Mike Bishop promises to effectively represent undergraduates if elected to the University Board of Regents.
The Bloomfield Hills attorney and regent candidate delivered this message to more than 140 listeners at a mass meeting of the University's chapter of the College Republicans last night.
He encouraged students to be active in politics.
"I know your frustration at being students and wanting to make a difference in the system," Bishop said. "I encourage you as students to get out there and be a part of the election."
While Bishop mostly spoke to the group about activism and pride at the University, he said afterwards that he is well prepared to deal with the policies that dominate discussion at the regents' table.
Bishop said if he is elected regent, he will work to ensure the quality of the University Hospitals.
"I think the hospital is a facility that has world-class quality," Bishop said. "We have to be up to date. ... That hospital represents 38 buildings. It has over 1 million patients go through it a year."
He also elaborated on the traits he hopes to see in the next University president.
"I want someone who believes in character, integrity, good traditional values and is not afraid to convey that," Bishop said.
Bishop said the educational quality of the institution is directly tied to the acquisition of high quality faculty. He said the University should "seed (its) faculty with world-class professors and teachers."
Nicholas Kirk, president of the local College Republican chapter, said he expects the group to work actively to elect Bishop and re-elect Regent Deane Baker (R-Ann Arbor).
"The regents' race is probably on par with the Senate race and the presidential race with importance to students at the University," Kirk said.
Members of the board of regents frequently put aside partisan differences when discussing University affairs. Bishop said he is not prepared to compromise his beliefs.
"I'm here on principle and will continue to be on principle," he said.
But Bishop also said his obligation to the University would come before partisan behavior.
"I will not breach my obligation to this school in order to advance my personal agenda," Bishop said.
After speaking, Bishop talked with a crowd of enthusiastic supporters.
Engineering senior Jim Yurko said he walked away impressed by Bishop's positions.
"I thought he was great and quite a dynamic speaker," Yurko said.
Yurko said a conservative with Bishop's philosophy might change some of the "liberal policies" at the University.
Bishop graduated from the University in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in history. He attended the Detroit College of Law and currently works at Booth, Patterson law fir