The Michigan Daily, Summer, 1986 - Page 13
Housing
gets tough
on student
drinking
Though drinking is bound to remain
an integral part of campus life, the
University is tightening up on alcohol
use here.
Dorm "progressives," which once
featured exotic mixed drinks, are now
gone, as housing and securtiy person-
nel have stopped turning a blind eye to
alcohol in the hallways. They are now
much stricter about, "keeping it in
your room."
University housing policy states
that residents 21-years-old and above
may have alcohol in the dorms as long
as they keep it in their room.
Beyond the dorms, the huge parties
of the fall, like the Beer Olympics and
the Mud Bowl, have either faded from
I SCHREIBER existence or become bottle club-like
events where the rule is "BYOB"
n activist (Bring Your Own Beer.)
The Greek community is also more
aware - both alumni and current
members have formed a task force to
develop a responsible alcohol policy
for fraternties and sororities.
-Rob Earle
her-paying U'keeps
o hesitate
luate or
e they fear
Doily Photo by ANDI
Some students, present and future, chose to spend the hours before last May's commencement at a ceremony honoring jailed South Africa
Nelson Mandela. The event protested the University's failure to grant Mandela an honorary degree.
Tuition, up, aid down; student d(
By AMY MINDELL
Last year, University students
nationwide borrowed $10 billion to at-
tend college. This rising student debt,
300 percent higher than in 1979, has
caused concern over what one admin-
strator called "mortgaged futures."
Educators attribute the excessive
student loans to increases in tuition
and college costs, and a decrease in
financial aid under the Reagan Ad-
ministration.
BUT SOME students do not appear
worried about having to face debts as
high as $30,000 when they graduate.
They say they will pay back what they
can, and accept the burden. "If it
wasn't for student loans, I wouldn't be
here," said Michael Cucci, a dental
student.
University director of financial aid
Harvey Grotrian says he is resear-
ching the problem. His office will con-
duct a study this summer comparing
masters and bachelors degree holders
who took out student loans, and
calculating their loan burden.
Grotrian estimates the average
student debt at the University as
$4,000 to $6,000 for undergraduates
and $4,000 to $10,000 for graduate
students.
ALTHOUGH the levels of state and
federal funding to the University have
remained stable for the past six
yearsfunding has not kept up with in-
flation rates. This makes it difficult
for today's studnents to get by with
financial aid that would have been
sufficient in 1980.
Grotrian explained that although
funding for financial aid has also
stabilized, the dollar value has
decreased, and according to one
model, federal dollars in 1985-86 have
a 25 percent decreased value from
1980-81.
The University's Office of Financial
Aid helps the same number of studen-
ts as in 1980. About 70 percent of stud-
ents at the University get some form
of aid to supplement tuition or college
costs, according to Grotrian.
RISING TUITION and college
costs, and increased difficulty in get-
ting work-study jobs, force students to
find other ways to pay for college.
They are increasingly turning to
loans.
"(Students in debt) is a problem
because in recent years very few
alternatives have developed for
students and their parents, and they
have to turn to self-help programs,"
Grotrian said of the University's Of-
fice of Financial Aid.
"It is a growing concern. More
students are borrowing, and
borrowing to the maximum. Students
are caught between a double edged
blade of spiralling tuition costs and
declining supplemental support, and
that has moved them into debt faster
than anything," he added.
STUDENT DEBT also worries of-
ficials for other reasons. Secretary of
Education William Bennett, has
cited the default rate-students not
paying back their loans-as the most
"alarming" feature of the increased
student loans.
The national default rate stands at
just under 10 percent, according to
Bob Jamroz,an official in the nation's
Department of Education. The
University's rate is lower, around 7
percent, according to Grotrian.
Jamroz says the 10 percent national
rate is too high, though it may go
higher due to increased loans taken
out in the last six years.
University senior Financial Aid Of-
ficer Tim Christensen, however, is not
alarmed.
"People need to
ception of what lo
the fact that many
need loans are a
Legislators and th
have to realize ar
not get so 'wigged
cent default rate.
being paid back i
sen said.
Andy Geer, a
junior, hasn't the
paying back the $6
owe by graduation
But he says he w
loan paybacks.
"I know I would
They've helped mE
- and you really
terest rates. I defit
pay them back," G
Wayne Ghans, a
student, also sayi
loans, although "tt
from a stone."
GHANS SAID1
$50,000 when he
medical school ne)
st payments du
hospital residenc
about $20,000 per y
"It's not good,
situation beforel
school. I am luck
the loans," Ghans
But some officia
the University,
students do not ui
of their loans. Th
debtedness couns
tive borrowers.
SOME OFFICIA
undergraduates m
liberal arts for
majors, such as
Fewer graduates
professions, they
change their con-
ans are and accept
y of the people who
high risk group.
ie American public
stead embark for hig
fields. Students may als
from entering grad
professional school becaus
more debts.
f-4., 4- ;"A-f^ ft-f
nd accept this, and A recent study does indicate that
out' with a 10 per- students may be choosing their (O I-j b11te r
That 90 percent are majors based on economic realities,
s great," Christen- more than their ideal career choices.
The Carnegie Foundation for the
Business school Advancement of Teaching reported
ought much about that students with sizeable debts
,000 to $7,000 he will "tend to concentrate in fields where Efforts to keep the University up-to-
. they can expect high starting date with technology have produced
'ould not skip out on salaries." some big changes here in the last
OFFICIALS also worry that year, but not everyone is happy about
n't want to default. graduates with large debts will not them.
e get through school actively participate in the economy. When the Board of Regents, who
can't beat the in- "Many young adults are graduating govern the University, approved a
nitely feel obliged to with thousands of dollars in loans and $100 computer fee for every student
Jeer said can't pay them back. You have to last term, reaction was mixed. Some
third year medical work many years to pay off the loans students accused the regents df
she will repay his before you can do other things with initiating a hidden tuition hike. Others
hey can't take blood the money, like buy houses, cars and questioned whether some students
luxuries," Christensen said. need computers, especially liberal
he will owe up to Another dispute has centered and fine arte majors.
graduates from around whether students should Nevertheless, the fee is in place and
xt year, with the fir- receive free grants for college, with the University is computerizing
e two years into no payback required. rapidly. Hundreds of work stations
y. Residents earn Jamroz said he favored grants over will be added this year to increase
ear. loans, except for low income computer accessibility.nThe new Cen-
but I realized the families-under $18,000 per year-for tel phone system will enable studenta
I came to medical a family of four. to use hte University's campus-wide
y to have received BUT GHANS said it is more dif- Michigan Terminsl System (MTS) in
said. ficult for a middle-income student to the comfort of their dorm room.
ls, nationally and at get through college, than a student Signs of automation are
are worried that from a poor family. everywhere. The College of
nderstand the terms "The people being hurt are those Engineering, for example, now
ey recommend n- whose parents are 'rich' on paper, but be submitted in computerized form.
eling" for prospec- really have other expenses to pay, like The University has also set up a new
other students in school. It's almost unit to study artificial intelligence and
kLS also worry that better if you are destitute than middle the connection between human
iay turn away from class," Ghans said. thought processes and computers. In
r more lucrative Since 1980, the federal government addition, two faculty members have
in the sciences, has increased restrictions on student developed software that simulates
will enter service loans. Students now must be from human learning processes to help
fear, but will in- families making under $30,000. students learn. - Rob Ear