'U' regents election will focus on tuition

Containing the cost of tuition may be a major issue in this November's University Board of Regents election.

The terms of Regents Philip Power (D-Ann Arbor) and Shirley McFee (R-Battle Creek) will end this November, leaving two seats up for grabs.

In the state primaries on Aug. 4, Republican nominee David Brandon and state Rep. Jessie Dalman (R-Holland) and Democratic nominees Power and Kathy White were elected to run for University regent. McFee announced last spring she would not seek another term at the University.

Most nominees said tuition will become a major point of contention during the campaign season.

"I think we really need to keep a lid on tuition increases," Dalman said. "We owe it to the students from the state to keep the tuition within the inflation rate."

Dalman said she would like to determine how administrative rather than academic budgets could be cut.

Power, who is running for his second full term on the board, said the regents must balance tuition increases with state appropriations.

"Regents are forced with the choice of keeping tuition down and reducing the quality of education or keep it the same," Power said.

White, a law professor at Wayne State University, said she wants to develop revenue from technology produced at the University to reduce overall costs to students.

"The University has an enormous amount of research dollars poured into it," said White, a patent attorney who formerly wrote contracts for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Washington, D.C.

Of the candidates, only Brandon said he does not see a specific issue dominating the race this fall.

"I'm not sure the regent election is about a specific issue or several issues," Brandon said. "There'll be lots of other issues that will develop over eight years."

Candidates had differing opinions on affirmative action.

Dalman said that while affirmative action may be discussed during the campaigns, the two lawsuits facing the University concerning the use of race as a factor in its admissions policies will most likely "play out in the court."

But Power said both topics would likely be addressed by the voters and candidates.

"I think that the issues will include the University's affirmative action and admissions attempts to maintain a diverse student body," Power said.

Although the University's Code of Student Conduct will be up for review this December, the candidates said they did not see the Code as a prominent issue in the election.

"It might be an issue on campus but not in the regents race," Power said.

The review will be important to students, Dalman said, but is not "a campaign issue because it doesn't affect the voters."

All four candidates are personally connected to Ann Arbor, and all except for White are University alumni.

Brandon, a class of '74 alumnus, was a student athlete and has remained active with the University through the Alumni Association.

"It has added a lot of value to my life as well as a number of family and friends," Brandon said.

Brandon has served as chair of the board of trustees at Central Michigan University for four years.

Dalman, her husband, children and daughter-in-law are all University alumni.

Dalman's experience includes serving as chair of the higher education committee in the state house. Term limits prohibit Dalman from running for another term as state representative.

"I've had a deep commitment to the University ever since I graduated," Dalman said. "I think its important you have a connection."

White grew up in Ann Arbor, graduating from Pioneer High School before attending Princeton University. White said her background qualifies her to guide the University and to "build a bridge between education science and industry."

A class of '60 alumnus, Power said he has enjoyed support from a variety of parties during his term.

"I'm very happy that my 11 years on the board have succeeded in receiving support from Republicans, Democrats and independents," Power said. "Service to the University should go beyond political partisanship."

All the candidates said they plan to target the student population during their campaigns, but most have not solidified any strategies.

"I have not put a campaign strategy together," Brandon said.

Power said he is working with campus political groups and is hoping to speak on campus.

Dalman said she also intends to speak with students, but has not yet made arrangements.

White said the University is not as connected to the community as Wayne State and she also plans to involve students in her campaign.

Engineering senior Jim Riske was a nominee during the Republican primaries but lost the nomination. He said he plans to back both Dalman and Brandon by working on their campaigns, rather than running as an independent.

"There wouldn't be a whole lot of a chance of me winning" as an independent, Riske said.

09-14-98