4 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, July 20, 1998 Edited and managed by dtdan m a bCHRIS FARAH DAVID WALLACE students at the + + Editor in Chief Editorial Page Editor University of Michigan Jfl 3p f lr nn 4 nt t fi r ~c'WZMUnless otherwise noted, unstgned editorials reflect the opiniwn of the 420 Maynard Street tnajority of the Dalys :editorial board. Allother articles, letters and Ann Arbor, Ml 48109 cartoon do notn ecessardy reflec t the opinain of The Miehigan Daly L ast Thursday, the University Board of Regents approved a 3.9 percent increase in tuition as part of the University's 1998-99 budget. In addition to the tuition increase, LS&A students will have an extra $30 per semester tacked on as a technology fee. While the need for a large increase is need- ed to improve the University, the $30 fee to LS&A students is particularly burdensome, and the University should find ways to reduce future tuition increases. While adding fees to tuition is nothing new, the technology fee is particularly cost- ly in light of the already large tuition increase. Adding $30 takes the overall University tuition increase of 3.9 percent and raises it another 1 percent for LS&A students. Keeping up with technological advancements is something the University should strive for, but the University should look at other sources of funding rather than creating extra expenses for students. For many students, the cost of education at the University is very difficult to raise. Extra fees like this, while they may seem small to Rising expens esAy et University raises tuition nearly 4 percent some, can possibly drive the price too high and contribute to the University's dropout rate. While the increase will improve aspects of the University, it damages students' financial concerns in another way aside from the obvious. The state of Michigan gives a tuition tax credit to students whose colleges or universities keep their tuition increases at or below the rate of inflation. For this year, the rate of inflation is approx- imately 2.3 percent - a great deal less than the 3.9 percent increase, and about half the rate increase for LS&A students. The University must take into account such ben- efits for students when setting up its budget, and attempt to reach this credit for students whenever possible. The University should involve students when designing the budget. This year, stu- dents were unable to look at the budget until it was made public at Thursday's meeting. This is not the best system, as students pro- vide the shoulders on which most of the financial burden falls. Obviously, with so much financial responsibility, student input should have some impact on the University's budget. Such feedback can bring attention to student concerns that the administration might not be aware of, and make future bud- gets more student-friendly while maintain- ing the University as a leading institution. Also, as MSA President Trent Thompson noted during public comments, students generally will support a tuition increase if they understand why more money is needed and what aspects of the University will ben- efit from the increase. By not including stu- dents when developing the budget, the University leaves many students wonderinf where their money goes. Fretting students can take heart that increases will be used to keep the Univers competitive with other top-flight institu- tions. Often underpaid when compared t similar institutions, University faculty wil see wage increases on a scale of 4 to 5 per cent. To keep the best instructors in theit fields, the University has to pay wages com mensurate with the instructors' skills, anc this should encourage many of them to stay in Ann Arbor. As a whole, the University's tuit' increase will be used to improve the aca mics at the University. And that in turn ben- efits University students. But the extra fe assessed to LS&A students definitely over- burdens many on campus, and tht University needs to do more to ensure tha student concerns play a greater part in futur budgets. The University must remain afford- able at the same time that it stays academi- cally competitive. Good housekeeping University accepts fewer applications this year T his year, the University accepted 475 ditional residence halls. fewer students than last year's record The national recognition the University incoming class. The stresses of last year's gained through athletic accomplishments class size led to many overburdened did appear to be a factor in the number of University resources, especially Housing. applications received. For this year, 21,025 Now, the University has responded to calls applications poured in - thousands more for change and taken the proper actions so than the previous year's 18,784. But the that such a crunch for housing and class- University learned from its problems from space does not occur again. a year ago and accepted only 12,351 of Many of last year's incoming students those applications. Administrators expect spent their first week at the University in the actual class size to number around residence hall lounges instead of the dorm 5,200. rooms that Housing promises for all first- This was an important action on the year students. This was due to an inability University's part to benefit its students. to anticipate the number of accepted stu- First-year students are often away from dents who would choose to attend the home for the first time when they arrive on University. Class sizes had grown steadily campus. The first weeks at the University for years, and it appeared that the are a difficult period of adjustment for University no longer could accurately pre- many, as they experience the demands of dict the amount of housing needed each University life. To smooth out such times, year. it is important that each student has a com- To alleviate burdens on housing facili- fortable place to call home; one that can ties for the 1998-99 academic year, a poli- provide him or her with a place to study cy preventing upperclassmen from return- and relax. Living in lounges leaves new ing to traditional residence halls - those students with even less of a firm center to that have a cafeteria - was instituted. This stand on, as they have to move a second action outraged many students at the time in addition to acclimating to the University, who cited the benefits first- University lifestyle. For the 1998-99 year, year students receive from living with no students will put up with this inconve- experienced students. Also, many upper- nience. Only a small number will live in classmen were upset that they were noti- overflow triples - a better option than fied of the policy well into the year, after lounges, which have a lack of privacy. much of the best off-campus housing had By accepting fewer students, the already been signed for. And as the University has improved the conditions University won national titles in football under which thousands of new students and hockey, increasing popularity and will enter in little more than a month. The publicity for the University, it appeared the University did a very credible job in situation might worsen. assessing student needs and then taking Things turned around in April for the actions to meet those requirements. Such upperclassmen, as many juniors and student-administration interaction greatly seniors who wanted to live in residence improves the quality of the University as a halls were accommodated - some in tra- whole, and must continue in the future. Crossing the line New bill endangers abortion rights for minors 1he U.S. House of Representative last some dysfunctional families, parent. Wednesday voted in favor of a bill, may not be available to their children. sponsored by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen close relative's help in such a trying tim (R-Florida), that would make it a crime can be a great help to a young womai for anyone other than a parent to trans- caught up in the complexities of@ port a pregnant young woman under the unwanted pregnancy. age of 17 across state lines to have an In any case of an unwanted pregnan- abortion. The restrictions imposed by cy, the worman's decision -- whatever i this bill could seriously damage a may be is extremely anguishing. Foi woman's right to have an abortion. many young women, this bill wouk For a little more than 25 years, when limit the number of people they could go the Supreme Court ruled that the word to for help, and add further complica "person" in the Constitution did not tions to a difficult situation. apply to the unborn, women in this And the bill likely would not accom- country have had the ability to deter- plish its goal of enforcing parental e mine what is right for their own bodies. sent laws in the pregnant youth's home In that time, many states have passed state. A young woman could still go by their own laws making it difficult for herself across state lines and receive ar minors to have an abortion without abortion. And worse, some may consider parental consent. This new bill works to having an illegal abortion. Legalizec prevent people from bypassing restric- abortion, as even abortion's detractors tive state laws. The bill makes anyone must admit, has helped prevent th besides a parent - even a close relative tragedies that can result from illega who is not a parent - who takes a young abortions, which have a very high mater- woman out of state to have an abortion nal death rate. If this new bill were tc subject to prosecution. Those transport- become a law, some young women ty ing the young woman could possibly be consider this unhealthy and unsi sentenced to one year in jail plus a fine. option. They could also face legal action from Indications are that President Clintor the young woman's parents. would veto the bill if it reaches his desk This bill does not take into consider- - and that is exactly what he should do ation factors that could make it neces- if the bill reaches him in its presen sary for a pregnant youth to circumvent form. The House's margin of approval her parents. Social, religious and ethnic 276-150, is not enough to overturn a factors could all make an unwanted Presidential veto. pregnancy - or an aborted pregnancy Abortion is a controversial right oro. - the subject of considerable shame for tected by the Constitution, and it ni a young woman. In some sad cases, par- remain protected. This bill infringes on ets may be abusive to the young young pregnant woman's rights, furthe: woman, and revealing an unwanted complicates her decision and couk pregnancy could result in dangerous cir- result in a dangerous situation. It shouk cumstances for the underage girl. And in not become law.