Candidates focus on tuition hikes

Yearly tuition hikes plague every student on campus and the Michigan Student Assembly has dedicated much of its time this semester to limiting increases in tuition in upcoming years.

Under MSA President Trent Thompson's administration, the assembly has focused on educating itself on the issue, Thompson said.

At its meeting March 9, the assembly passed a resolution to work with administration in improving the problem of tuition increases.

The first steps MSA has taken toward understanding the issue include conducting monthly meetings with Associate Provosts for Academic Affairs Paul Courant and Marylin Knepp.

The assembly has also successfully worked for a student member on the Advisory Council on University Budgets, which is chaired by Knepp and currently consists of faculty and University department officials. The position, chosen by Knepp, is scheduled to be announced early next month, said LSA Rep. Sumeet Karnik.

Karnik, who initiated the meeting and the student position on ACUB, also invited Courant and Knepp to speak at an assembly meeting earlier this month.

"That's another way to educate ourselves," Karnik said.

Courant said the assembly has two roles in influencing tuition.

The first, he said, is to remind his office that students would like tuition to be low.

The second, he said, is "making student views known as we put together a budget."

Courant added that the assembly should "help promote a useful exchange of information on what goes on in the budget."

MSA has also shown interest in lobbying in Lansing to increase state funding for the University. Three MSA members plan to travel to Lansing today to meet with two state representatives and a state senator.

"What we're aiming for is a 3.3 percent appropriations increase," said LSA Rep. Peter Handler, who plans to travel to Lansing.

Handler added that members of the assembly plan to return to the state's capital in a few weeks. In addition, they will attend at least one of four public hearings held across the state by the Senate Appropriations Higher Education Subcommittee in April.

"We're not happy with the initial recommendation the governor gave us," Courant said.

The assembly also plans a letter writing campaign for students led by Rackham Rep. Suzanne Owen.

03-18-99