The Michigan Daily-Wednesday, July 9, 1980-Page 3 Local Scene CHANGES CREATE HAVOC FOR FINANCIAL AID Congress decreases BEOGs By JOYCE FRIEDEN Changes in allocation and distribution of federal grant and loan monies have created havoc for the financial aid offices of more than one college in Michigan, according to financial aid officials. Both the federally funded Basic Educational Op- portunity Grant (BEOG) and the National Direct Student Loan (NDSL) programs were up for Congressional approval this year. Although both the House and Senate finally passed a financial aid bill that will reduce each student's BEOG by $50, the weeks of uncertainty about what Congress was going to do led to many problems for financial aid offices in- colleges across the country. According to University Associate Director for Financial Aid Jim Zimmerman, the House passed the bill fairly quickly, but the Senate's hesitancy made aid officers uncertain as to what direction to take. "The $50 reduction requires a change in the existing laws (governing financial aid)," Zimmer- man explained. "The bill went through the House, so. the government sent out payment schedules (tables used by the University to determine a student's grant) with the $50 reduction accounted for. Then, when it looked like the Senate wasn't going to pass the bill, the Department of Education thought they would have to use a 'rateable reduction' schedule (a plan in which those who need the least amount of money get the most deducted from their awards). They even sent out new payment schedules. But then, at the last minute, the Senate passed the bill, so the $50 across- the-board reduction became law." Although Zimmerman's office is complying with the $50 cut, other colleges are not ready to apply that reduction. "We don't have a definite policy at this point because the government keeps changing its mind," said Robin Peterson, Michigan State Univer- sity financial aid office supervisor. Western Michigan Financial Aid Director Edward Harkenrider said that the $50 reduction works out better financially for Western Michigan students. "Using the rateable reduction plan, the college would have lost about $700,000 in aid funds, but with the $50_ cut our loss is reduced to $200,000," he said. Harkenrider's office is employing the $50 cut method "because it's the more 'likely' outcome of the bill ... we don't anticipate that the president will veto it," he said. Zimmerman added that federal officials also changed the eligibility index of the BEOG for lower- income students still dependent on their families. He said the change will affect only 100 University studen- ts receiving aid, and all of those will end up getting more than they would have before. The financial aid bills in Congress had supported a decrease in the amount of money allocated for the NDSL program. "Actually, all that has been done is to avoid a decrease in loan allocations," he said. "Congress was considering cutting funds for the program, but since they didn't get full approval in time, the law forces them to allocate the same amount of funds as they did last year. In fact, the University of Michigan will be receiving $1.25 million See CONGRESS, Page 11 Regent Dunn says tuition hike could exceed 15% By MITCH STUART University Regent Gerald Dunn predicted yesterday that tuition will in- crease at least 15 per cent for the academic year 1980-81. "The way it looks now, it'll be at least that high," the Lansing Democrat said when asked about the 15 per cent figure. UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT Harold Shapiro said last night University executive officers have not yet finalized their tuition increase recommendation for the July 17 and 18 Regents meeting. The figure should be known "sometime this week," possibly by tomorrow, Shapiro said. University officials have acknowledged a tuition hike of ap- proximately 12 per cent will probably be necessary. Regent James Waters (D-Muskegon) said Dunn's prediction was too high. "I don't think I'd support 15 per cent," he said. "I think that's out of line." UNIVERSITY administrators have been frustrated in their attempts to estimate the state's higher education budget. The latest University estimate calls for a three per cent increase in state appropriations, but Dunn said even that figure seemed too high. "I'm not very optimistic," he said. When the tuition increase was discussed at the March Regents meeting, Dunn was the only Regent who favored a ceiling on the hike-he said the maximum should be set at around 13 per cent. In a telephone interview last night, however, Dunn said he abandoned that idea when the state's worsening economy became evident. THE LANSING Regent said he sup- ported the administration's plan for laying off at least some University staff members-if the entire staff were retained, he said, the tuition increase would have to be 18 to 20 per cent. "This is the third so-called recession I've been through on the Board and layoffs have never been necessary. I don't think we'll be that lucky this time," he said. Dunn emphasized that long-term planning of the kind now being under- taken by University officials is essen- tial for the University to survive the next few yesrs : . "IT TOOK THE state a couple of years to get into this-it'll takea couple of years to get out." Several other members of the Board declined to speculate on the tuition in- crease figure, but Regent Paul Brown agreed with Waters that the 15 per cent estimate was too high. "That sounds like a lot. I'd have to have a lot of convincing to vote for that," the Petoskey Democrat said last night. Dunn cited income and sales tax revenue decreases, welfare claim in- creases, federal budget cutbacks, and the ailing condition of the auto industry as key factors in the state's depressed economy. A CANDY BAR purchased last night at Big Ten Party Store, located at 1928 Packard, revealed three tiny maggot-like insects feasting on the chocolate. Employees charge the store's owner knew that some of the two-year-old candy had bugs when he ordered them to sell it at half-price. Worker"s say buggy candy knozwitngly sold. By KEVIN TOTTIS and NICK KATSARELAS A local party store intentionally sold candy bars infested with insects, em- ployees claimed yesterday. Workers at the Big Ten Party Store, located at 1928 Packard, said the candy had been in storage for two years. In addition, they charged, the owner, after discovering the candy was infested, or- dered the approximately 250 bars sold at half-price. BUT THE OWNER, Eugene Towner, denied he had any knowledge of the in- - cident. "I didn't know anything about it," he said. "I wouldn't have it happen for anything." According to an employee at the store, approximately two weeks ago a customer brought in a Zaanland chocolate bar "covered with bugs." As a result, a second employee took them off the retail shelves. "As far as I know," the first employee said, "there was one bar open on the shelf he (Towner) had to have seen." See WORKERS, Page 6