NEW STUDENT EDITION C I be Ninety-six Years of Editorial Freedom + NEW STUDENT EDITION f Ak Vol. XCVI-- No. 1 Copyright 195 The Michigan Doily Ann Arbor, Michigan - Thursday, September 5, 1985 Eighty-two Pages Minority enrollment expected to rise By MARLA GOLD For the second year in a row, minority student enrollment at the University is expected to rise, despite a nationwide trend of decreasing minority enrollment. Following eight years of decreasing enrollment at the Univer- sity, black student enrollment finally rose last year, from 4.9 percent in the 1983-84 school year to 5.1 percent in 1984-85. Hispanic, Asian, and Native American enrollment also increased. MONIQUE Washington, assistant director of admissions, said she is "expecting a modest increase in enrollment like last year," in this year's minority figures, although exact numbers will not be released until the fall. Although the numbers look good, of- ficials say the University still has a long way to go to reach its goals. "I think that we still have a lot to do," said Niara Sudarkasa, associate vice president for academic affairs. Efforts must include reaching out to prospective students and increased faculty involvement with minority students, she said. "WE NEED to be more rigorous in seeking out minority students," added Bob Holmes, associate vice president for academic affairs. Last year, Hispanic students com- prised 1.7 percent of the student body, while Native American enrollment was 0.4 percent. Asian students, while not considered an under-represented minority, accounted for 4 percent of .the student population, bringing total minority enrollment to 11.3 percent. Ron Aramaki, the Asian represen- tative in Minority Student Services, said that if the trend for Asian studen- ts continues, enrollment for that group should jump from last year's 1,200 students to 1,400 or 1,450 this year. ONE WAY the University has tried to attract minority students has been through the appointment two years ago of Sudarkasa, who oversees minority recruitment and retention. "The appointment focuses people's See 'U', Page 6 A I Ex-student cleared of arson. By NANCY DRISCOLL James Picozzi, the former Univer- sity law student accused of setting fire to his law quad room in 1983, has won a significant part of his suit against the University. Picozzi is still seeking $9 million in damages from the University, but he has received a letter of good standing from law school Dean Terrance San- dalow after being cleared of the charges made against him. PICOZZI'S federal court suit, calling for both reparations, prom- pted a hearing last spring before local attorney Robert Guenzel. He was mutually appointed by the University and Picozzi. After five months of deliberation, Guenzel decided Aug. 22 that the University had not, "by clear and convincing evidence, established that Picozzi started the fire." The fire occured March 8, 1983. Picozzi never returned to the Univer- sity after treatment for injuries from the fire. Law school officials accused Picozzi of setting the fire so that he could later blame classmates who he said had been harassing him. Claiming harassment from fellow students, they argued, would make it easier for Picozzi, or any law student, to transfer schools. BUT IN HIS ruling, Guenzel wrote, "It is possible, and maybe even probably, that Picozzi started the fire in a desperate attempt to gain admit- tance to Yale Law School, but I do not think it is highly probable." As a result, Guenzel ordered San- dalow to write the letter of good stan- ding that Picozzi had requested along with the settlement for damages in his suit, biled in Aug. 1984. Picozzi argued that the letter would help him transfer to another law school. The issue of whether the University should also provide Picozzi with money for damages will be taken up in federal court, though the date has not been set yet. "I'M HAPPY with the opinion in that Mr. Guenzel wrote a very careful decision," Picozzi said. He added that See ARSON, Page 13 Pell Grant recipients get award increase By KERY MURAKAMI University students who were awarded Pell Grants got a surprise of between $100 and $150 more than they were awarded last spring, said Har- vey Grotrian, the University director of financial aid. The gift is courtesy of the U.S. Congress, which decided last fall to raise the maximum Pell Grant awar- ds from $1,900 to $2,100. The money to cover the increase was not allocated until July, so the financial aid office didn't award any grants over $1,900. IN JULY , the House and Senate allocated the extra $810 million dollars to the program, and the finan- cial aid office adjusted the awards. Lynn Borset, assistant director of financial aid, said the office had to start notifying people of th7: awards in March and decided to "play it safe" because it was unclear how much money would be allocated in July. But with the increase in funds, Bor- See PELL, Page 10 r " .. .. .. SS s. .". ". v: '".