One hundred seven year' ofedirzalfreedom
Friday
December 5, 1997
rws 76-DAILY
Ivertlslng: 764-0554
. .
ducation
lan freezes
te tuition
Peter Romer-Friedman
aily Staff Reporter
After a year's worth of court battles and rocky times dur-
ng a recession in the early '90s, the Michigan Education
rust, one of the nation's first pre-paid tuition programs, is
iming to help make college more affordable again.
The state of Michigan began the MET program in 1988,
riving Michigan residents the option to pre-purchase under-
gate tuition at lower-than-usual rates.
In 1995, the program was available to Michigan residents
or the first time since 1990. But last year it stumbled
use of legal trouble, forcing officials to not offer the
ET in 1996.n
"A lot of concern was tax status," said Kathy Tyson,
search and publication manager of the College Savings
lans Network. "Michigan was the first pre-paid education
Ilan started. The IRS said it was a taxable entity. The MET
on in the courts when the 6th Circuit ruled in their favor."
Beginning on Tuesday, the MET will once again sell con-
ra of one to four years, guaranteeing that it will pay tuition
oiy public college or university in Michigan.
In 1988, Michigan and Florida were the first states to offer
re-paid tuition programs. Today, there are 15 similar pro-
rams and eight other states have passed measures to start
heir own pre-paid programs.
"Forty-two states should have programs by the year 2000,"
yson said. "Michigan served as a model for all states."
MET Director Robin Lott said the program has done well,
elling more than 56,000 contracts since 1988 and gaining
7,000,000 in assets.
F help parents in Michigan save for the future, for their
huen's educations, the legislature passed the law in 1986 and
had our first open enrollment in 1988," Lott said. "I'd say it's SA senio
retty successful. We have 8,100 students benefitting now. Ing for a F
Lott said the MET provides a number of benefits to
rospective college students in Michigan. Contracts bought
n lump sums later provide money for students to attend any
niversity in the nation, although less money is returned to
hose who go to out-of-state schools. If a child decides not to
nroll at any higher education institution, the invested money
ay later be withdrawn by the child.
"The advantage is you're paying today's rate and the
nises in the future won't matter," Lott said. By Katie
Parents pay the average amount of tuition at a state univer- gaily Staff R
ity in Michigan when the contract is purchased, while all Amid o
andatory fees are paid by the state later on, regardless of issues and
ition increases. challengin
"My parents paid $8,000 10 years ago and now I don't tive action.
ave to pay tuition," said RC sophomore Sarah McKinney. tors look t
'It's a good idea to get for children when they're very young, "I think
ving you the most money, because you can always get your ing to a o
noney back." campus, a
e students say that because MET rewards students for studentsc
tOg in state, it limits their choices. Vice Presi
"It will pay your tuition in state, but if you go out of state Affairs M
t will only pay $3,000," said LSA first-year student Laura who said ii
ronseth. "But my college choice was limited." may feel li
Although thousands of students benefit from the MET ities are b
rogram's guaranteed payments, state Department of Hartford a
ducation officials said it's a steal to go to the University of people on
ichigan using a MET fund. questionin
"U of M is the highest-cost school in the state," Lott said. minority s
'If you're going to U of M, then it would be a great deal for From di
ou because tuition and mandatory fees in-state are $5,878. varying s
*rice the original contract based on weighted average sort throu
ition - about $4,222." confidentl
In 1991, state officials temporarily stopped offering MET Hartfor
ontracts because returns were too low, and MET became of the con
conomically unsound. At the time, Gov. John Engler vowed voicing op
o meet all existing MET contracts. campus at
"From 1988 to 1990, we had a situation where tuition "I think
ncrease assumption was 7.3 percent and the rate of return speak up
See MET, Page 2
icket opportunities
rise for 'U' employees
FREE FALLING
Lawsuits
put school
in s
r yay
, , d N .
By Janet Adamy
Daily Staff Reporter
Two lawsuits filed this semester
against the University's admissions
policies have put the public institution
in the national spotlight.
But with increased attention comes
the likelihood of both positive and neg-
ative images of the University, said Law
Dean Jeffrey Lehman.
"The dominant sense is that we are
doing the right thing and it is, in
many ways, an honor and a privilege
for us to be the spokespersons for
legal education," Lehman said. "How
effective we are at communicating the
importance of what we do ... to the
country will shape how the University
is perceived."
In October, the Center for Individual
Rights filed suit against the admissions
policies of the College of Literature,
Science & Arts. On Wednesday, CIR
filed a follow-up lawsuit in Federal
District Court in Detroit, claiming the
Law School uses discriminatory admis-
sions practices.
"I hope the University will be rec-
ognized for standing up for an impor-
tant principle and, regardless of where
one comes down in this debate, that
people will respect us for defending
something that is absolutely critical
to our public mission of having a
diverse campus," said Lisa Baker,
associate vice president for
University relations.
But the increased publicity also
comes with dangers. During a meet-
ing with Law students Wednesday,
Lehman warned students that the
media may not report accurately on
the lawsuits.
"Take all that you hear with a grain
of salt," Lehman said.
In addition to media distortions,
public perception of the position of a
university in such a lawsuit is not
always accurate. In the case Hopwood
v. University of Texas, which chal-
lenged UT's race-based admissions,
UT's historic treatment of minorities
made it difficult for the university to
show the public that it embraced
diversity.
Terry Wilson, UT's associate director
for the office of public affairs, said
many incorrectly linked the Hopwood
decision to the 1950 case Sweat v.
Painter, which allowed blacks into UT's
graduate programs. Wilson said critics
See LAWSUITS, Page 5
KELLY MCKINNELL/Oaily
r Gary Silber jumps off the roof of his fraternity house for a scene for a movie he's mak-
ilmmaking i class. The film concerns the duality of man.
.5
,1 .
community looks to diversity's future
Plona
eporter
ngoing reflection about diversity
the recent filing of two lawsuits
g the University's use of affirma-
, students, faculty and administra-
ward the future with uncertainty.
that the lawsuit has been disturb-
t of students on
nd especially to
of color," said
dent for Student
aureen Hartford,
minority students
ke their capabil-
eing questioned.
added that most
campus are not
g the merit of
tudents.
$ No. 4in afour
(diversity) brings to this campus," Hartford
said.
Law first-year student Winnie Kao said
that although she does not favor the law-
suits and what they attempt to do, they actu-
ally may promote open dialogue about
important issues, which currently surface
only periodically.
"It may heighten ten-
at the sion, but I think'it's good
epat the in some ways because the
debate is out in the open
and people are talking
about the issues and
hopefully learning from
them," said Kao, a mem-
ber of the Asian Pacific
American Law Students
Association. "People
have been thinking about them, but now it's
more out in the open"
Law first-year student than Kim, also an
APALSA member, said that during the
potentially lengthy lawsuit, there will be
more opportunity to educate the communi-
ty about the issues. Students will be
prompted to process and internalize infor-
mation instead of encountering a barrage of
views, Kim said.
"It will keep a substantial debate going,
ifferent corners of campus come
uggestions on how students can
gh their reactions and proceed
y into the future.
d said students can combat some
cerns surrounding the lawsuits by
pinions about their hopes for the
tmosphere.
we need to have more students
about the positive elements that
PAUL TALANIAN/Daily
LSA senior James Valbrun moderates a discussion class on diversity. He is one of the facil-
itators of the class, which debates various multi-cultural issues.
which, in some ways, may be better than
flashes in the pan," Kim said.
Aside from discussing the lawsuit, many
students continue to interact in other ways
with people from different backgrounds
and experiences.
LSA senior Jeff Walker, an Intergroup
See DIVERSITY, Page 7
Rose bowl offers
families quality time
Heather Kamins
pAiy Staff Reporter
Faculty and staff who picked up Rose
Bowl tickets yesterday were pleasantly
ised to find they did not have to
a in three-hour lines as students did
ust days before.
In fact, there were no lines.
"I dashed right over here," said
urology associate Prof. Robert
Moyad. "I couldn't believe there was
ao line."
Senior Associate Athletic Director
Keith Molin said the University limited
he number of faculty and staff tickets
1c@00. If the demand had exceeded
Ticket breakdown
ByKristingIt
excited that her sons are attending the
Students
Allocated:
5,000-7,000
Sold:
5,300
'U' employees
Allocated:
2,500
Sold:
Fewer than
allocated
this amount, the University planned to
hold a lottery to determine who would
receive tickets.
Molin said that as of last night, the
amount of tickets sold had not yet been
counted, but it was "comfortably" less
than allocated.
See TICKETS, Page 2
Daily Staf Reporter game.
At the Rose Bowl, some students will "She was excited about us going
trade the camaraderie of cheering with as a family," Matt Innes said. "She
fellow students for a little quality time said we're going to really enjoy our-
with their families. selves."
For Michigan's Jan. 1 Rose Bowl Innes said his mother wants to go,
appearance, many are going the dis- but will not attend because of the
tance to cheer on the Wolverines high expense.
- arm-in-arm with their par- LSA first-year student John
ents and siblings. Moon is looking forward to
"The reason is mainly +4attending the Tournament of
because it is a once-in-a-life- Roses Parade with his parents.
time experience," said "I'm so excited that we're
Engineering senior Matt Innes . going to the Rose Bowl while I'm
"It's not so often you get this still a student here," Moon said. "This
chance." is my only opportunity to see some-
Innes and his two brothers, thing like this."
Engineering senior Scott Innes and Moon's mother shares her son's
Engineering first-year student David excitement.
Innes, will watch the Michigan "To see the Michigan Wolverines
Wolverines and Washington State fight for the national championship title
Cougars compete for bragging rights on will really be something to remember,"
Make the historic
season last a ifetime
Now you have a chance to make ad
iii-,:1
I
4 a.