot
pot through the filter and ground beans
into our mugs. We would sip the brew
cautiously at first, discuss, what we
knew of the world, and then gulp the,
rest before making the trek to our nine
o'clocks. I learned to take mine hot and
black.
It was a first step into the adult
world-albeit a small one. You, too, will
have your own rites of passage this
Campus government open to new students
To the Freshmen and Transfer Students:
The Michigan Student Assembly welcomes you to
the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Campus.
Familiarly known as MSA, the Michigan Student
Assembly is designated to, represent the student body
in the context of student government. MSA interprets
such a charge to simply mean-action.
An incoming enrollee at the U of M is immediately
an active member of the University community, a
student whose needs are as important as the next
person in line at Crisp. A single student's voice can
We as effective as any other in making sure those
needs are met by this university. In essence this is the
action that MSA promotes. Yet action assumes.
meanings proportionate to the size of the student
population.
'As a dorm resident, one encounters opportunities to
become an active force at this university. Each dorm
has its own student government. These bodies are
re9ponsible for planning and scheduling social ac-
tivities. However, individual residents can motivate
certain activities, also. Last year a group of Bursley
residents worked with their dorm government to
prevent a University decision to cut North Campus
A nnst-midnight bus hours. The groun succeeded in
organizations that are recognized by MSA. MSA
grants office space in the student union and funds for
various projects. For instance, international groups
have put on cultural displays for the entire University
community. Becoming active in a group with at least
five other students gives one the opportunity to
initiate and to participate in University-wide ac-
tivities.
In addition to student organizations, MSA oversees
and funds the Student Tenants Union and Student
Legal Services. A shortage of housing on campus and
'off makes tenants rights a prominent issue. Many,
students volunteer at both offices to research and ad-
vise tenants of their rights. With the help of TU and
SLS, a group of students refused to pay their rent un-
til the landlord improved their living conditions. This
action proved successful.
Volunteering at the SLS, TU and at MSA offers a
student "hands on" training. Last winter MSA of-
fered income tax assistance. A group of students with
some business background helped fellow students file
their income tax forms. Another student on the MSA
external committee for the Board in Control of Inter-
Collegiate Athletics almost single-handedly preven-
ted a severe budget cut in recreational sports. Such
-- -&-- - --.e... .......,. , - nvrnrf :_ i -r a
year ps you join the thousands of fresh-
persons fighting to survive at the
University.
IF YOU ARE NOT an accomplished
fighter already, you soon will be. The
basics essential to life in a university
community-food, shelter, books, study
space-do not come easy in Ann Arbor.
And those who don't learn to tackle the
University bureaucracy sink slowly in-
to oblivion. During the course of your
four years here-probably within the
first few months-the University will
bungle at least one of your tuition
statements, academic transcripts, or
financial aid loans. Don't worry. You'll
emerge from the battle a stronger per-
son.
And if you want to enjoy the good
things in life in Ann Arbor, you'll have
to learn to wait in line. Some things
come relatively easy; gaining a good
spot in a different dormitory usually
only takes one night of standing in line.
Other luxuries are more difficult; get-
ting tickets to the Bruce Springsteen
concert'last year meant pitching a tent
and camping out for at least three days
outside of Crisler Arena.
University students learn to make the;
best of things, however. A 45-minute
wait in line to pick up your student
verification form can mean a chance to
get to know the person standing next to
you, to read a book, or to plan out next
year's schedule. My roommate met her
boyfriend camping out at the
Springsteen line.
But there is a word of academic ad-
vice: Don't muck up your grade point
freshman year. Don't let some well-
meaning but sorely ignorant professor
tell you that grades aren't that impor-
tant. In the majority of fields, a good
GPA is the first pre-requisite to suc-
cess. It's an unfortunate reality that
truly messes up the business of lear-
ning.
If you want to be a doctor, dentist,
Sara Anspach
Michigan Daily
Editor-in-Chief
freshman schedule with Calc 115,
Spanish 102, Freshman Comp., and,
chem 123. All are fine, often necessary
courses; but taken together they are too
reminiscent of a high school schedqle.
These classes have one right answer;
the teacher gives it to you, and it's your
job to repeat it back. Try to take a
history course, anthropology course,
freshman seminar, or anything that
will start you thinking about all the dif-
ferent ways there are to look at this
world and its people.
In spite of all the masses attending
college here, you don't have to feel like
one of a large crowd. If you want that
special attention, demand it. Don't be
intimidated by the 699 other people in
your freshman intro courses. If the
professor seems like a pretty in-
teresting person, go up and introduce
yourself; he or she will enjoy talking to
you, and getting to know you.
Ari th i ehc -thi n,, Iviae l.e,
Amy Hartmann
Michigan Student
Assembly Vice-President
nrnved. A arge netwrk of identsi 1d hv the 0rmnm