4A - Thursday, March 28, 2013 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.cam ~Je 1Miiian 0aip Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@michigandaily.com MELANIE KRUVELIS and ADRIENNE ROBERTS MATT SLOVIN EDITORIAL PAGE EDITORS MANAGING EDITOR ANDREW WEINER EDITOR IN CHIEF Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily's editorial board. All other signed articles and illustrations represent solely the views of their authors. Equal work, equal tuition Regents should put the tuition equality debate behind them n March 24, The Detroit News, a traditionally conservative newspaper, published an editorial in support of the Univer- sity's Coalition for Tuition Equality, a student-led umbrella organization championing in-state tuition for undocumented stu- dents. While the University has expressed a desire to grant tuition equality for the estimated 21,000 affected students, practical reali- ties and legal hurdles have caused progress to stagnate on such poli- cies. In the editorial, The Detroit News pointed out universities in 13 other states extended in-state tuition to its undocumented stu- dents. The University should do the same. With growing support for tuition equality from faculty, students and community members, the hesitation in implementing tuition equality at the University is Obviously, I don't give a damn about a personal attack on my apperanCe." - momentUM CSG presidential candidate Nick Swider said in response to an e-mail sent by the forUM party chair to Pi Kappa Alpha faternity which including a picture of Swider. MICHAEL PROPPE AND BOBBY DISHELL It's all about 'you' no longer acceptable. Current University policy charges undocu- mented students out-of-state tuition. CTE argues that undocumented students who've lived in Michigan for the majority of their lives and meet certain requirements deserve to pay in-state tuition. In its editorial, The Detroit News similarly contended that regardless of one's position on immigration policy, the children of undocumented work- ers grew up in Michigan "involuntarily" and shouldn't be punished for choices they didn't make. Furthermore, The Detroit News argued that "rather than driving these excel- lent students underground, or out of state," keeping graduates in Michigan will help the economy. To this end, CTE is proposing a pol- icy in which undocumented students can gain in-state tuition if they agree to attend a state university for at least three years and plan to stay in Michigan. Growing support from such diverse media outlets for tuition equality is indicative that this topic has become a larger issue than just an internal affair of the Uni- versity. More universities should be having this conversation. University President Mary Sue Coleman earlier this month voiced her support for tuition equality. "Iwould love to have the same circumstances here, but we don't," she said in reference to California state provisions, which allow universities to grant in-state prices for undocumented students. Although there may be some complications in providing tuition equality while complying with state law, the University's status as a constitutionally auton- omous state institution gives it the leeway to move forward on the issue. In fact, other pub- lic universities in Michigan - also constitu- tionally autonomous - have proven that it's not impossible. Wayne State University, West- ern Michigan University and Saginaw Valley State University have all found ways to offer tuition equality to students while adhering to the state laws. Implementing tuition equality is plausible, and the University can't continue to use legal complications to delay fair policy. Last week, Oregon's state Senate passed a bill calling for tuition equality, poising the state to become the next to support undocu- mented students. While the state senators worked with college administrations across the state, Oregon sets an example of state gov- ernments taking responsibility on the issue. Michigan lawmakers should look to the exam- ple of Oregon, as well as other states such as Texas and California, and become a role model itself in advocating for student rights and higher education. Though the comprehensive of immigra- tion reform must continue at local, state and federal levels, the University needs to take this as an opportunity to be a leader in pro- moting tuition equity. Other state universi- ties in Michigan have shown that it's legally possible. The Board of Regents should review the report on tuition equality, acting on the right side of history and putting this issue in the past. This year, when you cast your vote for Central Student Govern- ment executives, you won't just be casting your ballot for political pleasantries or feel-good slogans. Instead, you'll be choosing your campus leaders for the upcoming year - leaders who'll represent the student body to our administration, faculty, the campus community and the outside world. It's impor- tant to consider what each of the candidates and parties will seek to accomplish - and will reasonably achieve - as a student government. This year, youMICH is presenting a platform full of tangible, achievable goals that will positively impact the lives of students on campus. From creating an off-campus bus route to developing an MCard app and increasing student organization funding, we want to make student government all about the students again - all about you. Our presidential candidate, Busi- ness and LSA junior Michael Proppe, has served as CSG's speaker of assembly for a year and is the presi- dent of his business fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi. LSA sophomore Bobby Dishell, our vice presidential can- didate, has served as an LSA repre- sentative since November and is the vice president of recruitment for the Interfraternity Council Executive Board. As CSG members and leaders of student organizations, Proppe and Dishell understand that CSG works best when it works for the lives of the students. We aim to help with your student organizations, your campus community and your academics. Student organizations are the lifeblood of this campus, and CSG should do everything it can to aid and empower them. If elected, we promise to ensure that at least 50 percent of CSG's budget goes straight back to student organiza- tion funding via the Student Organi- zation Funding Commission. Our proposed off-campus bus route is a smart solutionto a serious problem. An off-campus bus route servicing the Hill Street, South University Avenue and Washtenaw Avenue corridors, the State Street and Packard Street area, and those at Scorekeepers will provide stu- dents with increased safety, reduce wait times for SafeRide and create a more sustainable campus environ- ment by reducing emissions from dozens of taxis. We're working on an Mcard app to eliminate the need to carry your Mcard by incorporating it right onto your smartphone. The Mcard is the key to unlocking the campus com- munity; it gets students into Greek events, buildings, exams, sport- ing and social events, dining halls and so much more. Why not make it a part of your smartphone and eliminate the need to carry your Mcard everywhere? youMICH will also create a stu- dent organization sorting hat survey to help match incoming students with groups on campus. At orienta- tion, new students will be able to indicate their passions, interests and organizations they were involved in during high school and types of orga- nizations they'd liketo join in college. Organizations can indicate what types of profiles match what they're looking for, and CSG will put new students and organizations in touch with each other. Creating a 24-hour cafe in the Duderstadt Center on North Cam- pus is also a no-brainer, and you- MICH is proud to have been first to propose this idea in the election. Since we've put this in our platform, other parties have followed suit, and we're flattered by their imitation. The 24-hour cafe in the Shapiro Undergraduate Library has been a huge success and important part of academic life on campus. Caffeine- starved engineers and artists on North Campus deserve the same round-the-clock support that stu- dents can enjoy on Central Campus. Finally, CSG has done well in supporting student entrepreneur- ship this year, and we want to keep that work going. We have proposed creating a five-year combined bach- elor's and master's in Entrepreneur- ship program that will be housed in a residence hall. This will give the innovative and courageous students a University-supported platform on which to thrive. There are 43,000 students at Michigan, and it's time to have a student government that listens to their real concerns and addresses tangible issues on campus. With creative and innovative thinkers responding to student concerns and issues, CSG can become a proactive environment for making academic life and the campus environment all about the students again. Michael Proppe, Bobby Dishell and all of our youMICH candidates will be ready to hit the ground running on day one, and we hope to have the oppor- tunity to serve you. It's time to have a student government that makes student needs its first and foremost priority - that's why youMICH is all about you. Michael Proppe is an LSA junior. Bobby Dishell is an LSA sophomore. Iihe The Working Ethic: Ever feel like your life is a never ending rotation of all-nighters, pre-games and Pizza House gorging? pOdi u Charlene Lerner reminds us to take a break every once in a while - it might do your GPA some good. Go to michigandaily.com/blogs/The Podium EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS Kaan Avdan, Sharik Bashir, Barry Belmont, Eli Cahan, Jesse Klein, Melanie Kruvelis, Maura Levine, Patrick Maillet, Aarica Marsh, Megan McDonald, Jasmine McNenriy, Harsha Nahata, Adrienne Roberts, Paul Sherman,Sarah Skaluba, Michael Spaeth, Luchen Wang, Derek Wolfe SCOTT CHRISTOPHER AND ETHAN MICHAELI Hail to our peers There are many talented individuals who would like to serve as your next Central Stu- dent Government leaders. In fact, we believe that when it comes to values, character and the desire to truly make a difference for University students, those of us who are running for office have more similarities than differences. We view our opponents as worthy competitors, not adversaries. We genuinely respect all who are competingto lead CSG, representyourinterests and give you a strong voice in student affairs. We believe our differences are best illustrated by vision and ideas, not through adversarial engagement. Instead of "going negative," which seems to be the easy path to distract from the real issues in today's competitive world, it's necessaryto generate healthy debate over mat- ters of true importance. It's sad, really. We sim- ply won't go there, and we hope it's an example that all will follow. As your only independent candidates for CSG president and vice presi- dent, Scott Christopher and Ethan Michaeli, respectively, are campaigning on ideas - a full, independent platform of ideas with equal importance on plans to get them cone. We recognize and share many of our oppo- nents' goals, and we also have some very criti- cal objectives that are unique to our platform. Reform of the University's Counseling and Psy- chological Services, returning power back to the student organizations and the safest cam- pus are three key initiatives within our plat- form. You can check out our entire platform on our website. However, everyone has great ideas about moving forward for next year. We hail Mike Proppe and Bobby Dishell of youMICH for moving forward the student organization sorting hat, a part of their platform that links students to clubs of interest. It's definitely somethingthatwe would've loved as freshmen. momentUM's Nick Swider and Jill Clancy have made huge strides reconnecting to students, especially freshmen. It's always gratifying to see Nick taking big steps during his firstyear on campus. Chris Osborn and Hayley Sakwa from forUM offer a progressive platform, touching some key areas for the University's success. Personally, we can't wait to have more fresh and sustainable food on campus. Finally, the Defend Affirmative Action Party is pushing for- ward an important issue on campus. Its execu- tive candidates realize that Michigan isn't as diverse as it claims to be, and they're making strides to bring a greater voice within CSG for diverse and underrepresented students. We want to salute and hail every one of our peers in this election. We're thrilled to be com- peting with such great individuals, and I hope we can all work together next year. As we said duringthe debate, we pledge to work with every candidate no matter the result of this election - because what we can do as two people is noth- ing compared to what we can all do together. As we move into this busy week, I encour- age everyone to become informed on the great candidates that are running, and, most impor- tantly, to vote! This is the time that we truly bring CSG back to each and every student as 10 dedicated candidates hoping to change the Uni- versityfor the better. Scott Christopher is an LSA junior. Ethan Michaeli is an LSA freshman. CHRIS OSBORN I Over the past six week: seen it all: the Facebook p tweets, the chalk, the fly debates, the candidates a: supporters. The first day ofE is now over. You have 24 hou play a part in the future of y versity - so go vote and m voice heard atvote.umich.ed There are five individuals for student body president t and all of them bring good the table. Let me repeat th them. We cannot let ourselv that fact, because what uni Wolverines is so much stron what divides us. But the wa about making those impro differ, and those differen important. You've heard and will coi hear today ideas for moving versity forward from the ot didates. I can speak only fo and my party - our party, f the largest party running t built from the ground up by, ers like you. We have 45 car from the Taubman Schoolc tecture and Urban Plannin Ford School of Public Poli DPS Oversight to Rackham ate School, from the Ross S Business to LSA and the C Engineering. That's the first difference1 An open forUM s, you've us and other parties. We created an Implemi osts, the open application on our website, so making. ers, the that anyone at the University with Advocat nd their ideas for impactful, long-lasting enrollmc elections change could apply to run with us. ingtuiic irs left to Like our opponents, we recruited Wills your uni- top talent from different student be diffic ake your groups on campus. But many of our cate for Iu. candidates came to us on their own We doi running because we had an open application. thing to his year, None of our opponents can say the said we( ideas to same. amnesty at: all of forUM is different. Over and over campaig es forget again, you've heard us say we're out workeda tes us as to create a more open dialogue at law. We ger than Michigan - and we meanit. Itstarted promise ys we go with the open and transparent way Don't vements we recruited our candidates, so that Look at aces are everyone who wanted to join had Daily ei a fair shot. But it doesn't end there Faceboo ntinue to even if we win this election. An open nation t the Uni- dialogue is a constantly evolving youMIC her can- dialogue. It shows that we're always turned i r myself thinking; we're always tweaking our Iwan orUM - ideas based on your input. - to do his year, I pledge right now that, win or lose, why we support- on Friday we'll turn our website into we have ndidates, a community discussion where any- support of Archi- one can post their ideas and debate for us. Jc g to the the best solutions to improving this I'm as cy, from campus. That's what we are: a forum sure yoi Gradu- for your ideas. And you've already already- chool of come up with some great ideas - for all o ollege of putting a student representative new for on the Board of Regents. Bringing between more local, healthy food to campus. enting online appointment- at University Health Service. ing for increased minority ent and retention. Support- ion equality. achievingsome of these goals ult? Yes, but we don't advo- things because they're easy. it because they're the right do. A year ago, everyone could never achieve medical y for underage drinkers - a n many of our volunteers hard on. But today, it's state e'll follow through on our s. just take my word for it. our support: The Michigan indorsement, our 1,000-plus k supporters and the nomi- that one of my opponents, H, first gave me before I it down. ted - we wanted, all 45 of us something different. That's created forUM. That's why thousands of students who us and have already voted oin them. Join us. sking for your support. Make u vote today, if you haven't - for me, for Hayley Sakwa, f our other candidates, for a UM and for the University. Chris Osborn is an LSA junior. INTERESTED IN CAMPUS ISSUES? POLITICS? SEX, DRUGS AND ROCK'N'ROLL? Check out The Michigan Daily's editorial board meetings. Every Monday and Thursday at 6p.m., the Daily's opinion staff meets to discuss both University and national affairs and write editorials. E-mail opinion@michigandaily.com to join in the debate.