OPINION

The Michigan Daily
Vol. XCV, No. 42-S
95 Years of Editorial Freedom
Managed and Edited by Students at
The University of Michigan
Editorials represent a majority opinion of the
Daily Editorial Board
Malice towards none
WHEN THE University's Board of Regents sits down
* tomorrow afternoon to debate a tuition increase,
they'll be squeezed in from two sides.
On one side is the state. Gov. James Blanchard and
budget director Robert Naftaly are applying the economic
headlock on the University to freeze tuition for in-state
students. The state argues that the University should be
able to freeze in-state tuition for the second year in a row
because of a generous increase in state appropriations to
higher education.
On the other side of the regents is the economic realities
of running a university. The University's budget people
estimate that it would take a 7 percent increase in tuition to
be able to pay for all the things the University needs - in-
cluding a $1.4 million deficit that needs to be settled.
The deficit was incurred last year, after the state put on
pressure - as they are doing again this year - to freeze
in-state tuition.
So with pressure being applied from two opposite direc-
tions, it appears that the regents are trapped. But wait,
coming to the "rescue" are out-of-state students.
Last year, when the regents folded to state pressure and
froze in-state tuition, they were able to do so because they
raised out-of-state tuition by 7 percent. This year, Billy
Frye, the University's vice president for academic affairs
said that if he got all he wanted - and he doesn't think he
will - it would take a 10 percent increase in out-of-state:
tuition to freeze in-state tuition.
While its true that the University is a public university,
and that its first priority should be to provide access to
Michigan residents, as Regent Paul Brown (D- Petoskey)
said recently, "Where do we draw the line?"
Last fall, students from out-of-state paid triple the
tuition of in-state students. If disproportionate increases
continue, the University will find itself in danger of losing
its non-Michigan students. Students will begin discovering
that for the same money, they can go to a private in-
stitution, which spends about $4,000 more per student
every year than the University.
Adding to this will be the end of the baby boom. In 1987,
studies say that the last of the children born during the
baby boom of the late 1960s will enter college. After that,
the number of students entering college will plummet, and
competition for students will increase among universities.
If the University hopes to remain competitive with other
schools for out-of-state students, it must fight partly by
making itself economically attractive. If they don't and
continue this trend of putting the University's financial
burdens on the back of out-of-state students, it will begin to
lose them and that would be a shame.
The exposure to a diverse group of people from differing
backgrounds, cultures, and experiences is a part of the
education here. The University must begin taking some of
the financial burden from the backs of out-of-state studen-
ts. Raise tuition if you must, but raise out-of-state tuition
with the same care and by the same percentage as you
raise the in-state tuition.

Wednesday, July 31, 1985

Page 5

LETTERS TO THEl
Orien tat
To the Daily:
Regardless of what the Off
Orientation staff claims (Letter
Daily, July 26), the new student
tation program is not represen
of student life at U-M.
Orientees are herded like catt
three days. They are told hi
CRISP, where to get Financia
how to get football tickets, what
rooms look like, etc. They are n
that attending a university asla
Michigan can make one feel
number, that rents in Ann Arbs
among the highest in the countr
many courses are taugh
relatively untrained graduate s
t, that studying in the UGLis
being in Grand Central Station
the University is a resear
stitution first and a teachi
stitution second, that the Univ
invests in corporations cond
business in South Africa, th
University allows military res
on campus, that the University
to implement a repressive
governing non-academic condu
that the University generally i
student interests and concerns 1
receives bad publicity and is for
control the damage to its image
Students are told there are
than 450 registered st
organizations. Through Orie
they are exposed to a select gr
the mainstream, "umb
organizations such as the Res
Hall Association (RHA), the
Cooperative Council (ICC
University Activities C
(UAC), the Inter-Fraternity C
(IFC), and the Reserve C
Training Corps. (ROTC) of the.
forces. Orientees are not told
any of the other individual s
organizations like the Latin Am
Solidarity Committee (LASC)
Against Rape Culture (MARC),
College Republicans, the r
American Student Association,
M Chess Club or the Black S
Union. How can the Orientatio
honestly deny the clear bias
orientation program when o
select group of student organi
are showcased during orientati
Currently, the Office of Orie
allows only one student group,:
to disseminate information
lunch and dinner hours in the
tees' dorm. No other group hE
privilege. According to the Of
Orientation, student organiz
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ion distorts 'U' life
were notified sometime in April of fronted by students on campus. If we
ce of how to sign up for an information can't even use the word "problem,"
to the table. Through personal in- how can we discuss how the Univer-
orien- vestigation, we have found that no sity operates, how student interests
tative student organization was aware of and needs are not met by the Ad-
this opportunity. We are certain that ministration, and how students are'
le for many student groups would readily forced to put aside their studies and
ow to accept such an offer. confront a campus problem? Orien-
I Aid, Obviously, in a three day program, tation should not just facilitate the
dorm every aspect of life at U-M cannot be administrative processing of studen-
ot told adequately covered. But there are ts, but should also try to instill
rge as some significant omissions in the realistic expectations of student life
like a orientation process. New students are at the University and an appreciation
or are not exposed to many of the day to day for the diversity of such life. At
thtproblems and issues they may face. present, that is not happening.
y, that The Orientation program, after all, is MSA would like to se the Office of
t by a product of the University Ad- Orientation place greater emphasis
is like ministration, not the student body. on student concerns. Discussing
that Orientation leaders are well-trained common student problems and how to
ch in- and qualified. The problem is they are address them would e useful for in-
i-trained and paid y the University coming freshpersons. Having a "rap
ng - Administration. Thus, orientees are session" about student issues, not just
ei told precisely what the University student life, might diminish the
at the Administration wants them to hear, biased nature of Orientation. Above
earch not what other students think they all, the orienting process must be an
earch should know. Even the rief open and all-encompassing one,
code discussion during the Student Life representing student needs and con-
act, or Meeting is purposely superficial. cerns. Also, as long as one student
,nore Other students besides Orientation organization is provided space to
unil i leaders should be involved in the recruit members for its organization,
ced to Student Life Meeting. Preferably all of them should be allowed the
these students would not be beholden same privilege. Of course withrmore
moeto the Office of Orientation, than 450 registered student groups,
more The one exception to this con- this is a difficult task. One suggestion
taion spiracy of silence is the Michigan might be to set up tables in the Union
'oup of Student Assembly's 15 minute speech and allow orientees to circulate and
rea" about student government. However, find out about the groups they are in-
ience the Office of Orientation has not terested in. Representatives could e
Inter- overlooked this breach of security. The at the tables to talk about their group,
Inthe sole reason MSA has a speech during distribute literature, and sign up in-
'enter orientation, we were told, is to explain terested students. Any group that
ouncil where MSA's $5.07 per term wanted to could participate.
fficer assessment is distributed. Discussing Maybe this could take the place of
armed student issues and concerns is secn- Michigamia. Michigamia is the
asout dary. Moreover, the Office of Orien- scavenger hunt through the Union
tudent tation censors what MSA can and which provides orientees with little
erican cannot say. Last Year, MSA valuable information and favors
, Men representatives were told they could large umbrella organizations over
or the not talk about the code. This year we small individual groups. It is also
Native chose not to do so. disliked bythe orientees. This new
th ative However, we were told what was format would give freshpersons a
the U- and was not appropriate for us to chance to find out what they want to
staf discuss. When we talked about the know, not the potpourri the Office of
of the problem of rape on campus, we were Orientation chooses for them.
nly told by representatives that the orien- Orientation chould be a place for
zations tees were "panic-stricken." students to help other students learn
o? However, on the same day that we sout the wide variety of programs
tation talked about rape in our presentation, the University community offers, not
ROTC, an Orientation leader also told a selective representation of what the
students, particularly women, not to University Administration wants
durin- walk home alone that night because it students to believe. -Jennifer Faigel
as thisisnotsafe.Wefwere alstodbythe MSA's Public Relations Coordinator
,5ic thi Orientation staff not to use the word -Paul Josephson
fice of "problem" in our presentation. MSA President of MSA
ations works almost solely on problems con- July 30
rY by Berke Breathed
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