Page 12C THE MICHIGAN DAILY NEW STUDENT EDITION UNIVERSITY THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1994 Page 120 THE MICHIGAN DAILY NEW STUDENT EDITION UNIVERSiTY THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1994 Construction temporarily scars campus By LISA DINES Daily Staff Reporter Although construction means dirt, noise and inconve- nience for students and faculty, many believe it will create a state-of-the-art University. "Better facilities enable students to have a better educational experience," said University Planner Fred Mayer. Because the University's needs have grown and changed over time, many campus facilities are now out- moded. "The systems of buildings on campus are not designed for the type of use patterns we have now," Mayer said. Farris W. Womack, the University's executive vice president and chief financial officer, said the large amount of construction on campus is due to the favorable eco- nomic climate right now. "We saw this as a window of opportunity because the interest rates are so low. We could get these badly needed facilities either renovated or built at a time when the cost of doing it was lower than it has been in 25 years," he said. The construction is aimed at improving the facilities available to both faculty and students. This includes new classrooms, lecture halls and offices. Renovation projects in several buildings will upgrade mechanical systems such as heating and ventilation, as well as add air conditioning. Ramps and banisters will also be added in many locations to increase the buildings' accessibility to disabled students. "The whole perspective is campus-wide ... Probably the most impressive thing that I have seen is the classroom improvements on campus," said Tom Schlaff, director of construction management. After this current wave of construction is over, the Diag will be next. Improvements in lighting, sidewalks and drainage are planned. "We are going to go in and try to restore the Diag from the abuse it is taking," Mayer said. Changes made to the Medical Campus will increase the space available for research and patient services. "Some of the research programs are jammed tight. They need space that is brought up to the contemporary methods," said Horace Bomar, director of facilities for the Medical School. Minority enrollment reaches all time high Sy Iaing4 ag - DOUGLAS KANTER/Daily Construction workers pour cement as part of the expansion of Randall Lab near the Diag. North Campus will also be expanded to include new facilities for the College of Engineering. The Integrated Technology Instructional Institute (ITIC) will contain a library and technology center geared toward the needs of all four schools on North Campus - Music, Engineering, Art and Architecture. An expansion of the North Campus Commons to provide more food options is also being discussed. North Campus will also receive a bell tower similar to the Burton Tower on Central Campus. Mayer said North Campus is a fast-growing part of the University, and more construction is planned in the fu- ture. "The image of North Campus as very open will change dramatically," he said. With the proposed changes, North Campus will be- come a "one-stop" campus for students of the four schools, Mayer said. The new facilities mean that these students will no longer have to go to Central Campus for their research or technology needs. These campus facilities are under construction:. Angell Hall, C.C. Little, East Engineering, Engineering Center, Hill Auditorium, Integrated Technology and Instruction Center, Medical Science Research Buildings, North Campus Bell Tower,. Randall Laboratory, UGLi By LISA DINES Daily Staff Reporter Although in 1988 President James J. Duderstadt officially charged the University with the commitment to a rainbow campus, critics say the prom- ise is hollow. The Michigan Mandate - a blue- print for creating a campus reflective of the nation's racial and ethnic makeup - charged the University to recruit minority students and faculty. University officials said the institu- tion is a leader in multicultural initia- tives. "I believe the University of Michi- gan stands tall in terms of what it has done to bring a climate and provide safe space for people to discuss issues sur- rounding multiculturalism and diver- sity," said Vice Provost for Academic and Multicultural Affairs Lester Monts. The mandate called for recruit- ment of minority faculty, students and staff as well as overall improve- ment in the environment for diversity at the University. Arts senior Brian Meeks, an Afri- can American, has been at the Uni- versity for four years. He said the climate has not improved for minor- ity students. "It is an uncaring system in that it looks for sheer numbers without tak- ing into account there are people be- hind those digits," Meeks said. "The University is still inhospitable for a lot of Black students, especially from the inner city." Meeks cited a need for more mi- nority support services for students who come to the University from poorer school districts. University officials said the Uni- versity has indeed come a long way since the mandate was announced. According to statistics compiled by the University, the rate of minority student enrollment has increased from 6 to 10 percent since the mandate. Students of color composed 13.5 per- cent of the student body in 1987. The proportion reached its highest point ever last year - 22.8 percent. "The Michigan Mandate compels all the components of the University to work to improve the environment," Duderstadt said. "Our schools have mixed success in doing that. There still may be some places where progress is somewhat slower." Programs designed to help fulfill the mandate include minority peer ad- visers in the residence halls, several diversity education programs, and the Target of Opportunity Program - de- signed to recruit minority faculty. "With regard to multiculturalism and diversity, we are very concerned about having some balance within our academic programs at the Univer- sity," Monts said. According to statistics compiled by the University, the percentage of minority staff and tenure-track profes- sors have all increased since 1987. However, a recent faculty report criticized the University's progress in minority recruitment. The Commis- sion for a Multicultural University - created by the faculty - said the mandate's promise is unfulfilled. The report, which focused on full- time instructional faculty, said the proportion of minority assistant pro- fessors has increased. The proportion of Black and Hispanic associate pro- fessors has only remained constant, and the proportion of minority full professors has actually decreased. Asian faculty have fared better under the mandate: They represent 8 percent of the faculty, according to the committee report, but only 2.9 percent of the U.S. population, according to the 1990 census. Provost and Executive Vice Presi- dent for Academic Affairs Gilbert R. Whitaker Jr. questioned the validity of the study in a written statement. "The report minimizes the progress made by the University un- der the Michigan Mandate and ig- nores the examples that demonstrate this progress," he said. Whitaker said the report failed to include minorities in higher-level ad- ministrative positions. He added that the proportion of minorities with doc- torate degrees makes recruitment more challenging. The Numbers Game In the six year history of the Michigan Mandate, as of fall 1993, minority student enrollment has nearly doubled to 22.8 percent. African Americans once made up the largest minority group on campus. African Americans represent 8.1 percent of the total student population. Asian Americans now outnumber African Americans. They make up 9.4 percent of the total student population. 2 Hispanic/Latinos and Native Americans make up 4.5 and 0.7 percent of student enrollment, respectively. 0 4 "' m ...........