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 If a child decides not to nroll at any higher education institution, the invested money ay later be withdrawn by the child.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.