Always a leader 'U' faces a century of opportunity he University survived the much-hyped start of 2000 without any major problems. Unfortunately, a Y2K computer meltdown would have been a cakewalk compared to the elaborate challenges the University faces this century. From term limits that created inexperienced state legislators who don't understand the difference between astronomy and astrology to attacks on affirmative action, the campus community has many hurdles. But we don't want to think about those difficulties right now - we covered that in our last issue of the second millennium. The start of a new millennium is cause for celebration - not consternation. Instead, we're going to focus on something equally important - the University of Michigan's role in society. Research universities' duties have expanded, and the world depends on them for more than just the traditional form of education. While undergraduate lectures will always remain a vital part of higher education, the University has realized it's not enough to stay at the forefront of education. Consider the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program. This program enrolled 14 students when it began in 1989, and it has grown to involve about 800 students with faculty members' research projects every year. While some students may use UROP to obtain an easy A and some faculty members may push their busy work onto their UROP students, the program has succeeded over the last decade. It provides a forum for learning outside of the classroom - a refreshing change for many students. It also sparks interest in academia - an oft-misunderstood field - by providing an opportunity to experience cutting-edge research. University professors have continued to perform top-notch research, as evidenced by Martinus Veltman, a physics professor emeritus who won the Nobel Prize this year. As we reported today, the University of Michigan receives more research funding than any other university in the nation, at almost $.5 billion during Fiscal Year 1998-99. This is especially impressive because competition for research funding becomes fiercer every year. This tight market is bound to brutalize research programs at some universities, but the University of Michigan will remain unscathed, if not stronger. It is clearly a leader in research across the board. During the next century, life sciences will become the new buzzword in research. But there's good reason. The scientific community is at the brink of awesome discoveries in learning how to improve the quality of human life. It requires collaboration between all fields - from medicine to public health to psychology. University President Lee Bollinger realized that and spearheaded an effort to build a $200 million Life Sciences Institute. Not only will this keep us at the forefront of the research community, but we think it will yield fruitful results for the world. We hope the University can find enough governmental and foundation funding to prevent heavy corporate involvement in the life sciences. While some involvement with the business community is inevitable, the life sciences research will enjoy the most success if skilled professors, not pharmaceutical companies, supervise it. Traditional classroom teaching remains an integral part of the University, which has more living alumni than any other university in the nation. Throughout the last decade, the University successfully launched an initiative to improve undergraduate education. By reducing the size of classes such as introductory calculus and English composition, the dauntingly huge campus seems smaller to new students. And compared to other schools, even our largest lectures aren't that overwhelmingly crowded. While the University's liberal arts will never be as personalized as those at Swarthmore college or Amherst college, it does an outstanding job for a 37,000-student institution. Because the University's stellar resources attract the best academics, students often have small seminars taught by top scholars. Few schools can claim to do that. Living-learning programs have increased, giving students more opportunities to feel like more than a 10-digit student number. We're encouraged by living-learning program growth, but we hope the University doesn't require them. They are wonderful opportunities, but the administration shouldn't force them upon students. As we move into the future, we hope the University - in particular the College of Literature, Science and Arts - realizes the changing educational demands its graduates face. To make sure the undergraduate curriculum meets students' needs, new dean Shirley Neuman should re-evaluate and update the core requirements. Should the college require a course on computer skills or HTML? Is the four-semester foreign language requirement useful? Does the distribution requirement provide enough diversity in students' education? Neuman must address these questions to maintain high-quality undergraduate education. Along with academics, the University of Michigan is well known for its athletic programs. Though Michigan fans may not have any finger nails left, the University's athletic programs got off to a tremendous start in 2000 with the football team's overtime victory in the Orange Bowl, 35-34 over the University of Alabama. We hope this signals a continuation of the success our programs enjoyed during the past century. The Daily also looks forward to the first women's team to bring home a national championship, an eventuality that could take place this year. We also hope the victory, and many more in years to come, casts a new shine on Michigan's athletic accomplishments and removes any tarnish left from the Ed Martin booster scandal. Sadly, the big business of college athletics will attract more unscrupulous boosters and agents this century; in response, the University must vigilantly uphold the commitment to a NCAA violation-free program, as we've seen during the tenure of Athletic Director Tom Goss. Although certain unfortunate pratfalls exist to derail lax collegiate athletic programs, we are confident the University will run a tight ship and bring many triumphs and a positive image to the University community. Athletics should not be seen as separate from learning. They provide great teamwork experiences and grant access to the University to people whom otherwise wouldn't have been able to afford it. The University of Michigan has always been a model for other large public universities, and we believe it will continue to serve in that role over the next century. You cannot find this combination of amazing opportunities - from a picture-perfect fall football Saturday to classes in almost every imaginable field - at any other school in the world. Despite the many challenges it faces in the coming century, the University will continue to shape the world around us. Originally on page 4A in the 1-5-2000 issue of the Daily.