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Monday, June 14, 1999
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' Uto reeive nras nstateunds
By Seva Gunitsiy
Iaily Staff Reporter
A compromise reached
in the Michigan legislature
has yielded the biggest MIC
funding increase for the HIGHER
University in the past sever- FUNDING
al years.
The University will receive a 4.75 percent
increase, resulting in a budget of almost $339 mil-
on for the upcoming school year.
4 Afte hiom naceaA by the Cnnate n few weeks
ago, the bill made its way to the House, where it
received unexpectedly overwhelming support. The
bill underwent very few changes in the conference
committee before being passed by the House last
Wednesday.
Senator John Schwarz (R-Battle Creek), who
chaired the Higher Education Appropriation
Subcommittee, said the legislators' "relative happi-
ness - approaching glee" for the bill was due to its
quality.
"it is the best higher education bill in two
deade-" Scaorz said.
Although loosely based on Gov. John Engler's pleased.
proposal which grouped schools into large cate- The bill is now making its way to Engler, who is
gories, the bill does not rely on Engler's formulas, expected to sign it into law by the end of June.
which Schwarz earlier deemed "inappropriate" and Pending approval by the governor, the state budget
"punitive" to the University. for higher education will stand at almost $1.7 billion,
Several factors contributed to the higher-than- an increase of 4.9 percent.
average increase, including strong backing of Senate The biggest benefactors of the increase were the
members, such as Schwarz, and the availability of University's Dearborn campus, Grand Valley State
state funds. University, Oakland University and Saginaw Valley
"The state made a commitment to higher educa- State University, which all received budget increases
tion," said University Provost Nancy Cantor. "State of over 8 percent.
revenues for this year were hardy. We are very See FUNDING, Page 7
s Conference focuses
E ' d on mental health
By Jeremy Peters
Daily Staff Reporter
Rep. Lynn Rivers (D-Ann Arbor) has
worked diligently throughout her politi-
cal career to bring awareness to mental
health issues. Recently, Rivers had the
opportunity to share her experiences at
the first-ever White House Conference
on Mental Health.
Last Monday's forum, which was
broadcast via satellite in the Michigan
Union's Pendleton Room, was viewed by
people from all over southeastern
Michigan who had an interest in mental
health issues.
During her address, Tipper Gore, chair
of the conference and admitted sufferer
of depression herself, said she hoped the
event would help "end the discrimination
that those with a mental illness fear." She
added that mental illness was the "last
great stigma of the 20th century that we
need to make sure it ends here and now."
The conference also featured speak-
ers who had suffered an array of mental
See CONFERENCE, Page 7
With many of Ann Arbor's parking structures under construction for the summer, drivers have been forced to search for an
empty parking space in the available University and city lots.
A2 combats parking challenge
By Seva Gunitskiy
Daily Staff Reporter
A steady rumble of trucks and jack-
hammers echoes from inside the
Maynard Street parking structure.
Bright orange signs guard the parking
entrance. "Construction Area -
)anger - Keep Out," one sign says.
Cars line up in even rows along the
parking meters on nearby streets.
Adequate parking has never been one
of Ann Arbor's trademarks, but as more
of the city's parking areas have been
placed under construction, the parking
crunch has intensified, frustrating area
drivers and local businesses.
For downtown visitors, the lack of
parking has meant more time spent
roaming the streets, searching for a
spot.
"You can get here 45 minutes early
for class and still not find a parking
space," said Johanna Phillips, a recent
University graduate and a sales associ-
ate at Caravan, a gift store on Maynard
Street.
Although the store is located next to
the Maynard Street parking structure,
Philips said they have not been affected
by the noise level coming from the ren-
ovation project.
"We just turn the radio up a little,"
she said.
Most of Ann Arbor's parking struc-
tures were built more than 40 years ago,
and city officials have launched a ten-
year renovation program to prevent fur-
ther deterioration.
The rebuilding effort, which got
under way two years ago, includes ren-
ovation or replacement of all existing
structures.
"The city of Ann Arbor depends on
automobiles for economic viability'
See PARKING. Page 7
Clowning Around
Molly Wick, visiting from Wisconsin, plays with a clown Pop-it at the
Kerrytown Artisan Market yesterday.
GG
raaaia3, u e.
Students await Circuit Court "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" Men's gymnast Justin Toma
decision determining their opened at theaters on Friday, providing almost women's runner Katie McGr
intervention in 'U' lawsuits. Page 2. as much shaggin' fun as the original. Page 10. athlete of the year honors. P
The Michigan Daily
Student Publications Building
420 Maynard St.
in and Ann Arbor, MI 48019-1327
egor earn News: 76-DAILY
Page 13. Cassifieds: 764-0557
Display: 764.0554
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