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torilfreedom May 7, 1997
Bolinger plans low tuition hike
By Heather Kamins
Daily News Editor
In an attempt to mitigate the financial burden
of rising tuition costs, University President Lee
Bollinger pledged Monday to propose a tuition
increase for this year that will be the lowest in 15
years.
"I think it is important for us to try in this
period or sery high criticism in the cost of very
higth education to be as responsive as we can to
Apublic and help counteract that," Bollinger
said. "The provost and I have been working on
several schemes, or models, for tuition."
The proposed minimal tuition hike succeeds
years of escalating tuition fees. During the past
five years, tuition costs for in-state first-year
students and sophomores have grown by almost
$2,000.
Last year's 5-percent tuition increase for both
in-state and out-state students was the lowest in
12 years.
"Our goal has to be trying to give one of the
lowest tuition increases in many years,,
Bollinger said. "As always, we are trying to keep
tuition as low as possible while maintaining a
high quality in the University" Bollinger said.-
Bollinger said lie has not yet decided on an
exact increase amount.
Associate Vice President for University
Relations Lisa Baker said she has not yet seen
any exact numbers to support Bollinger's state-
ments. She said, though, that the pledge demon-
strates Bollinger's commitment to the students.
"This reflects the president's concern of keep-
ing a Michigan education affordable;' Baker
said. "Keeping tuition increases to a minimum
has been an ongoing concern."
Baker said the quality of the University still
not be affected by the modest increase.
"It's obvious from other statements that the
president has made, that he intends to do every-
thing possible to increase the quality of the total
academic experience pursuits."
The University Board of Regents traditional-
ly votes on tuition fees in July.
See TUITION, Page 2
$20,000Past Tuition Increases
7.7%
$15,000 86%
$10,000
$5,000
91991 0'93H94 T94R95 5A9N96'97
HEATHER 559555S al
Legislators question
'U' admissions policies
MARGARET MYERS/Dal
duates Laeki Harris, Kasey Johnson and Lorri Pearson brave the poor weather and cool temperatures to claim their
diplomas Saturday at Michigan Stadium. University President Lee Bollinger was the keynote speaker.
Commencement dampened by rain
By Heather Kamins
and Katie Plona
lailyNews1diors
Four Michigan state legislators
announced their intent to launch an
investigation into the University's
"racial preference" policies in its
admissions procedures.
The four Republican representa-
tives claim that University admissions
policies unfairly favor minority stu-
dents who have lower grade point
averages and Scholastic Aptitude Test
scores than their white peers.
The representatives are encourag-
ing students who feel they are victims
of racial preference policies to come
forward and file a class-action suit
against the University.
Rep. Greg Kaza (R-Rochester
Hills), who is one of the four repre-
sentatives calling for action against
the Utisersity, said the four specift-
cally targeted the Utniversity, as
opposed to other state institutions,
because of its blatant racially biased
policies in granting admission and
awsarding scholarships.
"(The University's administrators)
are the most egregious user of these
kind of policies, in my opinion," Kaza
said. --They're bullies that are used to
walking over 17- and 18-year-olds."
Uniiersity President Lee
Bollinger defended the University's
admissions policies regarding affir-
mative action.
'My belief is that the policies that
the University has followed are con-
sistent w th the Supreme Court prece-
dents, they also are consistent with
our intellectual mission," Bollinger
said,
Kaza said he is certain the
University would not withstand a
court case against them.
"We'll prevail in court," Kaza said.
"I'm confident in that."
Vice President for University
Relations Lisa Baker said the
University could successfully endure
a legal battle,
"We believe everything we are
doing with regard to admissions is
both legal and appropriate," Baker
said. "We believe we could withstand
a court challenge."
Philosophy Prof. Carl Cohen said
the legislators actions do not surprise
him.
"In my view, the admission policies
of the Uisersity are in clear siolation
of thte Civil Rights Act of 1964,"'
Cohen said.
"We are forbidden by federal law
from doing this," Cohen said. "But we
do discriminate against applicants
based on race. There is a very sub-
.stantial chance that the University
will not fair well (in trial),"
Rep. Deborah Whyman (R-Canton
Tssp.) said the University has not
been forthcoming with information
documenting admissions statistics.
"We feel that the procedures at the
University are shamelessly secretive
and a disgrace," Whyman said. "We
See ADMISSIONS, Page 3
By Jeff Eldridge
I il Repsster
Laitestis of the weather and words of
ads ice Ism the new University presi-
' t araked the commencement cere-
"sy hselkl in Michigan Stadium on
Saturday
As temperatures dropped into the 40s,
several thousand graduating seniors and
attendees milled around uncomfortably
through cascading rain. Some graduates
left the ceremony early, while others
took the messy weather in stride. One
unidentified woman said she felt like her
"feet are going to fall right off."
President Lee Bollinger's keynote
address was peppered with self-depre-
cating humor, quotes from great literary
figures and words oftwisdom for the new
University graduates.
"Remember your University. This is a
very, very special institution," Bollinger
said. "The University has a distinctive
personality ... that is quite magical." lie
reminded graduates of "the long days of
October" svhen the leaves change and
the school year is ness. Bollinger said
that this may be when the University is at
its best and "it all comes together in a
kind of perfection"
While Bollinger heralded the
University's qualities, lae also spoke to
the graduates about choices that lie
ahead. He told them to maintain their
convictions, and starned them not to take
jobs that will fill their bank accounts
while draining their morale.
"Look closely at what the job expects
you to gise up. It may be your soul:'
Bollinger said.
See GRADUATES, Page 9
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