Archive for January, 2008
Cost of pre-paid tuition to rise
By Emily Barton, written on Jan. 14, 2008
By Jillian Berman
High school freshmen and middle school students better start saving up their allowance, because they’ll be paying more for pre-paid college tuition than their upperclassmen counter parts, the Detroit Free Press reported.
On February 1 the cost of a semester of college tuition bought through the Michigan Education
Trust will be $ 5,175, 3.7% higher than the current cost of $ 4,988.
The MET helps to make sure students aren’t plagued by rising tuition costs by offering participants the chance to fix the rate of a semester of tuition. MET contracts are valid at the University and other in-state public institutions as well as Michigan private colleges and out-of-state universities. The contracts can also be deferred to other eligible family members.
The success rate of MET — the first program of its kind in the United States – is relatively high. Since the program began in 1988, 90% of high school graduates with MET contracts have gone on to colleges and universities. Seminars open to the public are scheduled all around Detroit this month to help explain MET as well as educate those interested in learning about saving for college.
The Romneys dropped in
By Daniel Strauss, written on Jan. 13, 2008
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney’s son, Craig Romney, visited Ann Arbor as part of a state wide effort by his family to campaign for the presidential contender. Craig Romney, the youngest of the Romney children, answered questions by Romney fans and undecided voters at the Brown Jug on South University Avenue this afternoon. Craig, a gangly man about six feet tall, clearly inherited Romney’s charm and oratory skills. He spoke in a smooth and laid back fashion, like he was talking to an old friend. The crowd, a mixture of student and middle-aged fans, watched avidly. The entire gathering was pretty light-hearted with Romney fans making supportive speeches and listening to stories of how Craig’s son tired out his grandfather while babysitting.
Romney’s son explained why the Romney family is backing their father. (Hint: it’s not only because he’s a family member.)
“Obviously, we wouldn’t be doing this if he wasn’t our dad, but we also wouldn’t be doing this if he wouldn’t make a great president,” Craig Romney said.
At one point, a crowd member asked what the biggest difference between Mitt Romney and rival republican presidential candidate John McCain (R — Az.) is. Romney’s son explained how Mitt Romney recognized Washington as “broken” and that Romney “will fundamentally change Washington.”
The last question asked to Romney’s son was about his father’s drive.
“It’s genetic,” Craig Romney said. “He really does have a tremendous amount of energy.”
Supporters say “Huck Yea” for Huckabee
By Kelly Fraser, written on Jan. 13, 2008
Compiled by Daily Staff Reporters Julie Rowe and Sara Lynne Thelen
One distinction that Republican presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has over his competition for the Republican nomination is that his unusual sounding name makes for some creative posters.
Here is a sampling of supporters’ posters during a campaign stop Saturday at Amway Grand Hotel in Grand Rapids:
“Huck-yea!”
“Mike Huckabee is our guitar hero”
“Huckabee/Colbert ‘08″
“I choose FAITH, FAMILY, and FREEDOM in my change!”
“Indiana <3 Huckabee”
“MIKE FOR PREZ: HUCK Yeah!”
Mitt Romney gets emotional
By Julie Rowe, written on Jan. 13, 2008
Correction appended: This article incorrectly stated that Gov. Mitt Romney spoke in Grand Rapids, Mich. Friday night. Romney spoke in Hudsonville, Mich.
After Sen. Hillary Clinton’s show of emotion during a discussion with women at a café in New Hampshire last week, Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney also seems to being showing a softer side.
In an emotional appeal to Republicans at a campaign stop in Hudsonville, Mich. Saturday night, Romney focused his remarks on how he would protect the traditional family.
Hudsonville is located in Ottawa County — the most Republican county in Michigan.
“I mentioned strengthening our military and strengthening our economy — and Ronald Reagan would’ve said those things and did those things — and finally I’d mention strengthening our families,” Romney told the crowd.
Romney said that he believed America was the “hope of the earth” because of the values and beliefs of the American people, which he said include love of hard work, education, opportunity and devotion to family and faith.
“If you believe that’s what makes us the strongest nation on earth, then you recognize that the work that goes on within the four walls of the American home is the most important work going on in America,” Romney said.
“And so like me you will fight to protect the sanctity of life,” Romney said. “You will fight to protect marriage. You will fight to make sure that our kids understand an important lesson and that is that before thy have babies, they should get married.”
Huckabee wants to change the tax game
By Julie Rowe, written on Jan. 13, 2008
In a speech filled with sports analogies, Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee explained to the Detroit Economic Club Friday how he would change the way the political game is played.
“What would happen in Michigan, my friends, if Americans actually had a playing field that was level?” Huckabee asked.
Huckabee was referring to the federal tax system, which he said is damaging to American manufacturers because it gives domestic companies a greater tax burden than their foreign counterparts.
“The current tax system is a game in which the government picks the winners and the losers by manipulating the tax code,” Huckabee said. “Creating a simple tax code in which there are no winners and losers picked changes the entire nature of the game.”
The former Arkansas governor said the losers in this sport are the American workers, who currently are working harder but earning less.
Huckabee said the federal government was too involved in the lives of Americans, and the scope of federal regulation must narrow for the playing field to level.
“The goal of government is only to be the referee, to make sure that the rules are followed,” He said. “The role of government is not to get in the game and put on a jersey and try to take the ball.”
Huckabee said that not only would the government get out of the game, but he’d also change the rules. He said he would adopt the FairTax Plan, which would eliminate all federal income taxes, and instead build taxes into the costs of products Americans buy.
On his campaign website, Huckabee says the adoption of the Fair Tax Plan would be “like waving a magic wand releasing us from pain and unfairness.”
To round out his visit to Detroit, Huckabee had a final warning for members of the press: “Don’t let the striped shirts put on a game jersey.”
The visit kicked off Huckabee ’s campaign appearances in Michigan, and was followed by stops in Birch Run and Grand Rapids.
Outsourcing e-mail much cheaper for some schools
By Chris Herring, written on Jan. 8, 2008
When Northwestern University officials decided to scrap the school’s e-mail system in 2005, they were among the first to do so.
Now, officials at schools around the country have made the same decision, with some saying that outsourced e-mail services like Google Apps and Windows Live@edu are saving the schools money.
This report in the Chronicle of Higher Education details the shift.
According to the story, Arizona State University saved $500,000 by dropping its own e-mail system and making the switch.
Many college officials also have said that other e-mail clients store more space than college-run ones do.
Amy Brooks, who is interim executive director of the University’s IT central services and is quoted in the article, said students normally don’t run out of space with their college e-mail accounts here.
In November, Brooks told The Michigan Daily that the University officials considered changing over to another mail client, but ultimately decided not to.
“We’ve evaluated Gmail, but there is no compelling reason for us to switch,” she said at the time.
McKinley Towne Centre approved for expansion
By Kelly Fraser, written on Jan. 8, 2008
Correction appended: Although McKinley expressed interest in accquiring the Lamplighter Buliding, home of Encore Records and Orchid Lane, in its proposal to City Council, the buliding will not be affected by this phase of the expansion.
The Ann Arbor City Council unanimously approved expansion plans for the McKinley Towne Centre on Liberty Street last night.The center, which includes office space for Google’s AdWords division, will now stretch from Division Street to the Michigan Theater.
According to its proposal to the council, McKinley plans tear down the vacant Liberty Square and National City Back Bulidings, which the company accquired last year, and replace them with a two-story buliding.
In the proposal the company also expressed interest in purchasing the Lamplighter Bulding — which houses Encore Records and Orchid Lane — on the other side of the alley.
Several State and Liberty Street business owners spoke in favor of the expansion during the meeting. Many said the opening of the McKinley Towne Centre has revitalized a dead section of Liberty Street by adding more foot traffic and restaurants to the stretch.
Concerns over what would become of Liberty Street alley — the popular shortcut between Orchid Lane and the Liberty Square Building — dominated the meeting.
Faculty members voice concerns over ‘U’ academic calendar
By Andy Kroll, written on Jan. 7, 2008
By Jacob Smilovitz
Daily Staff Reporter
In a meeting Monday with University President Mary Sue Coleman, the executive board for the University faculty’s main governing body raised concerns over the winter break schedule just weeks after a student petition sought to lengthen the holiday break.
The Michigan Student Assembly launched the online petition in December amid complaints from students that the break was too short and caused students to overpay for transportation.
Winter break this academic year lasted from Dec. 21 to Jan. 3 for students, but for faculty members break was shortened as grades were due on Dec. 24.
Law School Prof. Bruce Frier first brought up the topic by discussing conflicts in recent years between the beginning of the second semester and professional meetings. He said how he had to teach a class from 1 to 2 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 4, and then drive to Chicago in time for a 6 p.m. professional meeting.
“This is starting to be a major problem,” Frier said about such conflicts.
Frier claimed that choosing between being at the first day of classes or attending professional meetings leaves faculty members in a difficult position.
“In the sense that being there for the first day of class is extremely important to classes, students rightly feel grieved if an instructor doesn’t show up,” he said. “On the other hand, we have obligations in the context of professional meetings to our graduate students, to getting them jobs, and interviewing people for jobs, and a lot of us are on professional organizations.”
Several faculty members, including Engineering Prof. Michael Thouless and Classical Studies Prof. David Potter, said that few of the breaks in the University’s current academic calendar coincide with breaks in the Ann Arbor Public Schools system, which makes it difficult for faculty members with children in the AAPS system to plan vacations.
President Coleman said that administration would look into solutions to address the issues presented by SACUA pertaining to the University’s winter break.
‘U’ rises in value rankings
By Emily Barton, written on Jan. 7, 2008
Despite a rise in tuition costs this year, the University moved up on Kiplinger’s list of the 100 Best Values in Public Education, the Detroit Free Press reported.
In-state tuition placed 16th on the list, three places higher than last year’s 19th place. Out-of-state tuition placed 14th. Michigan State University also rose from 85th to 61st in in-state tuition and placed 81st for out-of-state tuition.
The factors used to determine the top 100 schools included enrollment, test scores, admission rates, student to faculty ratio, financial aid and average debt at graduation.
First on the list is the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, followed by the University of Florida. The entire list can be seen here.
Iowa Caucus ‘08: The No-Show Kids show up critics
By Andy Kroll, written on Jan. 4, 2008
They called them “elusive,” “unreliable,” and “apathetic.”
They said the only thing college students disliked more than cold weather was politics.
Above all, they said young people wouldn’t show up.
But on Thursday night, as Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Mike Huckabee each celebrated their respective Iowa caucus victories, the former built on the promise of change and the latter on the protection of faith, it was young people who had the final say.
Turning out to caucus in record numbers at precincts throughout Iowa, the much-maligned “No-Show Kids” spoke up – and spoke up loudly – in support of the 46-year-old senator from Illinois, with over a third of caucus-goers under 30 supporting Obama.
And in doing so, they landed a big slap in the face of the political pundits and campaign advisors who, for so long, doubted their desire to take part in American politics.
In delegate-rich precincts like the city of Grinnell’s Ward One precinct, young people – many of them students – willed Obama on to victory, earning him 21 of the total 37 delegates in a precinct that played a similarly critical role in securing victory for Sen. John Kerry four years ago.
Obama also claimed impressive wins in major college towns across Iowa, taking a majority of the delegates in Iowa City, home to the University of Iowa, and in Ames, home to Iowa State University.
In many of these precincts, Obama won so convincingly that candidates like Sen. Joe Biden and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, once a frontrunner in Iowa, didn’t even earn enough votes to be declared viable, meaning that a candidate didn’t capture 15 percent of the total votes in that particular caucus and wasn’t in the final vote total.
Yes, it appears that young people have finally shed themselves of years worth of political apathy and indecision and have seized what Martin Luther King Jr. (and, in this campaign, Obama) referred to as “the fierce urgency of now.”
“After years and years of sitting back and doing nothing, and watching the problems facing this country get worse, students have finally realized that they need to do something about it – now,” said John Mulrooney, a member of the University of Iowa College Democrats.
Yet in spite of the encouraging turnout on the part of young people in Iowa, last week’s caucuses are but one stop on the grueling, cutthroat political gauntlet that is the presidential campaign trail. With all eyes now looking to New Hampshire’s primary on Tuesday, and then onto South Carolina and Michigan and the political orgy of Super Tuesday, there’s no guarantee that young people can replicate the kind of support seen in Iowa at other caucuses and primaries throughout the country.
Not only that, but candidates now looking to win over young voters won’t have the luxury of time that Obama had in Iowa to organize carpools and give countless stump speeches at high schools due to the compressed and hectic primary season. That means that if students are to participate in large numbers, the initiative will have to come from them, and not from a candidate prodding them to get out and vote.
But then again, getting young people to motivate themselves and their peers to be politically active is, ideally, the way this process should work. If they truly desire “change,” as Thursday’s caucuses tend to suggest, then getting out and participating in this presidential campaign won’t come at the urging of the candidates, bur rather at the realization on the part of young people of just how influential they can be.