2 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, July 3, 2000 'U' gets 5.7% increase in budget Music man By Hanna LoPatin Daily News Editor After a tumultuous conference committee the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives have presented a final draft of the Higher Education Budget for the FiscalYear 2001, to be approved by Gov. John Engler in the fall. The budget gives the University a 5.7 per- cent increase in appropriations, a figure that University Vice President for Government Relations Cynthia Wilbanks said leaves the university "gratified." The House and Senate left for summer recess without having formed a budget, but later reconvened to complete the job. Wilbanks said the delay caused uncertainty in the University community because all state schools begin their fiscal year July 1, as opposed to Oct. 1, as the government does. Rep. Sandra Caul (R-Mt. Pleasant), who chaired the House subcommittee, said the delay was due to "items of difference between the House bill and the Senate bill and each of us felt very passionately." One of those differences - and the main cause of the delay - Caul said, was the House's fight to close the gap between the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. Caul said the House wanted to spend "a fair portion of dollars on closing those gaps" But Sen. Alma Wheeler Smith (D-Ann Arbor), who did not participate in the confer- ence committee, but was vice-chair of the sen- ate subcommittee. said that the struggle was based on politics. "The people in power like Michigan State." she said, referring specifical- ly to both Caul and Speaker of the House Chuck Perricone (R-Kalamazoo). Smith said that a gap between the two uni- versities does not exist, based on a division of appropriations that occurred in 1986 which she claimed causes only an appearance of a gap. In reality, she said "they really are getting more per pupil than U of M." Nonetheless, Caul said that she was pleased with the final product. "Good things don't come easy," she said. "Compromises that were met really closed the gap between 13 out of 15" state universities, she said. Another disagreement between the House and Senate occurred over the existence of the tier system. Employed for the first time in the Fiscal Year 2000 budget, the tier system places the universities in groupings and places each group on a specific floor funding level. The Senate removed the system in its bill, arguing that it unfairly groups schools togeth- er that are actually very different, while the House replaced it, arguing that it keeps poli- tics out of the process. Smith said that Senate subcommittee chair Sen. John Schwarz (R-Battle Creek) "had large- ly given up Ott the fight against the tier system." It was not a large part of the delay, she said. With the Fiscal Year 2001 tier system, all universities, excluding Grand Valley State and Michigan State, met their funding floor. The final draft of the bill was signed by all committee members excluding Sen. Don Koivisto (D-Marquette). Legislative Aid Ben Miller said Koivisto voted against the bill 50Fg s A 05 tf D because he was unhappy with the increases for Graphic design senior Tian Fagan plays his guitarcfor the universities in his district.passersby attthecenrane to the Engineering arch. * I Business school plans to offer online courses By Nika Schulte together," said B. Joseph White. University of "Working this way in school is excellent preparation. The Michigan Daily Daily Staff Reporter Michigan Business School dean. he added. While the schools may compete for faculty and stu- This is not the first time the University has useO apologizes for Although the University's Business School ranks as dents. White said the schools are able to manage their such technology-based distance learning. Through its printing the wrong one of the fiercest cotmpetitors in the nation. this fall competitive and cooperative relationships for a higher Global MBA program, which began in 1992, the the school will begin an Internet partnership allowing purpose - the benefit of the students. University has used videoconferencing to teach stu- address for the students in Ann Arbor to take certain classes at two "We have three great business schools here. and our dents in Korea and Brazil. Ann Arbor PTO other top institutions. goal is to bring the greatest educational value possible Later in the academic year, Haas expects to offer a Using the Internet to retriese class materials and to our students:" he said. class on financial issues impacting the Internet, such Thrift Shop. participate in chat rooms and videoconferencing, Nearly 50 University students are enrolled to take a as the valuation of high-technology companies. The University students will work and communicate with class on e-innovations offered by Darden this fall. But University is scheduled to offer a course on the strate- faculty and students at the University of Virginia's White said the course content is only one lesson stu- gic application of Internet technologies. The correct Darden School of Business and the Haas School at the dents will learn. The format of the class helps prepare l the 2001 U.S. News & World Report graduate University of California at Berkeley. students for real-world settings, White said. school rankings, the University's Business School address is "It's really been a dream of mine, for at least the last White said corporations often use videoconferenc- earned a ninth-place rating, Haas ranked tenth a* 1621 S. State. five years I'e been dean, to bring these schools ing to virtually connect teams from several continents. Darden tied for eleventh with two other schools. 1 t c rs.., Earn $60 in a four session computer-mediated negotiation experiment that is being held in the Business School throughout July. Experimental sessions last under an hour. Days: Sunday through Thursday Times: 5:00 and 6:30 PM. To be included in the pool of possible subjects, register at: http://ddm.bus.umich.edu/~summerOO To participate, you must be over the age of 18. I= : The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is pubshed Mondays durng the spring and simmer terms by students at tie University of Michigan. Subscriptons for fall term. starting in September. via U S. mai are $100. Wner term (Janary through April) is $105, yearong (September through Apl) is s180. On-campus Sub- scriptions for fall term are $35. Subscriptions must be prepaid. The Mchigan Daily is a member of the Associated Press and the Associated CollegiatePress ADDRESS: The Michigan Daily, 420 Maynard St Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1327. PHO N NUMBERS (Al area code 734: News 76-DALtY; Arts 763-0379; Sports 647a3336: Opinion 764-0552; C at 764-0558; Classified advertising 764-0557; Display advertising 764-0554 u tng 764-0550. NEWS Hanna LoPatin, Managing Editor EDITORS: Joselyn Gingrich. Lisa Koivu STAFF AnnaClak.t'nnetertCox.LauraaDeneau. 5 F ?Rcheu Green. SecaaGunitskiy Ahmet Ham T^