Student government representatives from most of the Big 10 schools gathered at the University this weekend to discuss issues and problems relevant to each of the campuses.
While the schools represented at the Association of Big Ten Schools Conference were diverse, the leaders found common ground on many of the issues. Among the topics discussed were ways to increase voter registration and turnout at elections and the possibility of placing a student on the board of regents.
Director of the conference, LSA Rep. Trent Thompson, said students from every Big 10 school were enthusiastic about their future projects.
"ABTS right now is basically a brainstorm coalition of Big 10 schools," said Thompson, an LSA junior. "The ideas are helpful. They help us implement new projects in our own university. Contact between the schools is a must."
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| KEVIN KRUPITZER/Daily University President Lee Bollinger talks with MSA President Mike Nagrant (to his right), MSA Vice President Olga Savic and LSA junior Ryan Friedrichs at a Big 10 schools conference Friday. |
"I thought it would be fun to come and comment on how I see things on higher education," Bollinger said.
Bollinger also explained the importance of the University getting national publicity and emphasized that students should take a larger interest in media coverage of campus issues. Specifically, Bollinger criticized The New York Times, stating that the newspaper tends to ignore the University in favor of East Coast schools.
"You need to help us give the Midwest a greater prominence in the minds of the nation," Bollinger said. "It's outrageous to believe East Coast schools are superior to the Midwest."
The ABTS conference traditionally has provided representatives from all over the region the opportunity to critique the operations of the Big 10 student governments. But LSA Rep. Trent Thompson, who directed the conference, said representatives should have taken more from the annual event.
"You get good ideas, but that's all you do," Thompson said. "For the time and the effort that gets put in, I don't know if it needs to be done as often."
Thompson said following up ABTS activities with other joint government efforts is one way to address Bollinger's concerns about the limited publicity that Big 10 schools receive nationwide.
"Instead of just exchanging information, I would like to go to Washington and lobby as the Big 10 schools," Thompson said. "We could form a consensus as a whole."
Michigan Student Assembly Vice President Olga Savic said the conference does not do enough to bridge the gap between the Big 10 student governments.
"If we did act together on these ideas we could create a strong association between the schools," Savic said. "We could bring (ABTS) to new levels."
Other government representatives visiting Ann Arbor for the weekend said the conference was a positive experience.
"It helps us to exchange dialogue and share information," said Indiana student government Rep. Nancy Shinn. "I am impressed with the turnout by other schools."
In his discussion of some of the University's critical issues, Bollinger said that when he first began his term as University president, he was forewarned that affirmative action policies would come under attack.
"I was told the University would be the next university challenged," Bollinger said. "That did not happen. Instead, the University of Washington was the next university to be challenged."
MSA representatives said they were surprised to hear Bollinger speak frankly about the status of affirmative action at the University.
"I was actually surprised the way he bought in the issue of affirmative action and that he thought student governments have a role," said LSA Rep. Jennifer Gennovese.
MSA President Mike Nagrant said affirmative action is an issue that could no longer be ignored by campus leaders and the student body alike.
"I like the idea that we need to raise consciousness," Nagrant said. "The piece on affirmative action is very important - MSA is taking a lot of action."
Bollinger also took the time to reminisce about his days as a student government leader in college.
"I did exactly what you are doing now," Bollinger said.
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