4 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, May 13, 2002
420 MAYNARD STREET
ANN ARBOR, MI 48109 LISA HOFFMAN ZAC PESKOWITZ
letters@michigandaily.com Editor in Chief Editorial Page Editor
EDITED AND MANAGED BY
STUDENTS AT THE Unless otherwise noted, unsigned editorials reflect the opinion of
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN the majority of the Daily's editorial board. All other pieces do not
SINCE 1890 necessarily reflect the opinion of The Michigan Daily.
T he University Board of Regents will the issue and have sealed themselves off
meet this Thursday at the University's C overt o erat1 ns from the opinions and ideas of faculty and
Dearborn campus with a full agenda. students. While this may have temporarily
While the regents discuss these affairs, their 'U' presidential search lacks transparency expedited the search, it will cause problems
primary concern of the summer remains the in the future. The early days of the next pre-
most closely guarded secret at the ident's tenure will be uneasy and awkward as
University: The list of candidates for the undergraduate, former Michigan Student est of the next president will be the fiscal the president attempts to make themselves
University presidency. Assembly President Matt Nolan. Despite an health of the University and will not display a known and accessible to the community.
The search for the 13th University pres- undergraduate population of approximately commitment to the academic values of higher With the 6th Circuit Couri of Appeals' deci-
ident has been closed to the public and 24,000 students and repeated efforts to both education. Concerns that the president will sions in Gratz v Bollinger and Grutter v.
extremely secretive. The Search improve and place additional emphasis on come from a business background and will be Bollinger expected soon, the progress of the
Committee consists solely of the regents, undergraduate education, the regents have primarily concerned with fundraising and Life Sciences Initiative and a leadership vac-
and they have had little interaction with ignored the opinions of the University's under- donations have not been eased with the uum at the University's top administrative
either University students or faculty during graduates. The concerns of many undergradu- involvement of A.T. Kearney Inc. consulting positions, any early unfamiliarity could crip-
the process. While the regents have allowed ates over the next president's stance on labor firm. Consulting firms have been criticized by ple and mar the next president before they
individuals to make suggestions and nomi- issues and diversity have been silenced. some academics for recommending business- have the time to establish themselves.
nate candidates through a presidential With a concealed list of candidates oriented individuals for academic positions. While the regents are not legally obli4
search website, there have been few University faculty and students have been If an open and transparent process had been ated to open the process beyond publicly
attempts to generate public dialogue and unable to directly comment on the acceptabil- utilized, criticisms and concerns could have naming a list of finalists, it is in the inter-
discussion concerning the search. ity of specific nominees. Instead, the most been directed toward specific individuals ests of the University to open the presiden-
The Presidential Search Advisory powerful message to the regents was an April and not at vague ideas of a president. This tial search to public examination and
Committee chaired by Rackham Dean Earl letter signed by 47 faculty members that would have resulted in a final list of thor- involvement. The University community
Lewis has been an additional source of con- expressed their desire for a president with oughly vetted and acceptable candidates. has a vast store of knowledge and experi-
cern. The 14-member committee consists of strong academic and intellectual credentials. The regents have no real understanding of ence that if properly tapped will result in
just two University students and only one The faculty are worried that the primary inter- the University community's sentiments on the most qualified president.

CAPS not up to par
Better mental health care needed for students
A n increase in commercials and CAPS services are offered at times when
advertisements for drugs, such as students are extremely busy. If counseling
Prozac and Paxil, has created a rush sessions were offered later in the evening
of new patients seeking the mood-enhanc- more students could fit necessary treat-
ing drugs and mental health care in gener- ment into their schedules.
al. The University's primary treatment Students wait for two weeks after
option, Counseling and Psychological their paperwork is processed before
Services, has had an increase in student receiving therapy. The number of new
visitors. As attitudes toward mental health students visiting CAPS is increasing and
care change, CAPS and the University each counselor is expected to see a new
must respond with expanded services. patient every day. Not only does this cre-
While CAPS' psychologists are trained ate an overload for the therapists who
to recognize and treat mental give up lunches and breaks to
health problems, many of the As attitudes keep up with the paperwork,
interns and post-doctoral staff toward mental but it also hurts the quality of
have only limited licenses, which health care service provided for the stu-
restricts their ability to diagnose change, CAPS dents. Since the University
serious medical conditions. and the University has been slow to hire new
CAPS has one psychiatrist who must respond personnel, the already over-
works a part-time, which leads to with expanded worked counselors have to
many serious cases being services, fill in for the absence of two
referred to external clinics and staff members who have left
hospitals. Unlike CAPS, these clinics are within the past year.
not free of charge and are not covered While many students have been treated
under the University's insurance policies, at CAPS, a vast majority are unaware of its
creating difficulties for students who want services and even of its existence. The
to keep their treatment confidential but University merely provides a pamphlet to
who also rely on their parents' insurance. students in one of the many orientation
Students who wish to use CAPS ser- packets and training for residence hall
vices must negotiate a complex logistical directors through University Housing.
process. After students fill out paperwork, While groups can request information and
they are placed on a wait list and then seen presentations from CAPS, many are
on a need-based order. Only students unaware of this service.
enrolled for the current semester are treat- CAPS' shortcomings could be
ed; those who are not taking improved if the University administers a
Spring/Summer courses are allowed one few changes. Working to publicize and
visit, but are referred elsewhere. While spread awareness of CAPS and increasing
emergency walk-in patients are treated, CAPS' hours would greatly improve men-
even this care is limited to the 8 am to 5 tal health care. The intense atmosphere of
pm, Monday through Friday schedule. the University necessitates strong psycho-
Even with a three-hour extension on logical and psychiatric care to ensure a
Tuesdays during Fall and Winter terms, healthy and productive student body.

No textbook taxes

4

Sales tax repeal would help students
perpetual complaint of University addressed, there are other approaches that
students is being addressed in a professors can take to help keep costs
state senator's bill - State Sen. down for University students.
Leon Stille (R-Spring Lake) announced Professors should incorporate more of
last week that he will be introducing a bill their reading material into more afford-
that would exempt textbooks from able coursepacks. Oftentimes, professors
Michigan's sales tax. The bill would pro- require students to purchase whole boo
vide a welcome relief for University stu- with the intention of only using a fe
dents who have had to suffer with the chapters. Coursepacks provide a cheaper
high cost of textbooks. alternative that allows students to avoid
As Stille explains, "It is well known purchasing books that are hardly used and
that college students pay inordi- have little resale value.
nate amounts for their text- The bill would The library reserye system
books and receive only a small provide a is another option to combat
percentage in return." Students welcome relief high textbook prices. All pro-
are told that they can expect to for University fessors have a responsibility to
pay around $300 per semester, students who place their course materials on
but that amount can soar much have had to reserve at the beginning of th
higher for many courses. With suffer with semester so that students who
tuitions and higher education the high cost of cannot afford books can easily
costs on the rise across both the textbooks. access them. The Internet can
state and the nation, this burden also be used to cut costs, as
is becoming increasingly difficult to bear. many texts are available for free online.
Moreover, with a college degree more Finding cheap textbooks in Ann Arbor
important today than ever, it is imperative is limited by the few options that exist for
that lawmakers and University officials purchasing them. Four stores dominate
continue to find creative ways to ease the the textbook trade in Ann Arbor. The
financial burden for students. The broke University and Michigan Student
student clich6 is a cliche with basis in Assembly should take a more active rol
fact; a large number of students live on a in developing other options, such
shoe-string budget and have a hard time improving and publicizing the
scrounging up the extra money needed University's textbook exchange.
for books. Removing the sales tax from over-
Stille attempted to pass a similar bill priced textbooks also speaks to the much
four years ago. but it stalled in the larger problem that the sales tax dispro-
Senate. This time around, state senators portionately affects the poor. Sales taxes
should recognize its importance and comprise a much larger percentage of the
support the bill. income of poor people and thus place an
If passed, Stille's bill would provide an uneven financial burden on them. The $40
effective tax break but would still not that a lower-income student saves by pual
solve the problem of excessive textbook chasing tax-exempt textbooks can make a
prices. Until the problem is properly significant difference in their finances.