The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Friday, February 18, 2011 - 5 The Michigan Daily - michigandailycomFriday, February 18,2011 -5 SNYDER From Page 1 ofyears, and we understand the difficult situation (lawmakers are) in, and we've been prepar- ing and we'll do everything we can to support student afford- ability and academic excel- lence," he said. Cynthia Wilbanks, the Uni- versity's vice president for government relations, said yesterday that the University is in the preliminary stages of interpreting how the pro- posed budget will affect Uni- versity operations. She added that it is too early to determine the impact a decrease in state funding would have on next year's tuition. "It's a lot to go through, and we're just beginning the pro- cess of really analyzing the various aspects of the budget," Wilbanks said. She explained that in past years, state appropriations were supplemented by federal stimulus funding. Now that the state will receive less stimulus money, there will be no funds to offset the large cut to higher education. - "The state budgets had been supported in part over the last several fiscal years by the injec- tion of federal stimulus funds, but we knew that there would be a time coming when those funds would no longer be avail- able to plug the budget gaps," she said. The University Research Corridor - a collaboration between the University of Michigan, Wayne State Uni- versity and Michigan State University that focuses on max- imizing the state's resources to boost the economy - issued a statement yesterday that said despite the decrease in funding that will potentially impact the universities' research initia- tives, they will keep collaborat- ing to foster growth within the universities, and in turn, the state. "We will continue to work as a partner with the state to bal- ance fiscal necessity with the need tokeep all of Michigan's, public Vniversities strong and competitive," URC Executive Director Jeff Mason wrote in the statement. "We will remain committed to being a positive force in reinventing our state and meeting this century's eco- nomic challenges - and we've shown time and again that investing in higher education reaps a solid return." State Sen. Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor) said in an inter- view yesterday that while she applauds Snyder's past endeav- ors to increase the number of graduates in the state, she doesn't understand how the state can continue to exceed these goals if it takes funding away from universities. "How can (Snyder) say that (his) goal is to increase the amount of Michiganders with a bachelor's degree and above and then really pull the rug out from under them by both giving less financial support to our public universities and col- leges?" Warren said. A major concern Warren said she has is thatthe decrease in funding to higher educa- tion will result in increases to tuition and decreases in finan- cial aid and scholarships for students in the state, which has happened in the past. "You're going to see more of that burden falling on our families and our students, and I think you're going to end up seeing a whole group of our tal- ented, motivated, young people being priced out of higher edu- cation," Warren said. While Warren said she wasn't particularly surprised by Snyder's budget proposal, she was alarmed by how much Snyder intended to cut from different programs. "I think what was surprising to me was really the severity of some of the cuts that we saw," she said. "I don't think some of us were really expecting cutsto go quite that deep." Other components of Sny- der's proposed $45 billion budget include a $1.8 billion tax break for businesses in the state, cuts to the Michi- gan film tax incentive, the elimination of tax exemptions for many Michigan citizens, including senior citizens, and a $300-million decrease in statu- tory revenue sharing for cities. Snyder recommended the tax break for businesses by replac- ing the Michigan Business Tax with a flat rate 6-percent cor- porate income tax for certain companies. Warren said programs such as education and welfare will also suffer from a decrease in state tax revenue from busi- nesses if Snyder's proposed business tax plan is carried through. She added that a governor's budget is symbolic of his or her personal values about the state as a whole. By examin- ing where the governor wants to allocate or cut state fund- ing, Warren said it is evident where the governor's interests lie, which, for Snyder, is in busi- ness rather than the people. "To me, I think the bottom line (of) a budget is a values document," Warren said. "If you even look at your home budget right now, you figure out where you spend your money. That's where your pri- orities are." Snyder also proposed yester- day that his salary for the 2012 fiscal year be $1 since he said Michiganders will all experi- ence a "shared sacrifice," the Associated Press reported. State Rep. Jeff Irwin (D- Ann Arbor) said by cutting from higher education, the state fails to utilize a pivotal instrument in facilitating eco- nomic growth. "The University of Michigan is probably our state's single- best economic development tool, so cutting back on our best economic development tool seems like a bad recipe for eco- nomic success," Irwin said. By focusing mainly on assisting businesses in Michi- gan, Irwin said, Snyder fails to see the important role state, universities play in encourag- ing businesses development. "The types of businesses that we're trying to attract to Michigan aren't just interested in taxes. In fact, they're mostly interested in qualityeducation- al systems so they can recruit top talent out of our schools and so that their employees can send their kids to good schools," Irwin said. Other legislators contacted by The Michigan Daily, includ-. ing state Reps. Mark Ouiment (R-Scio Township) and Chuck Moss (R-Birmingham), could not be reached for comment. - Daily Staff Reporters Mike Merar and Michele Naro, Daily News Editor Joseph Lichterman and Managing Editor Kyle Swanson contributed to this report. GSI From Page 1 work that keeps the University running," Del Rio said. "The (Uni- versity) works because we do." In his comments to the regents, GEO Treasurer Daniel Marcin said though he appreciates his experience workingas aGSI, many GSIs undergo financial distress as a result of their low pay. "It isn't all about the money," Marcin said. "But we deserve a little more, and that's what we're asking for." Other issues GEO speakers addressed included the need for a policy for graduate students who have children and the possibility of including GSRAs in the GEO con- tract. Following the public comments, Regent S. Martin Taylor (D-Grosse Pointe Farms) said the adminis- tration has had issues in the past with GSIs and GSRAs, but said he thought GEO and University administrators could work togeth- er in the future to resolve problems. "I hope we can come together and reach asolutiononthis," Taylor said. "Itseems to methatifthere's a will, then there is probably a way." Marcin said in an interview after the meeting that he was happy with the regents' reaction. "I'm very pleased with what Regent Taylor said," Marcin said. "We think that is exactly the view- point that we have." However, Marcin said he was disappointed with the lack of reac- tion regarding GSRA inclusion in GEO negotiations. "We're disappointed that we were that close to (University) President (Mary Sue) Coleman, but we still have not heard back about the meeting with her to discuss GSRA representation," he said. Last Thursday, members of GEO went to Coleman's office with an oversized letter detailing their desire to allow GSRAs to join the organization so they could gain collective bargaining rights. Marcin said it is important that these issues are finally being rec- ognized. "Graduate students are at risk of being considered minor in relation to other issues on this campus," he said. "And it's important thatthe regents) remember whowe Br *C REGENTS DISCUSS1'U1 STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM IN ISRAEL During a presentation on inter- nationalizationat the University by Mark Tessler, the University's vice provost of international affairs, the regents posed questions about the absence of a University-spon- sored study abroad program in Israel for undergraduates. After Tessler said he had stud- ied abroad in Israel, Regent Andrea Fischer Newman (R-Ann Arbor) mentioned the recent peti- tion by University students for an overseas program in Israel. Tessler explained that Univer- sity restrictions don't currently permit for travel to Israel. "It is the University's policy that in countries that are under (U.S.) State Department ... travel advi- sory, programs that we might have there are suspended," he said. Tessler also said students can study in countries under a U.S. State Department travel warning through other college and univer- sity study abroad programs. "We have a fair number of nstu- dents who, for a variety of reasons, actually go on an overseas program at another University because it's more convenient for them," he said. "That happens all the time, and we certainly do send students to Israel." He added that students and pro- fessors can also travel to countries that don't have programs by sign- ing a waiver and conducting an experimental program. When Newman asked if the Uni- versity's study abroad policy would be reviewed because other schools don't have the same policy, Tessler said it is something to consider. "We have kind of looked into this," he said. "It's certainly fair to ask how we think about that." Regent Denise Ilitch (D-Bing- ham Farms) pointed out that until recently, Egypt wasn't on the U.S. State Department travel advisory, but Israel was. In an interview after the meet- ing, University Provost Philip Hanlon said it might be time to reconsider the ban on programs abroad in Israel. "It's a new issue to me," he said. "But I am motivated from today's discussion to look at it." CAAS GRANTED DEPARTMENT STATUS The regents voted yesterday to officially give LSA department sta- tus to the Center for Afroamerican and African Studies. In his comments to the regents, University Provost Philip Han- Ion said CAAS has developed the strong curriculum, and interest necessary to operate as a depart- ment. "It has reached that level of maturity where it can be consid- ered at departmental status," he said. According to Hanlon, the new title will provide CAAS more resources to strengthen the area of study. "Elevatingitto adepartmentwill fortify its undergraduate program and graduate studies," he said. In an interview after the meet- ing, Hanlon said the center won't change substantially once it becomes a department. "They reallyare at the point that they're functioning like a depart- ment," Hanlon said. BUILDING CONSTRUCTION ADVANCEMENTS APPROVED The Board of Regents approved advancements in the reconstruc- tion of several campus facilities at its meeting yesterday. At the regents meeting in December, the new design for Alice Lloyd Residence Hall was approved. Yesterday, the regents voted to continue with the recon- struction. During the meeting, Timothy Slottow, the University's executive vice president and chief financial officer, said the University is on time and on budget with the proj- ect and is prepared to continue the Alice Lloyd renovations. "We're ready to roll," Slottow said. The $56 million project is expected to be finished by the beginning of the fall 2012 semes- ter. The regents also approved renovations to the Geological Sci- ence laboratories in the Clarence Cook Little Science Building. The renovations - which will involve mechanical, electrical and archi- tectural updates to areas totaling about 10,600 square feet - are projected to cost about $2 million dollars. The regents also approved changing 18,400 square feet of the School of Social Work's first floor atrium into clinical space. Previ- ously, the space held books for the School of Social Work.