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One-hundredfifteen years ofeditorialfreedom
www.michiandaily.com Ann Arbor, Michigan Vol. CXVI, No. 39 x2005 The Michigan Daily
MICHIGAN 74, Miami 53
Courant: UP FOR THE CHALLENGE
is not a
business
Former provost and economics
professor explains University's budget
amid declining state funding
By Bo He
Daily Staff Reporter
Students who are frustrated or simply curious about this
year's sizable tuition increase had an opportunity to voice
their concerns last night in the Michigan Union.
Former University Provost and Economics Prof. Paul Cou-
rant explained to students the University's budget and the
value of higher education while speaking in the U-Club.
Courant said future tuition hikes are inevitable and needed '
in order to maintain the "highest standard of learning and
teaching" at the University.
This year's tuition increase of 12.3 percent is more than
four times the size of last year's increase of 2.8 percent,
resulting in an extra $1,000 in average tuition fees.
The tuition hike came after Gov. Jennifer Granholm's pro-
posed budget for the fiscal year 2006 slashed $5.9 million
from the University's appropriations.
The state's steady cuts in higher education funding over the
past few years have been one of the key reasons for tuition
increases. Courant said that if the University's allotment had
kept pace with inflation over the years, the University would
have had an extra $82 million, enough money to keep the lid
on tuition hikes. But for FY 2006, the state is only providing
$316 million of the University's total budget of $4.4 billion.
But Courant said another important reason for the tuition
increases is the University's ongoing need to preserve its
ability to act as a conservatory for knowledge. He said the
University must ensure it can preserve historically significant
scholarship and recruit new expertise.
"We're a high-cost, high-value institution, and it's very M
important that we don't become a low-cost, low-value opera- -
tion, so tuition will keep increasing," he said.
LSA sophomore and economics major Christine Seeber
said she agreed with Courant's justification of higher tuition.
"The points that were made about the increase are valid
and make good sense," she said. "It would be nice but com-
pletely unrealistic to not have an increase."
Courant also talked about how much money the University
needs to spend to maintain the highest standards of teaching
and research. He said half of the University's budget is dedi- Sophomore Ron Coleman and senior Graham Brown celebrate during the Wolverines' 74-53 win over Miami
See COURANT, Hage.(Fla.) In the ACC/Big Ten Challenge at Crisler Arena yesterday. FOR STORY, SEE PAGE 10.
See COURANT, Page 3h
- orevent hate crnmes throug education
New
dining
head
chosen
Food services veteran to take
over department as it prepares
for lengthy construction project,
including new Hill Dining Center
By Karl Stampfl
Daily Staff Reporter
As the University's Residential Dining Ser-
vices prepares for long-awaited upgrades to its
facilities, a new director has taken its helm.
Michael Lee took over the job - which
includes overseeing 10 dining halls that serve
more than 9,000 students - from interim direc-
tor Sandra Lowry this week. Lee has an exten-
sive background in food services. He has headed
dining services at Illinois State University and
most recently worked for Sodexho Campus
Services, where he served as the food service
firm's general manager first for Northern Ari-
zona University and then for the University of
Detroit Mercy.
Lee will lead dining services through an
intensive construction schedule that aims to
bring the University up to date with advance-
ments in campus food at other schools, many of
which offer state-of-the-art dining facilities.
"With the start of construction in 2006 of the
University's first major new residential dining
venues - the Hill Dining Center and the Burs-
ley Emporium - this is an especially good time
to bring to campus a seasoned professional of
Mike's caliber," said Carole Henry, director of
University Housing, in a written statement,
The Hill Dining Center will serve residents
of Mosher-Jordan, Stockwell, Alice Lloyd and
Couzens residence halls. The $65-million center
will have several food stations offering students a
variety of options, such as pizza, stir-fry and ham-
burgers. Food will be prepared in front of students
- the latest trend in high-class campus dining.
Lee is closely following trends in campus
dining, he said in a written statement, adding
that changes come more frequently now than in
the past.
"We were used to seeing trends change every
three to five years," he said. "Now, trends come
and go within months."
But he said he expects the current shift toward
healthy eating as a trend that may have staying
power.
Lee said he is excited to join University dining
services at a time when the University is putting
a new focus on enhancing campus dining.
Housing spokesman Alan Levy said Lee is
well prepared to lead dining services at a criti-
cal crossroads in its history because he has had
diverse experience with construction on colle-
giate dining facilities.
Levy added that Lee may examine the pos-
sibility of creating more dining plans for stu-
dents.
HE. Royster Harper announces website,
hotline to improve campus relations
By Kelly Fraser
Daily Staff Reporter
The windy stretches of the Diag may be growing chill-
ier,'but to E. Royster Harper it has nothing to do with the
season.
Earlier this fall, an alleged incident of racism prompted
the University to examine the campus climate and its role
in preventing hate crimes through education.
Last night, Harper, the University's vice president for
student affairs, unveiled some elements of the University's
new anti-hate and bias campaign in hopes of warming up
the campus climate.
"What students will say is that this place can be pretty
cold."
- Vice President for Student Affairs E. Royster Harper
on the University's campus climate
"What students will say is that this place can be pretty
cold," she said. "We have to warm it up for each other in
that regard."
Speaking at an LSA Student Government meeting,
Harper announced a new hotline and website aimed at
improving race relations on campus. Both are scheduled
to launch early next semester.
The website will provide links to student resources and
include a hate-crime reporting form that will allow stu-
dents to report incidents more quickly, University spokes-
woman Julie Peterson said.
See ROYSTER, Page 7
Bush: Early withdrawal
from Iraq a 'mistake'
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush
said yesterday that "it would be a terrible
mistake" to pull U.S. forces out of Iraq.
and that politics should not play any part
in a decision about withdrawal.
"We will make decisions about troops
levels based upon the capability of the
Iraqis to take the fight to the enemy," Bush
said in El Paso, Texas. "I will make deci-
sions on the level of troops based upon the
recommendations of commanders on the
ground."
The argument against withdrawal was
echoed in Washington by Defense Secre-
tary Donald Rumsfeld, who said quitting
the war would allow insurgents to prevail
and put the United States "at still greater
risk."
"Quitting is not an exit strategy," Rums-
feld said at a Pentagon news conference.
Rumseld said the time has arrived to
Annapolis, Md. The remarks are expected
to outline the administration's strategy for
giving Iraqi forces more responsibility for
the security of their country.
The war in Iraq and the mounting num-
ber of American casualties have contrib-
uted to a steep drop in Bush's popularity.
His approval rating is at the lowest level of
his presidency.
Talking with reporters in El Paso,
Texas, Bush said he would make decisions
about troop levels based on the advice of
military commanders.
"If they tell me the Iraqis are ready to
take more and more responsibility and
that we'll be able to bring some Ameri-
cans home, I will do that," the president
said. "It's their recommendation."
"Secondly, we want to win," Bush said.
"The whole objective is to achieve victory
against the terrorists."
Faulty media
imperil U.S.,
reporter says
Ex-CBS correspondent explains
news outlets' role in portraying accurate
reflections of rest of world
By Mariem Qamruzzaman
Daily Staff Reporter
If journalists had done their job better, the Sept. 11 attacks
could have been prevented, former CBS correspondent Tom
Fenton said in a speech last night at Rackham Auditorium.
Fenton's talk, "Bad News: The Decline in Reporting, the
Business of News, and the Danger to Us All," explored the
role journalists could have in helping prevent disasters such
as Sept. 11 and Hurricane Katrina if they would focus more
on in-depth reporting.
Fenton said the media have provided incomplete news
coverage that has caused Americans to hold inaccurate per-
t'<