Higher education reform has been a hot topic this election season — particularly for Democrats. As opponents in the Democratic primary, now-Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders (D–VT) lauded their two separate proposals of debt- free and tuition-free college, respectively. Several states already offer free college plans at certain institutions including Maryland, New York, Colorado, Connecticut, California, Pennsylvania, Missouri and Kentucky. However, no such plans have come into fruition in the state of Michigan. As the current system stands, students must take out loans or receive grants on a federal level. With higher education reform, the overarching plans come from the national level, but state support would still be required, particularly from the governor’s office, if they were to be fully implemented. In Michigan, it is unclear how gubernatorial support would play out. In 2011, Gov. Rick Snyder cut state funding for higher education by 15 percent, on trend with decreasing support for higher education during several years prior. Snyder’s office did not respond to request for comment on his administration’s willingness to work toward debt-free plans. Nonetheless, after 2018, Snyder will no longer be in office due to term limits. Depending on when higher education reform is implemented, the state may be under different leadership. Additionally, lack of state support does not translate into lack of support from voters. Debt Free vs. Tuition Free In the primaries, Sanders saw massive support from students and young people, many of whom viewed his higher education plan as the best for their needs. In July, after Clinton became the presumptive Democratic nominee, the two worked together to expand Clinton’s New College Compact so that it encompassed more of Sanders’ ideas, including making tuition at public colleges free for students with families who earn less than $125,000 per year. Clinton’s debt-free plan as it stands now promises that all students will be able to graduate from a public institution within their state without taking out loans for tuition, books or fees. This guarantee requires that students contribute by way of at least 10 hours of earnings per work week and their families make a reasonable contribution based on income. Sanders’ plan was largely similar to Clinton’s, however, it went further in order to allow public universities to be tuition free for all in-state students. Even after Sanders’ departure from the presidential race and Clinton’s sizable expansion of her college plan, some of those whose votes were influenced by higher education reform are not fully satisfied. Collin Kelly, the chair of the Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump visited Michigan for the second time this month Wednesday, when he toured a water treatment facility in Flint. During the trip, Trump also visited Bethel United Methodist Church and met with Rev. Faith Green Timmons and other community members. Trump’s trip to Flint — a primarily Black community which was affected by a major public health crisis after its water supply was contaminated with lead in 2015 — follows a recent theme in his campaign of attempts to reach out to minority voters. In his Sept. 3 visit to Detroit, he attended a gathering at a Black church and was interviewed by Bishop Wayne T. Jackson, the Great Faith Ministries International congregation leader. Even before he made it to Flint Wednesday, however, some residents were not enthused. Flint Mayor Karen Weaver — who has endorsed Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton — did not encourage the visit, charging that Trump did not reach out to michigandaily.com Ann Arbor, Michigan Thursday, September 15, 2016 ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM GOT A NEWS TIP? Call 734-418-4115 or e-mail news@michigandaily.com and let us know. INDEX Vol. CXXV, No. 135 ©2016 The Michigan Daily NEWS......................... 2A OPINION.....................4A CL A SSIFIEDS .............. 5A SUDOKU..................... 2A A R T S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 A B S I D E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 B Starting in the fall 2017 semester, the Ross School of Business will no longer offer the option for prospective undergraduate students to apply through a regular admissions process after they’ve already enrolled at the University of Michigan. Instead, applicants will have the option of applying through the preferred admissions process as high school seniors or through the normal transfer application process for students already studying at the University of Michigan or at other college institutions. According to the Ross website, under the new system 500 students will be admitted to Ross as high school students and enroll during the first semester of their sophomore year through the preferred admissions application following the Fall semester of 2017. This pre-admissions system, which currently accounts for roughly 20 percent of Ross students is slated to increase exponentially to 80 percent of all students per year once the regular admissions application is replaced. Lynn Wooten, senior associate dean for student and academic See ROSS, Page 2A PAUL AHNN/Daily The State Theater sits closed Wednesday as it prepares for months-long renovations. After nearly being converted into office space, the State Theatre and all of its art deco grandeur will be properly restored and renovated over the next eight to 12 months in order to better serve the community, right on time for its 75th anniversary in 2017. In the meantime, the theater will be closed. Renovations began Tuesday. The State Theatre was purchased by the Michigan Theater in 2014 to preserve and protect Ann Arbor’s movie exhibition business, and has been dedicated to showing art- house films since. The theater is renowned for its high-style art deco cinema, designed by C. Howard Crane in 1942 and Crane’s facade, classic marquee, entrance and lobby, as well as the restrooms, are parts of the restoration efforts to come. The restoration will be funded by a capital campaign the State and Michigan project, operated by the Michigan Theater Foundation. Russ Collins, executive See TRUMP, Page 3A ILLUSTRATION BY MIRANDA RIGGS Stories in the city The B-Side explores the Kerrytown Book Festival, and the patrons, publishers and authors who come to it. » Page 1B michigandaily.com For more stories and coverage, visit For the first time in more than three decades, a new school is in the works for the University of Michigan. The new college, suggested tentatively named the School of Sustainability, Environment and Society, would replace the School of Natural Resources and the Environment. Modifications to the Program in the Environment and the Graham Sustainability Institute are slated to take place within the next year. In fall 2015, University Provost Martha Pollack asked an external review committee to evaluate the University’s programs in sustainability, leading to the current plan for a new school. James Holloway, vice provost for Global Engagement and Interdisciplinary Academic Affairs, said the external committee found there is greater opportunity for the University to lead in the field of sustainability by bringing together and integrating its major sustainability programs. Holloway said programs at the University are regularly reviewed See SUSTAIN, Page 3A See REFORM, Page 3A See STATE, Page 3A Ross plans to modify admissions procedures Iconic State Theatre closes for renovations, set to reopen in 2017 ACADEMICS Business school will no longer use regular application process TIMOTHY COHN Daily Staff Reporter The Ann Arbor venue will get a facelift for its seventy-fifth anniversary KEVIN BIGLIN Daily Staff Reporter In Flint, Trump is greeted by skepticism GOVERNMENT Republican nominee interrupted during remarks on Clinton LYDIA MURRAY Daily Staff Reporter Feasibility of higher education reform plans questioned by Michigan officials Debt-free college proposals would require investment from states LYDIA MURRAY Daily Staff Reporter University considers addition of new school SUSTAINABILITY Proposed college would allow students to study sustainable practices RACHEL COHEN Daily Staff Reporter