The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom
* In a shutdown, schools
would be on thin ice
Thursday, September 27, 2007 - 5A
BUDGET From page 1A
ing in recent years.
Some districts told the Michi-
gan School Business Officials they
may have to shut their doors if a
protracted state shutdown causes a
missed payment. But most districts
said they would tap their reserves
or borrow more money to stay
afloat. Several districts might start
to trim back nonacademic programs
- including sports, field trips and
other activities - soon after a state
shutdown to save money.
"The big picture is that school
districts will do everything they
can to stay open - period," said Tom
White, executive director of the
Michigan School Business Officials.
PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES
AND COMMUNITY
COLLEGES
The state's 15 public four-year
schools and 28 community colleg-
es should stay open, but layoffs or
some other cutbacks are possible if
the shutdown continues for long.
Another option would be to raise
tuition, which already increased
an average of about 10 percent at
universities this fall. Universities
haven't received their August pay-
ments from the state, and the next
payment is due Oct. 16. Combined,
they account for $280 million. Some
community colleges might have
to borrow money or tap into their
reserves to stay afloat.
"It's going to affect the small
rural schools much more than the
larger, urban schools," said Mike
Hansen, president of the Michigan
Community College Association.
"Some of these schools could be on
the brink of financial disaster."
PRISONS
The state's 42 prisons would stay
open, and parolees and probationers
in the community would continue
to be supervised, state officials said.
Corrections spokesman Russ Mar-
lan said the assumption is 80 per-
centofthe department's 16,000-plus
employees would continue working
and be paid.
If those workers weren't paid,
they would sue, said Mel Grieshaber
of the Michigan Corrections Orga-
nization, which represents more
than 10,000 correctional officers.
POLICE AND FIRE
At least some of the state's more
than 1,000 state troopers are likely
to stay on the job, but it's unclear
what the extent of their services
willbe.At a minimum, some admin-
istrative state police jobs could be
disrupted in a shutdown.
Local police and fire departments
depend heavily on state revenue-
sharing checks. If those payments
are held up, layoffs would vary from
city to city, according to the Michi-
gan Association of Chiefs of Police.
The state already has about 1,600
fewer police officers than itchad dur-
ing the terrorist attacks of Sept. 1t.
DETROIT CASINOS
Granholm says they would be
closed down if there's a shutdown.
But a casino spokesman said the
casino operators hope to persuade
theMichiganGamingControlBoard
today that state regulators are paid
with casino fees rather than tax dol-
lars, so the regulators should be able
to do the oversight needed to keep
the casinos open.
If they close, 7,000 casino work-
ers will be out of a job and the
casinos no longer will pay taxes
amountingto $450,000 a day forthe
state and $440,000 a day for the city
of Detroit.
LOTTERY SALES
Lottery spokeswoman Andi
Brancato says the Lottery Bureau
will hold some drawings next week,
even if there's a shutdown, because
tickets already have been sold for
them. But a shutdown would mean
no new tickets would be sold start-
ing Monday, and no prizes would be
paid out on winningctickets until the
shutdown ends.
Ending ticket sales would cost
the state about $2 million a day in
lost lottery profits, which go to K-12
schools.
DRIVER'S LICENSES AND
VEHICLE TITLES
Secretary of State Terri Lynn
Land says branch offices would
close if there's a government shut-
down. The department processes
85,000 transactions daily, includ-
ing 10,000 driver's licenses, 36,000
license plate tabs and 12,500 vehicle
titles.
People could still use the Internet
or mailto request some services. But
no one would be workingto process
any requests until the shutdown
ends.
ROAD PROJECTS
Construction would stop on
state road projects, according to the
Michigan Infrastructure and Trans-
portation Association, although
some traffic safety workers might
remain.
Less clear is what happens to
just-in-time delivery of bridge sup-
ports and other large materials that
were ordered long ago and are set to
be shipped early next week. Some
worrythat even a one-week delay in
road construction will cause some
projects to be unfinished when win-
ter sets in, delaying completion until
next spring.
The Mackinac Bridge would stay
open, said Liz Boyd, the governor's
press secretary.
HEALTH CARE
Many assume the state's psychi-
atric hospitals likely would remain
open, but some other programs
- including nutrition and disease
prevention education and health-
related inspections - could be
scaled back or shut down.
Medicaid reimbursement pay-
ments to doctors and hospitals
might be stopped, which could
lead some health care providers to
decline to see patients, at least in
non-emergency situations. Home
health care workers paid partly by
the state could be off the job.
LIQUOR
The state would stop distribution
of packaged liquor, which eventu-
ally could limit the supply available
in stores across the state.
ENVIRONMENT
No workers would be available to
issue air, water and other permits,
potentially affecting the environ-
ment and hampering businesses
who need permits to operate. Regu-
lators might not be around to moni-
tor pollution affecting rivers, lakes
and streams.
AGRICULTURE
Inspections of food and dairy
products, pesticide and fertilizer
plants and a range of commodities
would cease, agribusiness groups
say. There also would be no one to
inspect if gasoline and diesel pumps
were accurate.
CAMPING, HUNTING AND
FISHING
The state already has closed 20 of
its 138 forest campgrounds because
of the tight budget. A partial shut-
down could close the rest, along
with all 13,5000 campsites located
at 71 state parks.
The season for hunting deer with
bows is scheduled to start Mon-
day, and outdoor groups expect it
to occur. But there may be no con-
servation officers checking licenses
or manning check stations. Up to
350,000 people bowhunt.
A shutdown could affect over-
sight of the state's six fish hatcher-
ies, though the Michigan United
Conservation Clubs says it's work-
ing on plans to possibly set up vol-
unteer crews to run them.
PHOTOS BYZACHARY MEISNER/Daily
Students rallying for more funding for higher education outside the state Capitol get a thumbs up from Gov. Jennifer Gran-
holm yesterday. Granholm has proposed an increase in funding for public universities.
In Lansing,
a plea for
highered
funds
RALLY From page 1A
Despite its location just minutes
away from the Capitol, there was
no visible presence of students
from Michigan State University.
Dar said MSU's student govern-
ment declined to deliver an invita-
tion to the school's students.
"They told us sometime in Sep-
tember that they just weren't going
to do it," Dar said in an interview.
"Never gave us a good reason
why."
Student government leaders
from most of Michigan's public
universities spoke at the rally.
Some speakers shared how they've
personally struggled to finance
their educations.
Jason Davis, a student govern-
ment senator at the University of
Michigan at Flint, said he has had
to work 40 or more hours each
week for the last eight years to put
himself through school.
"I can't give up," he said.,"I've
put too much work into it. How-
ever, by the state not providing
the necessary funding, that is
basically what they're telling me
to do."
When Dar told his father's
story, his voice quivered and then
rose forcefully as he said that the
state legislature's neglectof higher
education must change so fan ilies
don't have to sacrifice so mu-h to
pay for college.
"What is left when payment is
delayed while tuition skyrockets?"
he said. "I can tell you what is left:
nothing."
State politicians also joined in
the rally.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm
appeared at the railing of the
balcony above the building's
steps during the speeches, giv-
ing thumbs up and clapping along
with protesters.
U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow
spoke about a chart that was set
out in front of the podium. The
chart showed the top and bottom
10 states in terms of increasing or
decreasing appropriations to high-
er education institutions in the last
four years. Michigan is number 50,
and itis one of six states that hasn't
raised funding.
"It's really a lie and a deception
to people of the state of Michigan
that by cutting taxes we are sav-
ing you money," she said. "We are
costing you money."
Some in the audience, though,
disagreed:
LSA junior Justin Zatkoff, the
head of The Michigan Federation
of College Republicans, passed
out literature that criticized tax
hikes to increase education fund-
ing.
At the end of the rally, State Reps.
Shanelle Jackson (D-Detroit) and
Gino Polidori (D-Dearborn) took
the podium, saying they had been
inspired to come out and speak
after hearing the protesters from
inside the building.
"You have the support of my
right-thinking colleagues," Jack-
son said. "And those that aren't
thinking right, we're going to put
them on the right path."
Polidori said the students should
go inside the building and tell rep-
resentatives in the House chamber
how they feel. Several protesters
followed the advice, going to the
chamber's public gallery, where
they received applause from repre-
sentatives below.
Taubman gives 'U' $22 million
DONATION From page 1A
said donation discussions between
Taubman and University officials
have been taking place for several
years.
"Mr. Taubman has been in a
dialogue with University leaders
for some time about really making
a difference in the medical field,"
May said.
The donation will also fund
individuals' research within
the Taubman Medical Research
Institute. The first five of these
individual endowments - named
"Taubman Scholar" positions -
were announced yesterday.
The research of these scholars
will focus on understanding vari-
ous human diseases and develop-
ing cures.
The research topics of the
first Taubman Scholars include
communicable diseases, cancer,
neurology and cardiovascular
medicine.
"These investigators are
involved in specific things, but the
combination of these five may open
up a whole new understanding of
curing people," Taubman said in
the podcast.
Dr. David Pinsky, one of the
first five Taubman Scholars,
described the gift as "inspiration-
al" and said it will allow him to
increase his creativity in medical
research.
"(This donation) allows people
to believe that an institution like
ours will have a beneficial impact
on humanity," said Pinsky, who is
the chief of the Division of Cardio-
vascular Medicine.
The donation will also help
University medical researchers
broaden the scope of cancer stem
cell research, said Dr. Max Wicha,
another Taubman Scholar and
director of the University Compre-
hensive Cancer Center.
"This donation will let us bring
other researchers into this mar-
ginal field and extend the research
we've done with breast cancer
stem cells to other cancers," Wicha
said.
Dr. Valerie Castle, a pediat-
ric cancer specialist; Dr. Eva
Feldman, a neurologist; and Dr.
Yeboash Raphael, a cell biolo-
gist, are the other three Taubman
Scholars.
Taubman's donations to the
University have caused some con-
troversy.
He served a year in prison
from 2002 to 2003 for a price-
fixing scheme with Sotheby's
auction house. After Taubman's
conviction, some pushed the Uni-
versity to remove his name from
the numerous buildings and pro-
grams named for him.
Regardless, Taubman said he
hopes his donation will encourage
others to give to the University.
"We can make a lot of differ-
ence," he said in the podcast. "The
science is there. The institution is
there. It's a wonderful opportuni-
ty to bring these two together and
make (change) happen."
Michigan Hockey BBQ
Outside of Yost Ice Arena
Sunday, October 7th
3. pm - Spm
Student Hockey T-Shirt and A t
fTicket Pick-up
-Al student hockey ticket holders come enjoy free food at
the BBQ and pack up your tickets and hockey t-shirt.
*All food sponsored by Mr. Spot's*
One on One
Athletic Club
KIWANIS CLUB OF
ANN ARBOR FUN FAIR
FREE Admission, FREE Door Prizes
and Entertainment
Pancake Breakfast $2
9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Hot Dogs, Chips &
Beverage $3
12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
Merchandise Sale
9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Saturday, September 29th
at the Kiwanis Activity Center
Corner of First & Washington St, Downtown Ann Arbor
www.aakiwanis.org
WORKOUT SPECIAL
Mon-Thurs: Opan 24 hours
Fri until 10pm
Sat-Sun: Sam-Spm
www.lonl1club.com 734.761.4440 287, Boardwalk Dr.
5 7