4' Monday, May 18, 2009 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com (Tbe ichid'an ail Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@umich.edu JAMIE BLOCK ROBERT SOAVE RACHEL VAN GILDER EDITOR IN CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR Unsigned editorials reflecttheofficial position of the Daily's editorial board. Allother signed articles and illustrations represent solelytheviews of their authors F ROM T HE DAI LY Great(er) Lakes, Regions should lead Great Lakes cleanup The Great' Lakes may finally see some of the restoration they require. After months in a congressional committee, President Barack Obama's Great Lakes Restora- tion Initiative, which requests millions of dollars for the protection and restoration of the lakes, is under consideration in Congress. Because the lakes support most of the region, it's imperative that they be nurtured. Congress should pass this initiative and ensure that the budget is allocated to the regional authorities who best understand Housing hassle Regents should improve transparency of rate increase decisions The University raising the cost of room and board is nothing new. Neither is the Board of Regents approving the increases without public discussion. Despite students' economic concerns, this year is no different. On May 14, the Regents passed a 3.9-percent increase in room and board rates for the 2009- 2010 school year but provided little information as to the necessity of the increase. Without this information, it's difficult for students to under- stand why their room and board rates continue to rise egregiously. The regents should make the pro- cess by which it decides upon rate increases more transparent and work to invite student input. The hike in room and board rates consists of a 1.9-percent increase to cover the rising cost of operating expenses and a 2-percent increase for Residential Life Initiatives. The Residential Life Initiatives pays for the maintenence and repair of the residence halls, keeping them in good shape for current and future students. The increase means the price of a standard double in the resi- dence halls will cost more than $9,000 in most residence halls - $334 more expensive next year than it was last year. This is too high of a cost for students. Many pay their own room and board or take out loans to cover the cost. Should the University continue to raise the rent, it could easily price many students out of the residence halls. In the current econom- ic climate, the University should be taking steps to make college more affordable - and that must extend to housing costs as well. But the repercussions are more far-reaching than the economic impact on individual students. The residence halls should be home to a socioeco- nomically diverse group of students. When the halls become more expensive, they are no lon- ger viable options for less wealthy students. As these students are forced to choose inexpensive private housing, there is less interaction between students from different economic backgrounds. This causes de facto segregation on a campus that should instead promote the integration of students with different backgrounds. What makes the situation even worse is that stu- dents don't even know if these costs are necessary. The vague description of the Residential Life Ini- tiatives provides little explanation. And any debate or discussion the regents may have had on the rates took place behind closed doors. In their pub- lic meeting, they approved the rate increase unani- mously, without any real public hearing or even debate amongst themselves. But the University's continued resistance to givingstudents a chance to express their opinions combined with the regents' lack of discussion makes it obvious that the Univer- sity doesn't care about students' concerns. The Regents weren't taking student con- cerns into account when it passed a 3.9-percent increase in room and board rates last week. For students, too much rides on the cost of room and board for them to be denied the knowledge of what the regents take into account when approv- ing rate increases. More importantly, students need the ability to comment on it. how to spend it. Obama's 2010 fiscal budget asked for $475 million to be allocated to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. This amount would push annual fed- eral spending on the Great Lakes past $1 billion. The initiative targets the restoration of coast- lines, protection ofwildlife and elimination of contaminants. To ensure that these objectives are met, $65 million has been ear- marked for evaluating and mon- itoring the initiative's progress. If Congress approves this bill, its ecological benefits would be substantial. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the current level of phosphorous and algae blooms in the Great Lakes is danger- ously high, which negatively impacts wildlife and reduces water supply. These pollutants are among those targeted by the bill's restoration efforts. The Great Lakes are worth this fight because economic improvements are greatly influ- enced by ecological conditions. The industries based around the Great Lakes, such as transporta- tion, communications and trade, are the backbone of the regional economies and depend upon the condition of the lakes. For exam- ple, tourism - a major source of income for Michigan - would increase as a result of restoring the lakes and would help to revi- talize local economies. And because it's local econo- mies that feel the most direct impact of the state of the Great Lakes, this issue should be put in the hands of the Great Lakes states rather than the federal government. Local agencies have a better idea of what needs to be done and how to effectively do it than the more removed and less directly dependent federal government. The Great Lakes have been neglected for too long. To pro- tect this environmental and eco- nomic resource, Congress needs to pass this initiative swiftly so the regional governments can get to work. BRITTANY SMITH I Reviving Detroit's economy With Detroit suffering from a slumping economy, challenging issues have thrust the city under a microscope, open to all for judg- ment, speculation and ridicule. Among its current problems, there have been scandals involv- ing corrupt politicians, some of whom are suspected of politick- ing at the expense of taxpayers. The Detroit Public School Dis- trict has been victimized by dras- tic budget cuts that will cause 29 schools to close at the end of this school year. Unemployment rates have skyrocketed. But what I find t be one of the most interest- ing causes of Detroit's economic instability is the phenomenon called "white flight." When Detroit was a booming industrial city in the early- and mid-1900s, its revenue cane from the white upper and middle class- es. In the mid-1900s, white flight - during which the city's white population drastically decreased due to the arrival of blacks in predominantly white areas - changed this booming industrial city. Consequently, the city's rev- enue became largely dependent on the black middle class. Now that Detroit's black middle class is moving out, the city's revenue base is suffering. When a city's population decreases, the tax base shrinks.Yet, despitethe decreased income, itstill attempted to main- tain the same level of operation instead of adjusting its budget to reflect the loss of revenue. To solve some of Detroit's problems, local and state policy- makers must have honest con- versations. Though many may disagree, I think it's in Detroit policymakers' best interest to involve the state in the regent- rification process of this city. If Detroit sees that one strategy doesn't work, changes must be made so that strong, resourceful alliances can be sought. To make the improvements the city needs, old ideas must be replaced with new ideas. The city must find optimistic leaders with fresh ideas and the capac- ity to restore Detroit's potential, maintain an informed citizenship and call for educational reform that will enable Detroit's youth. Through this education reform, Detroit will be investing in the promise of its youth to create a better tomorrow for their city. Educating the youth of Detroit will lead to a more stable future. In addition, Detroit must create a promising industry to attract the brightest and best leadership to stay, live and thrive in this city. The million dollar question, of course, is if Detroit will bounce back and stabilize its economy by providing its citizens with job security and attract interest to repopulate the city or continue to struggle. - Brittany Smith is an LSA sophomore.