E Page 2 - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, March 9, 1989 Indirect costs provide key to budget NOELLE SHADWICK DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS The University recently proposed a slight increase in the rate of indi- rect cost reimbursements charged to federal research sponsors. The new rate would require federal sponsors to pay 59.6 percent over the principal cost of a research pro- ject to cover indirect costs - costs that cannot be attributed to any one person or department. As an integral part of the Univer- sity's budget, indirect costs are im- portant, but often misunderstood. The root of this confusion often lies beneath the principles of direct and indirect costs. Indirect costs include heating, lighting and renovation - costs that cannot be pinpointed on any specific person. For example, the University cannot gauge who uses 10 or 30 or 140 hours of electricity. Direct costs are those costs which can be assessed and charged to a par- ticular person or school such as salaries, supplies and travel ex- penses. The University pays for indirect costs from its general fund, which includes monies from state appropriations and student tuitions. In addition, nine percent of the general fund, or about $37.5 mil- lion, comes from indirect cost reim- bursements from research sponsors. All federal research sponsors are required by law to pay a set percent- age of the sponsored research grant or contract, and the University as- sesses rates to non-federal sponsors. The current rate of indirect cost reimbursement is 59 percent of the project's principal cost. This means if a researcher applies for a $500,000 federal grant, the sponsor must pay an additional $295,000, making the total award $795,000.-. The rate of reimbursement is renegotiated each year between the University and the Department of Health and Human Services, the University's largest sponsor. Confusion often arises at this point. When the award is announced as $795,000, people who are not familiar with the way indirect cost charges are assessed, assume that the University takes a percentage right off the top and that the money is somehow subtracted from the re- searcher's salary. This is not true for two reasons. First, the reimbursement is addi- tional money added to the principal cost of the project. Secondly, the re- searcher's salary is not directly af- fected by the money provided by the sponsor. The researcher benefits from the indirect reimbursement because the University does not collect rent for the use of its space, heating or other indirect costs. The University uses the same cost principals used by the federal government to determine reim- bursement rates for state, private and commercial sponsors. Commercial sponsors are asked to reimburse the University at a rate of 66 percent, private foundations are asked for 15 percent, and the state will pay up to a 20 percent reim- bursement rate. If a non-federal sponsor refuses to pay an indirect cost, the University and researcher must decide if the project is worth keeping. Though indirect cost reimburse- ments cover a substantial amount of indirect costs, they do not cover all of the costs. The difference must still be paid by the University out of other general funds such as state ap- propriations and student tuition. Without indirect cost reimburse- ment, the University would have to cut back on its research and instruc- tional activities or use more money from other sources such as tuition and state appropriations. The general fund, projected to be nearly $500 million for 1988-89, provides money for renovations of buildings, purchases of equipment, faculty salaries and student support. Though the general fund receives the greatest proportion of indirect costs, another fund reserved specifi-. cally for research expenditures re- ceives about one-quarter of the indi- rect cost reimbursements. '01 TO THE MICHIGAN DAILY 5 ACOMIC STRIP % BY MICHIGAN'S JUDD WINICK - - v L- HARVARD ~Summer School '89 W Daily " Continued from Page 1 tunity to sit down with each other and air our views on why we feel the way we do," said first-year Law Stu- dent Ted Deustch, who spoke at the rally. After the meeting, Kurtzberg said he thought the discussion was held with sensitivity to the opinions of each side. "'The Daily will be judged by what it writes in the future," he said. One of the main concerns brought up by the Jewish students during the discussions was that many of the Daily editorials contained offensive, non-political attacks that injured the character of the Jewish people. "Criticism of the policies of the state of Israel is legitimate, but to question the existence of Israel and to say it is racist can be anti-Jewish. By calling Zionism racist you call a large segment of the Jewish people racist, which inothis campus envi- ronment is not a good thing," Kurtzberg said. "A large number of people are upset with the way you criticize Is-. rael, not the fact that you criticize Israel," he said. Another concern aired during the meeting was that the Daily used "unsubstantiated facts" in editorials and news articles and often "oversimplified" the issues. While Esch agreed that unsub- stantiated facts should not be used in news stories, she defended their use in editorials. "Editorials are by their nature speculative and opinionated." Daily staffer Noah Finkel con- tributed to this story. Harvard Summer School offers open enrollment in day and evening courses. The curriculum includes courses that fulfill college degree requirements and programs designed for personal and professional development. Our international student body has access to Harvard's outstanding libraries, fine museums, well-equipped laboratories, and cultural activities. We feature a college-level program for secondary school juniors and seniors,* as well as a Dance Center and special programs in Drama, Writing, Ukrainian Studies, and English as a Second Language. INBRIEF Compiled from Associated Press and staff reports Britain expells 30 Iranians due to death threats against Rushdie LONDON - Britain announced yesterday it is expelling about 30 Iranians on security grounds because of Iran's death threat against novelist Salman Rushdie. The government also warned Britains to get out of Lebanon for safety precautions. The Foreign Office said that the 150 Britains in Lebanon are under "increased threat" from kidnappers following Iran's severing of diplomatic relations Tuesday with Britain over Rushdie's novel, The Satanic Verses. Three Britons are among the 15 foreign hostages in Lebanon. An Iranian newspaper, Kavhan International, said the diplomatic break "will leave its negative impact on the fate of the British hostages." In Beirut, the Revolutionary Justice Organization, which holds two American hostages, said it has completed plans to kill Rushdie and will first attack British police to get to him. Rushdie. is believed to be under police guard in Britain. Mich. school finance reform stalled LANSING - A politically touchy plan to revamp school finance in Michigan was rejected twice yesterday in the state Senate as partisan politics stalled it well short of passage. On votes of 21-14 and 22-14, with 26 votes needed, the Senate defeated a proposal to boost the sales tax to six percent from four percent, slash property taxes by $1.1 billion and provide more than $500 million more for public schools. The Senate was expected to vote on the plan again, perhaps as early as today. But if defeated again, the proposed constitutional amendment would die. It appeared there were potentially enough votes available for the plan, but minority Democrats withheld some votes while charging that Republicans didn't provide their fair share. Democratic leaders demanded one more Republican vote before releasing more of their own caucus. Troops drag Tibetans into streets CHENGDU, China - Security forces dragged Tibetans from their houses yesterday as thousands of Chinese troops took up posts around Lhasa after three days of anti-Chinese riots, travelers reported by phone. Travelers quoted Tibetans as saying death tolls in Tibet were higher than the official count of 12 killed and more than one hundred wounded since Sunday when Tibetans marched in Lhasa demanding an end to nearly four decades of communist rule and the return of their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama's government-in-exile in India offered to hold talks with China to discuss the future of Tibet. The Chinese Embassy in New Delhi refused comment. There were no reports of demonstrations or gunfire yesterday, but for- eign travelers said troops drove through the city announcing the martial law imposed Tuesday and ordering Tibetans to stay inside. HHS supports city needle programs WASHINGTON - Health and Human Services Secretary Louis Sullivan yesterday threw his support behind community-based programs that provide clean needles to drug addicts as a way to stem the spread of the deadly AIDS virus. Sullivan said he would not favor a federal needle-exchange program because of strong sentiment against the idea in some communities. But he encouraged communities to test such programs and said he would support federal financing for community-based projects. Much of the opposition to New York City's needle-sharing program comes from Black and Hispanic leaders who say giving needles to addicts continues the dependence on drugs. Those leaders say efforts should be focused on treatment of drug use. Infected addicts can spread the disease by passing it to their sexual partners as well as to their babies. EXTRAS' Giant chicken causes hullabaloo Marietta, Ga. - Just about any request for directions in this town evokes some instruction involving the Big Chicken, so a recent suggestion to move the structure down the road to Smyrna laid an egg at City Hall. "I'm sure if the chicken had a choice it would stay in Marietta," said Mayor Vicki Chastain. The 63-foot tall chicken head atop a fried chicken restaurant has been a landmark for drivers and pilots for more than 20 years. John Patterson, city administrator in Smyrna, just south of Marietta, recently-asked Kentucky Fried Chicken Corp. to move the bird to a new fast food outlet planned for Smyrna. But both city's mayors disapproved of Patterson's proposal. "I'm sure all the City Council members would throw themselves in front of whatever vehicle would move it," said Ms. Chastain. Smyrna Mayor Max Bacon said he saw no need to bring in "their pigeon-dropping Big Chicken." The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is published Monday through Friday during the fall and winter terms by students at the University of Michigan. Subscription rates: for fall and winter (2 semesters) $25.00 in-town and $35 out-of-town, for fall only $15.00 in-town and $20.00 out-of-town. The Michigan Daily is a member of The Associated Press and the Student News Service. ADDRESS: The Michigan Daily, 420 Maynard, Ann Arbor, MI 48109. PHONE NUMBERS: News (313) 764-0552, Opinion 747-2814, Arts 763-0379, Sports 747-3336, Cir- culation 764-0558, Classified advertising 764-0557, Display advertising 764-0554, Billing 764-0550 Food Buys) I- - - - I Z2 I --- --------- iT ::I E For more information return the coupon below or call (617) 495-2494 (24-hour line). Please allow 3.4 weeks for delivery. (*admission mrquired) - 0 YES, please send a 1989 Harvard Summer School CATALOGUE and/or I specific information about the following programs: I I 0 Secondary School Program 0 English as a Second Language 1 0 Dance Center 0 Drama 0 writing I NameI I Address I I city, state, zip I HARVARD UNIVERSrY SUMMER SCHOOLI L Dept. 693, 20 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 USAI I . .- - ... . . ... .. .. . . - - - ... I AWARD WINNINGV 1 1 COOKIES Buy 3 get1 FREE! offer expires 3/17/89 i 761-CHIP Open Daily( I 715 N. University Till 11:00 p.m. 1 .. .. .. ,. .. . . . . __ _,(V V V - I I Thurs. March 9 Fri. March 1 The University of Michigan SCHOOL OF MUSIC Michigan Music Teachers Association-- Student Chapter Recital. Recital Hall, 8:00 p.m. FREE Concert Band-- 0 William Wiedrich, conductor Jenkins American Overture for Band Gould Ballad for Band Benson Symphony No. 2 ("Lost Songs") Ginastera Danza Final (from Estancia) Hill, 8:00 p.m. FREE Contemporary Directions Ensemble, with the "Twicetime Festival"-- Richard Rosenberg, conductor George Crumb Music for a Summer Evening Xenakis Waarg (U.S. premiere) and Jalons George Balch Wilson Cornices, Architraves and Friezes, for solo cello, performed by James Wilson Laurel Firant World Premiere Gerald Brennan Sappho's Harp Joe Laibman From theTable of the 4 EDITORIAL STAFF: Editor in Chief News Editors Opinion Page Editors Associate Opinion Editors Photo Editors Weekend Editor Associate Weekend Editor List Editor _Wjpl Wm- Adam Schrager Victoria Bauer, Miguel Cruz, Donna ladipalo, Steve Knopper, Usa Pollak, David Schwartz Elizabeth Escd, Amy Harnon Philip Cohen, Elizabeth Paige Robin Loznak, David Lubliner Alyssa Lustigman Andrew Milis Angela Michaels Sports Editor Associate Spats Editors Arts Editors Books Film Theatre Music Graphics Coordinator Mike Gil Adam Benson, Steve Blonder, Rich Eisen, Jule Hdiman, Lory Knapp Andrea Gadd, Jn Poniewozk Marie Wesaw Mark Shaiman Cherie Curry Mark Swartz Kevin Woodson With a Master's in Public Health, You Can Make a Difference! N Training in policy analysis and public health administration can help you make a difference in such important public health issues as: *The Health Status of Women and Minorities eChild and Family Health *Poverty and Health Status News Staff: Laura Cohn, Diane Cook, Laura Counts, Marion Davis, Noah Finkel, Lisa Fromm, Alex Gordon, Stacey Gray, Tara Gruzen, Mark Kolar, Scott Lahde, Kristine LaLonde, Michael Lustig, Jennifer Miller, Josh Mitnick, Fran Obeid, Gi Renberg, Jonatian Scott, Noele Shadwick, Nicole Shaw, Vera Songwe, Patrick Staiger, Jessica Stick, Jody Weinberg. Opinion Staff: David Austin, Bi Gladstone, Susan Harvey, Marc KWin, Daniel Kohi, David Levn, Karen Mier, Rebecca NoM, Marcia Ochoa, Hiary Shadroui, Gus Teschke. Spots Staff: Sieve Cohen, Andy Gottesman, David Hyman, Mark Katz, Jodi Leichman, Eric Lemont, Taylor Lncoln, Jay Moses, Miachael Sainsky, John Samnick, Adam Schefter, Jeff Sheran, Doug Vdcan, Peter Zellen. Arts Staff: Greg Baise, Mary Beth Barber, Ian Campbell, Beth Colquitt, Sheala Durant, Brent Edwards, Greg Fedand, Michael Paul Fischer, Mike Fischer, Robert Flaggert Forrest Green, Uam Flaherty, Margie Heinien, Brian Javinen, Alyssa Katz, Leah Lagios, D. Mara Lowenstein, Lisa Magnino, Kim Mc Ginnis, Kristin Palm, Jay Pinka, J Pisoni, Mike Rubin, Lauren Shapiro, Tony Siber, Chuck Skarsaune, Usha Tummala, Pam Warshay, Nabeel Zuberi. Photo Staff: Alexandra Brez, Jessica Greene, Jule Hdiinan, Jose Juarez, Ellen Levy, Lindsay Morris, Uz Steketee, John Weise. 41