ThbA iikgl Doiy-Fridb am' , AnU'1986 - rags5 Gov. earns praise for university funding in first term By AMY MINDELL When James Blanchard was elected Governor in 1982, Michigan was in dire financial trouble. The University - and other state-funded institutions - struggled to operate on shrinking allocations. But four years later, state funding for education has increased and University officials attribute much of the rise to Blanchard. BLANCHARD will continue to make funding the state's colleges and universities a priority if he is elected to a second term this fall, according to state's budget director Robert Naf- taly. The Governor has stressed education because he sees it as linked to economic development, which the state has desperately needed since the recession of the 1970s, and the decline of the automotive industry. Funding higher education will help the state develop new industries through high-tech research and training, he has said. STATE LEGISLATORS, at the Governor's recommendation, last year created the "Research Ex- cellence and Economic Development Fund" for the state's four research universities - the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, and Michigan Tecnological University. The University received $9.9 million from the fund last year, mainly for a high-tech laboratory for the College of Engineering. The Governor recom- mended another $9.9 million for the coming year. Blanchard has also directed the state's colleges and universities to freeze in-state undergraduate tuition for the past two years. During the recession of the 1970s and early 80s, tuition rates skyrocketed - often. rising over 10 percent from year-to- year. The University charges one of the most expensive tuition rates of public universities nationwide. BLANCHARD HAS been concerned with making universities more ac- cessable. He proposed a plan for Michigan residents this year that would allow parents to invest money with the state to be used for their child's future tuition. Tuition would then be frozen. But even though Blanchard has prioritized education, state allocations remain far less than University administrators say they need to maintain quality, make im- provements, raise faculty salaries, and keep tuition low. The University was affected by the state's recession because state fun- ding dropped dramatically. This for- ced Michigan to find new sources of funding, including internal reallocations. ALTHOUGH administrators insist the University's reputation was not harmed by the funding cuts, internal reallocations in the early 1980s reduced some departments to minimal standards. "I think (Blanchard) established higher education as a priority in the state. I have to give him credit because he seems to be looking toward the long term," said Univer- sity vice president for academic af- fairs James Duderstadt, whose office calculates the University's budget each summer. "But the difficulty is trying to over- come the deep cuts. There is a lot of ground to be made up," Duderstadt said. UNIVERSITY officials realize that with other areas lobbying for state support, the state still cannot fully higher education spending as a meet their needs. Though the Gover- priority, there just isn't enough nor s recommended $12 million in- money for every program. crease for the University was one of the "One problem is that no matter how few proposed increases in this year's much he puts in the higher education budget, the University still won't budget, university and college officials receive the $35 million increase it will say it is not enough," Molin said. requested. THE STATE'S colleges and univer- Keith Molin, assistant to the vice sities still need to make improvemen- president for government relations, ts and increases, with the limited said that while Blanchard regards amount of funds available. But the state's budget remains tight. Blanchard is still battling the effects of the $750 million deficit he inherited when he took office. Although Blanchard recently claimed that the state is solvent, this year's budget provides few funding in- creases. Ex-student aims for record (ContinuedfromPagei) Krause's sense of adventure. company, and Michigan Windsurfing, "I felt Krause was energetic and his based in Keego Harbor. sense of adventure reminded me of "When Doug came to see us, we told my own adventurous nature so it him we would help with all our effort made me relate to him even better," if it would promote the sport futher," Coulter said. "Besides, we went to said Jim Coulter, owner of Michigan high school together." Windsurfing. KRAUSE SAID his thirst for adven- THE COMPANY is supplying ture began when he was young. Krause with wool-lined drysuits, sails, "In Wisconsin, when I was 8 years masts, and other equipment old, me and my friends took a rowboat necessary for the trip. up a tiny creek. It was a big deal for a Coulter, too, was caught up with See GRADUATE, Page 12 Liberal arts majors find improved job prospects (Continued from Page 3) more profitable. ployment outlook looks promising for Steinbach said, however, that she is liberal arts graduates, she stresses not sorry she is graduating with a they should try to collect a vast num- liberal arts degree. With the degree, ber of skills. In addition to their she feels, comes the assurance of a academic background, she said, this practical education that employers should help them in their job search. may find attractive. "Get under you belt marketable "A lot of companies do look at skills," Taylor said. "The reality is English, the more general degrees. that we ahve moved into the computer They can mold them to fit the com- era. It behooves a student to learn pany. They can train me how Ihave to basic computer skills. They're going be trained," she said. to need that kind of skill. They're Taylor agrees. While the em- goingtouseit." A PAPER CLIP ProdudaoAn ALAN METTERR RODNEY DANGERFIED BACK TO SCHOOL" SALLY KELLERMAN BURT YOUNG KEITH GORDON ADRIENNE BARBEAU ROBER DOWNEYJIR. SAM KINSON and NED BEAT1YasDeaB Maro' musc by DANNY ELFM A aniseESTELLE ENDLER MICHAEL ENDLER HAROLD RAMvIS d yUCNUK RUSSELL seply ySTEVEN KAMPMANN WILLPORTER adPETER TOROKVEI& HAROLD RAMIS tyRODNEY DANGERFIELDnGREG FIELDS &DENNIS SNEE iedALAN METTER PG-13 PARENTSSTRONGLYCAUTIONEDf4MW eL 10)10711Af ALBUM AAILABLEON QQOO ' *An OiPJOPICTURES Reease S.. , Benpp.. oi.,f.p .i.t.fr. eer ... 3 MC RECORDS ADCASSA . SELECTED THEATRES n(o Registration starts Friday, June 13, at theatres everywhere.