The Michigan Daily, Thursday, September 10, 1987- Page 3 i Strugge's over With fee system battle won, PIRGIM can return to work By MARTHA SEVETSON The battle is won. After two years of hanging posters, distributing petitions, and lobbying to save its skin, the Public Interest Research Group in Michigan can return to projects such as fighting hunger and cleaning up toxic waste. "We've spent two years working on a new funding system," said PIRGIM chair Judy Hyslop. "That's why we haven't been as visible. We have done some project work, but nothing like we could do." Hyslop, an LSA senior, led the environmental group through the struggle to receive funding through a refundable student fee system. Under this system all students are billed to support the group, but any student who doesn't want to pay the fee may request a refund. . UNTIL 1985, the group was funded by a "donation system" - students who wanted to fund the group checked off a positive box on the Student Verification Form. But this funding system - the only SVF fee for a student group ever approved by the University's Board of Regents - was cancelled two years ago when fewer than 15 percent of the student body supported PIRGIM. In July, the regents removed the clause allowing groups to receive funding through the SVF form, preventing PIRGIM or any other group from returning to this system. According to Hyslop, removing this clause will not affect PIRGIM because the group does not plan to solicit another positive checkoff system. "It's kind of a moot point, right now," she said. Even before the clause was removed, the regents were unwilling to reinstate the funding mechanism for PIRGIM. Despite a 16,800- signature petition in favor the funding method in 1986, several regents advised the group to develop a liaison with MSA for future funding. yet for the refund system, but we're trying to make it as easy as possible for people who want their money back to get it back." At least two students, however, do not think the refund system is "easy" enough. Law students Steve Angelotti and Randy LaVasseur spoke at the June regents' meeting against PIRGIM, and said that they will sue the group for an "unconstitutional funding system." "EVEN under the refund mechanism, a student would be 'We've spent two years working on a new funding system. That's why we haven't been as visible.' - Judy Hyslop, PIRGIM chair THEN MSA President Kurt Muenchow strongly opposed the suggestion of such a funding mech- anism, but the majority of assembly members endorsed the proposal. After heated debate, MSA decided to put the proposal to a student yote in the MSA elections last March. Students-voted overwhelmingly to support PIRGIM, and the fee was officially merged with the MSA fee students pay each term. Unlike the MSA fee, however, students may request a refund if they do not want to fund PIRGIM. "We expect 70 percent of students will contribute," said Hyslop. "We haven't signed a contract with MSA forced to ask for his refund," LaVasseur said. Regent Deane Baker (R-Ann Arbor) also strongly opposes the funding system. In June, Baker proposed an amendment to prohibit MSA from financing PIRGIM, but the 'motion failed. "If the regents empower this taking of money it is clearly apparent that a court challenge of this patently unconstitutional limitation of student rights will follow," Baker said. Although the MSA funding allocation for PIRGIM will not be decided until fall, MSA President See PIRGIM, Page 21 Daily Photo by ANDI SCHREIBER Boy meets plant Second-year graduate student Dave Fraser carries home a plant he bought at the plant sale at the Michigan Union. Unerrad initiatives have been annouced By LISA JORDAN Last January the University administration announced it would divide $1 million among the University community to improve undergraduate life and education. Out of 150 proposals received, the administration decided in July to fund 22 which cover such areas as classroom size, student-professor interaction, and expanding i ducational facilities. Proposals provide for TA training, classes Affairs James Duderstadt said the initiative allows faculty members to "focus their talents on activities that will improve the quality o f undergraduate education at the U of M." But associate political science Prof. Donald Herzog feels the the University's reputation as a research institute and to draw more high school students to attend. REGARDLESS of the reason for the initiatives, however, the University community responded with enthusiasm to the initiative when the call for proposals went Winning proposals were to have been announced May 1, but due to the unexpected number of ideas received, the initiative selection committee delayed the announcement. The majority of the winning proposals deal primarily with educational opportunities for first- year students and sophomores. Introductory classes in many departments will have fewer students and cover more in-depth material. Assistant sociology Prof. and proposal submitter William Frey said, "If it wasn't for this initiative thing, we couldn't offer this type of program." Frey's project - Investigating .Social and Demographic Change in America - will introduce first-year students and sophomores to social, political, and economic influences on the demographic structure of the United States. THE CLASS of 25 students will stress computer proficiency and group interaction. Students interested in the class will also be asked to See INITIATIVES, Page 17 Vice President for Academic initiatives were introduced to combat out. ood :mnot sitting around doing nothing' By LISA POLLAK Charles Moody wants people to :know that he's not the Messiah, a miracle worker, a lone crusader, or the man with the final solution to solving the problems of University. minorities. But Moody, the University's Vice ;Provost for Minority Affairs since 'June 1, wants people to know that :he's "not sitting around doing :nothing, either." Appointed to the provost position as part of the University's "six point :plan" to address minority concerns, Moody spent the summer not so much developing new strategies to fight campus racism but improving :old ones - "we don't need to :reinvent the wheel," he said. BUT his guidelines for change and improvement - backed up with years of experience fighting racial and sex discrimination as director of the Program for Educational ;Opportunity and Center for Sex Equity in Schools - include a .personal commitment to the "four- :dimensional fight, against discrim- *ination." Moody defines the first dimension -"access" - as the "struggle to -bring minority students to the University in the first place." "Minority students shouldn't feel as if someone has done them a favor betting them come here," Moody said. By hosting different educational r M " programs for minority students this summer, the University "has worked with the students early enough in their careers to provide incentive. We're getting it known that these people have strengths and are capable of handling such work." THESE programs include the Martin Luther King/Rosa Parks College Day program to introduce minority students to the University as well as various seminars hosted by the Business, Engineering, and Rackham graduate schools. Moody stressed that such programs are advocated by his office but sponsored through the collaborative efforts of many University departments. Other plans include the presentation of fellowships in a variety of academic subjects to visiting minority professors. The second dimension of the fight is for "process" - "to insure people See MOODY, Page 22 Why Settle For Anything Less Than the Best? The Michigan Ensian yearbook, recipient of an All American rating from the Associated Collegiate Press, nearly doubled its sales figures last year. Find out why - Order the 1988 yearbook. ENSIAN Get an HP-12C now and get $10 back! The HP-12C is a financial powerhouse you can rely on for amortization and depreciation schedules, bond calculations, loan values, interest rates and more. And if you buy now, you can get $10 back! Offer ends October 31, so come in for details today. HEWLETT CPSPACKARO " Electronics Showroom: 1110 S. University Ulrich's Bookstore: 549 E. University Ulrich's Annex: 1111 S. University ELECTRONICS Phone: 313-662-3201 .. - Are you interested in Global Peacemaking and Ethics? Understanding, -- You are invited to visit the ECC and participate in our programs and activities, including: * Fall Picnic for new and continuing foreign students and scholars at Island Drive Park, Sunday, September 13 at noon.