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2B - Tuesday, April 17, 2012

The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com


-um e -
President Barack Obama during his speech highlighting tuition on campus on Janua
Presdent Obama
on campUs on Fr

electoral votes."
Last June, Coleman was one
of six university presidents from
around the country to join with
Obama in creating the Advanced
Manufacturing Partnership, a
joint venture between the Obama
administrationanduniversities to
increase the number of advanced
manufacturing jobs in the United
States and develop more sophisti-
cated manufacturing processes.
Traugott added that the
proximity of Michigan's Feb.
28 Republican presidential pri-
mary could be another incentive
for the president to visit to Ann
Arbor this week. He noted that
Obama will probably tailor the
speech to discuss his policies that
are popular with Michigan vot-
ers, including the 2009 bailouts
of General Motors and Chrysler.
"There will be an interest in
framing the Michigan Republi-
can primary in terms of topics
ERIN KIRKLAND/Daily that he thinks he has a particular
rp 24, 2012.advantage on, including unem-
ployment and the bailout of two
of the Big Three automobile com-
sp e a panies," Traugot said.
Al Glick Field House
The Ann Arbor Police Depart-
cbwrment, along with the University's
Department of Public Safety and
the U.S. Secret Service, has been
working to prepare for Obama's
to The Michigan Daily that the visit, Ann Arbor Police Chief
University is excited to welcome Barnett Jones said.
Obama back to campus. In his address to the 2010
"As a public research univer- graduating class, Obama stressed
sity, we share his commitment the need for civic involvement
to a strong future for our state and discussed the difficult eco-
and our nation," Coleman said in nomic environment that Univer-
the statement. "We are particu- sity graduates would face as they
larly honored that he will visit entered the work force.
following his State of the Union "The fact is, when you leave
address." here today, you will search for
Michael Traugott, a research work in an economy that is still
professor at the University's Insti- emerging from the worst cri-
tute for Social Research, added sis since the Great Depression,"
that Obama may have chosen Obama said in his speech. "You
the University due to his work- live in a century where the speed
ing relationship with University with which jobs and industries
President Mary Sue Coleman or move across the globe is forcing
his connection with Valerie Jar- America to compete like never
rett, a senior adviser to the presi- before."
dent and a Law School alum.
"I think there's probably a Daily News Editor Haley
variety of reasons (he's coming)," Goldberg, Daily News Editor
Traugott said. "One of them is, of Adam Rubenfire and Daily
course, that in the fall, Michigan Staff Reporter Steve Zoski
will be an important state for its contributed to this report.

'U' Promise
Scholarship cut
Final state budget the Promise Scholarship bore
'fu din her name on the letterhead,
trims U fundig University President Mary Sue
Coleman issued a statement in
once more which she distanced herself
from the recommendation.
By MATT AARONSON She wrote: "It is in the best
Daily News Editor interests of the state to look to
the long term and focus on the
Nov. 1, 2009 - Gov. Jennifer highest priorities - including
Granholm signed into law Fri- higher education - as we lay the
day the final six bills of a budget groundwork for the future."
that showed the wear and tear of on that higher educa-
a legislature crippled by parti- tion front, the budget signed
san battles over how to solve the into law Friday provides
state's many problems. $325,347,400 in state appro-
For the University, the priations for the University of
budget bears bad news on two Michigan in Ann Arbor for the
fronts: eliminating the popular coming fiscal year.
Michigan Promise Scholarship The amount of state funding
program and once again influences the make-up of the
cutting back state funding rest of the University's budget,
provided to the University. from the funding of different
The Michigan Promise schools and academic programs
Scholarship provides tuition to student tuition levels. But offi-
money to more than 96,000 cials are quick to note that they
Michigan college students. have very carefully accounted
Performance on a merit exam for potential drops in state fund-
given in high school deter- ing while crafting budgets in
mines the amount a student recent years.
receives, which can total any- Marking a continued reli-
where from $500 to $4,000 ance on cost cutting and tuition
over four years. increases to fill the state fund-
University spokesman Rick ing void, state appropriations
Fitzgerald told the Daily last account for 21.75 percent of
month that an estimated 6,096 revenues in the University's
students at the University of General Fund budget proposal
Michigan would be eligible for for fiscal year 2010. In that
Promise grants this academic same budget, tuition and fees
year. account for 65.19 percent.
These students now have to From fiscal year 2003 to fis-
find anotherway to fill that gap cal year 2004, state funding for
in their tuition costs. the University experienced a
In late September, Cynthia free fall, plummeting by about
Wilbanks, the University's 10 percent - or $36,356,600.
vice president for government From 1997 to 2009, higher
relations, told the Daily that education funding in Michigan
the University would fill that had the second-lowest rate of
void for students with demon- growth in the country. At 17
strated financial aid need if the percent, Michigan was second
Promise Scholarship was cut. to last.
Earlier this month, after a For many, the resulting bud-
letter to state legislators from get is far from a sigh of relief,
a business advocacy group with deep cuts to schools,
encouraging lawmakers to financial aid to college students
pass a budget proposal that cut and most state departments.

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President to discuss
student loan
reform, education
policy
By BETHANY BIRON and
Joseph LICHTERMAN
Managing News Editor and
Editor in Chief
Jan. 4, 2012 - White House
officials announced yesterday
afternoon that President Barack
Obama will speak on campus this
Friday, following his State of the
Union Address tonight, as a part
of a series of speaking events
across the country.
Obamawill deliver his remarks
at the Al Glick Field House, the
Michigan football team's indoor
practice facility, and he will
speak about college affordability,

the Associated Press reported.
The president is scheduled to
travel to Iowa, Arizona, Nevada
and Colorado tomorrow and
Thursday before arriving in
Michigan on Thursday evening,
where he'll spend the night
before coming to campus Friday
morning.
Scheduled to start at 9:35 a.m.
on Friday, the event will be free
and open to the public. Tickets
will be available starting at 9 a.m.
on Thursday at the Michigan
Union Ticket Office.
Tickets will be given out on a
first come, first serve basis with a
limit of one ticket per person.
Friday's speech will mark the
president's second visit to the
University since taking office.
Obama delivered the Spring
Commencement address at
Michigan Stadium in May 2010.
University President Mary
Sue Coleman said in a statement

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