Page 4 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, June 6, 1986 Tuition up, aid down; students in debt By AMY MINDELL years, funding has not kept up with in- students and their parents, and they Last year, University students flation rates. This makes it difficult have to turn to self-help programs," nationwide borrowed $10 billion to at- for today's studnents to get by with Grotrian said of the University's Of- tend college. This rising student debt, financial aid that would have been fice of Financial Aid. 300 percent higher than in 1979, has sufficient in 1980. "It is a growing concern. More caused concern over what one admin- Grotrian explained that although students are borrowing, and strator called "mortgaged futures." funding for financial aid has also borrowing to the maximum. Students Educators attribute the excessive stabilized, the dollar value has are caught between a double edged student loans to increases in tuition decreased, and according to one blade of spiralling tuition costs and and college costs, and a decrease in model, federal dollars in 1985-86 have declining supplemental support, and financial aid under the Reagan Ad- a 25 percent decreased value from that has moved them into debt faster ministration. 1980-81. than anything," he added. BUT SOME students do not appear The University's Office of Financial STUDENT DEBT also worries of- worried about having to face debts as Aid helps the same number of studen- ficials for other reasons. Secretary of high as $30,000 when they graduate. They say they will pay back what they 'If it wasn't for student loans, I wouldn't can, and accept the burden. "If it wasn't for student loans, I wouldn't be be here.' here," said Michael Cucci, a dental - lichael Cucci, student.-M c a lC ci University director of financial aid Dental student Harvey Grotrian says he is resear- ching the problem. His office will con- ts as in 1980. About 70 percent of stud- Education William Bennett, has duct a study this summer comparing ents at the University get some form cited the default rate-students not masters and bachelors degree holders of aid to supplement tuition or college paying back their loans-as the most who took out student loans, and costs, according to Grotrian. "alarming" feature of the increased calculating their loan burden. RISING TUITION and college student loans. Grotrian estimates the average costs, and increased difficulty in get- The national default rate stands at student debt at the University as ting work-study jobs, force students to just under 10 percent, according to $4,000 to $6,000 for undergraduates find other ways to pay for college. Bob Jamroz,an official in the nation's and $4,000 to $10,000 for graduate They are increasingly turning to Department of Education. The students, loans. University's rate is lower, around 7 ALTHOUGH the levels of state and "(Students in debt) is a problem percent, according to Grotrian. federal funding to the University have because in recent years very few Jamroz says the 10 percent national remained stable for the past six alternatives have developed for rate is too high, though it may go higher due to increased loans taken about $20,000 per year. out in the last six years. "It's not good, but I realized the situation before I came to medical University senior Financial Aid Of- school. I am lucky to have received ficer Tim Christensen, however, is not the loans," Ghans said. alarmed. But some officials, nationally and at People need to change their con- the University, are worried that ception of what loans are and accept students do not understand the terms the fact that many of the people who of their loans. They recommend "in- need loans are a high risk group. debtedness counseling" for prospec- Legislators and the American public tive borrowers. have to realize and accept this, and not get so 'wigged out' with a 10 per- SOME OFFICIALS also worry that cent default rate. That 90 percent are undergraduates may turn away from being paid back is great," Christen- liberal arts for more lucrative sen said. majors, such as in the sciences. Andy Geer, a Business school Fewer graduates will enter service junior, hasn't thought much about professions, they fear, but will in- paying back the $6,000 to $7,000 he will stead embark for higher-paying owe by graduation. fields. Students may also hesitate But he says he would not skip out on from entering graduate or loan paybacks. professional school because they fear "I know I wouldn't want to default. more debts. They've helped me get through school A recent study does indicate that - and you really can't beat the in- students may be choosing their terest rates. I definitely feel obliged to majors based on economic realities, pay them back," Geer said, more than their ideal career choices. Wayne Ghans, a third year medical The Carnegie Foundation for the student, also says he will repay his Advancement of Teaching reported loans, although "they can't take blood that students with sizeable debts from a stone." "tend to concentrate in fields where GHANS SAID he will owe up to they can expect high starting $50,000 when he graduates from salaries. medical school next year, with the fir- OFFICIALS also worry that st payments due two years into graduates with large debts will not hospital residency. Residents earn See STUDENT, Page 11 Judge says firing not racially motivated By MELISSA BIRKS because of poor job performance. She A former building director was not said the University emphasized a 1975 unfairly fired by the University, a petition signed by 228 students and judge ruled this week. The building staff in Stockwell asking for Morris' director had claimed her firing was resignation as evidence that Morris racially-motivated because she is "had a history of problems perfor- black. ming her job." U.S. District Court Judge John Feikens ruled the 1977 firing of "BEAUVAIS' SUPERVISORY Mildred Morris, then director of style problems came into focus Stockwell Hall, did not violate her because (Beauvais) took more time to civil rights. work with Morris in an attempt to im- FEIKENS issued his opinion on prove her performance," Ettinger >'$ May 30. The case was argued in court said "(Beauvais) became convinced for seven days last April. that she was more committed Morris had charged that her pay in- to Morris' success than (Morris) A".crease of only three percent while was." building director was due to Neither the University or Morris discrimination. Other employees had seemed surprised at the outcome. received larger increases, she said. University attorney Bill Lemmer While working under Kathleen described the case as "frivolous." But Beauvais, housing supervisor for the Morris' attorney James McGinnis, Hill dorms, Morris said that she was who received the opinion from singled-out. For instance, she said Feikens after the University, said that white employees were allowed in there was a "cloud of bias" over the the dining rooms without meal cards, case. but she was ordered to present hers. "Since there was such a cloud over Beauvais was responsible for firing his ability to fairly rule, we may have Morrison. been better off before a different IN HIS WRITTEN OPINION, judge," said McGinnis, who focused Feikens found Morris's evidence in- his case on racism existing at the sufficient. Her comparatively low pay University. increase was due, he wrote, to Morris' MORRIS isn't sure yet if she will repeated violation of the University's appeal the opinion. While she says she I SCHREIBER nepotism policy by hiring her son and is "disappointed" in the justice her son's girlfriend. system, she did not blame Feikens for In addition, Feikens found "over- the outcome. whelming evidence" that a meal Morris brought the case to court in ticket was required to enter dining 1980, but before going to trial, Feikens halls, regardless of race. threw it out of court due to her failure According to University attorney to go through proper legal Connie Ettinger, Morris was fired procedures. Pre-teen punk Krissy Furman, 4, watches her father play baseball at Elbel field last Sunday with her mother, Amy.