Page 2E
THE MICHIGAN DAILY NEW STUDENT EDITION ANN ARBOR THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1994
'U' tossed about in political
currents, faces shrinking aid
By JAMES M. NASH
Daily Staff Reporter
Some lawmakers call it greed, but
for the University, it's a way of life.
Each year, University officials lobby
state and national government leaders
for funds. They say the money is needed
to keep tuition in check and improve the
quality of education. But government
officials question the University's grow-
ing appetite for dollars, especially when
weighed against the swelling costs of
the University bureaucracy.
The University, meanwhile, finds
itself in an unpredictable political envi-
ronment-new charter schools, crucial
elections in November, the retirement
of veteran Vice President for Govern-
ment Relations Richard L. Kennedy,
and the fallout of fiscal belt-tightening
on the state and national levels.
All of this may lead to highertuition.
The "love-hate" relationship of the Uni-
versity and the government inevitably
comes back to students in the form of
public safety, tuition costs, financial
aid, taxes, transportation and a host of
other concerns thatoften go overlooked.
A breakdown in relations often
means less money to the University. A
climate of distrust in "town-grown"
relations can lead to policies that ad-
versely affect students.
Ann Arbor Mayor Ingrid B.
Sheldon offers an upbeat assessment
of city-University relations, but state
Sen. Lana Pollack is less optimistic
about affairs on the state level.
"Our relationship has changed a
little, and not for the better," said the
Democratic state senator from Ann
Arbor. "There is a lack of understand-
ing and even tolerance on the part of
the University. The University does
not appreciate all the demands on the
state and on the taxpayer.
"On the other hand, the legislators
tend to think the University is full of
professors who work part time and
get overpaid. Of course, the profes-
sors may think the same of us."
The University is collaborating
with state legislators on issues such as
the out-of-state to in-state student ra-
tio, workloads for University faculty
and, naturally, funding for the school.
"None of these is a big issue right
now, but it will probably change dra-
matically with the November elections
when a much larger turnover is going to
happen with senators and House mem-
bers leaving and term limitations taking
effect," Kennedy predicted.
Noting the even balance of power
between Democrats and Republicans
on the state level, Kennedy said the
University's fortunes do not hinge on
whichever party seizes power.
"I personally don't think it makes
much of a difference which party is in
power as which individuals are in
power," Kennedy observed. "I can't
tell you whether we're better off with
Republicans or Democrats."
Kennedy instead directed atten-
tion to an issue more obscure than the
political tug-of-war.
"This year there will be a vote on
whether to hold a constitutional con-
vention" to consider amendments to
the Michigan Constitution, Kennedy
pointed out. "Depending on how the
vote goes, it inevitably means another
review of our institutional autonomy,
which is always a big issue we're
concerned with."
The University also faces another
review of its budget, an issue that will
determine tuition for the upcoming
year. The institution receives 14 per-
cent of its $2.3 billion budget from the
state government and another 14 per-
cent from federal sources. Tuition ac-
counts for just 17 percent of revenues,
far below the 40 percent brought
through the University Hospitals.
But tuition continues to soar be-
cause the state can't keep pace with the
University's demands, Pollack said.
"The percentage of money in the
(state) higher education budget has
remained very constant over the years.
The costs of the University have gone
up. The overall budget of the Univer-
sity has grown so much faster than the
state budget that we can't keep up."
On the local level, the Michigan
Student Assembly has taken a renewed
interest in city government. The
University's student government is
lobbying the City Council for better
lighting on Washtenaw Avenue, main-
tenance of the Rock and better zoning
laws for sororities and fraternities.
The assembly's city liaison, An-
drew Wright, said student concerns
have often been overlooked because
students vote in lower numbers.
"In the past there has been bad
communication on the part of the Uni-
versity and students," he said after
taking office in February.
Mayor Sheldon urged students to
take responsibility for their own wel-
fare instead of relying on the city.
"Students come to the University
to go to school, but their parents ex-
pect them to have a safe environment
to live in," she said. "It is important to
talk to each other and do things to
work with each other, but there's only
so much we can do as a city.
"We can go out and attempt to find
money for lights, but unless the indi-
vidual tries to structure their life to be
careful, what we do won't matter. We
will try really hard to protect you all."
In 1992-93, the last year for which
figures were available, the University
paid the city $5.8 million for services,
primarily water and sewer.
The state doled out $562,000 to
the city through the University for
fire protection. The issue of fire pro-
tection grants is a prime example of
the "love-hate" relationship between
the city and its largest employer.
As the state Legislature cuts fire
protection appropriations, cities are
scrambling to make up for the lost
funds. Many cities that are home to
universities are feeling the pinch es-
pecially hard, and universities are co-
operating in varying degrees to make
up for the shortfall.
Michigan State University has
agreed to reimburse East Lansing for
the fire protection money the state
would not pay. The University, how-
ever, has made no such guarantee to
Ann Arbor. "We've never had that
kind of relationship here in Ann Ar-
bor," Sheldon said.
The city and University have ex-
pressed a willingness to cooperate on
lobbying the Legislature to restore
the fire protection grants.
FILE PHOTO
Can't find your car? It was probably towed. Call 994-2875 to retrieve it.
Liviyng MiEth a car in A
By MICHELLE LEE THOMWSON
Daily Staff Reporter
While you would probably like to
have a car with you on campus, you
can spend hours looking for a parking
spot, and chances are you'll get a
ticket no matter where you park.
The University grants parking per-
mits for 500 spaces in satellite lots,
which cost $168 peryearin 1993. These
permits are available on a first-come,
first-serve basis, and go on sale in early
September. The University also sells
permits for daytime parking in any of
the various commuter lots located off-
campus. Buses run from the commuter
lots to campus from 8 a.m. to midnight,
but don't always provide speedy ser-
vice to many of the lots.
You can try parking in any of the
1,529 metered curbside spaces lo-
cated on campus. But be forewarned,
meters run only two hours at the most
and parking tickets can cost up to $50,
especially if not paid within two
weeks. Expired Ann Arbor meter tick-
ets, the most common citations, cost
$5 if paid within 14 days.
University metered lot tickets only
run $3, the same price as paying to
park for six hours. However, this fee
and the $10 citation for parking in a
staff paid lot are both pegged for
increases in the fall, according to Park-
ing Services.
Ann Arbor Mayor Ingrid B.
Sheldon said, "Everyone gets (park-
ing tickets). I get them, my kids ge@
them." The city has decreased the
number of unpaid tickets for which
the city will tow from six to four.
Sheldon recommended that students
try to get by on campus without a car
for a while before bringing one up.
The University's bus system runs
24 hours, including runs to the com-
muter lots, North Campus, and pro-
vides special night services. The An
Arbor Transportation Authorit}
charges 75 cents per ride. Passes can
be purchased at the Union. The Com-
muter Transportation Co. offers ser-
vice between Metro Airport and the
University for $14 one-way.
Tm BLUES
Continued from page lE
until 3 a.m. (hint: you'll get a better cup o' joe than from the
vending machine in Angell Hall, but so will everyone else
who has been kicked out of the other cafes. Get there early).
But that stuff may sound boring. Coffee and "Mortal
Kombat" are not everyone's cup of tea - I swear that
coffee-tea thing was not intended.
Rent a movie. I personally rent many each week, but
I am a lonely man, so you may only want to go to the video
store only once in a while. The Study Break in the Union
offers films, which can be rented using Entree Plus, but
they tend to be limited to only the big films which are
never in. Campus Video on Church Street is a decent-
size store with a wider selection of older films, with
discounts Mondays through Friday (excluding new
releases). Located several blocks from campus is Lib-
erty Street Video, which is a must for any film buff.
They carry many mainstream films, but also a large
foreign collection as well as many gems which more
conventional stores fail to dig up. Also, both CampuS
and Liberty Street Video carry a decent stock of adult
films - though I swear I only watch them for the
articles.
But let's face it. If it's a nice night out, you don't
want to be cooped up. After all, you'll only experience
about four perfect nights in Ann Arbor (I'm not talking
per year - I'm talking during your academic career).
Get out! See if you can catch Amazin' Blue giving one
of their regularly scheduled impromptu concerts in
Nickels Arcade but watch out for pigeon droppings.
Walk down State Street, South University, LibertyO
Even venture out'to Main Street, "downtown" Ann
Arbor, which most students don't realize exists until
their parents take them there for graduation dinner.
Or go to the computing center and work on that term
paper. After all, on a Saturday night, who else'll be there.
The Naval ROTC Unit provides a unique
transition into the college environment,
emphasizing scholastic achievement balanced
with community service, extra-curricular
activities, and leadership and management
training.
stipend.
To join the team, drop by North Hall on
Central Campus during orientation, or for
immediate information, call Lt. Sev Maynard at
I - ~
IN
Ii