University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

Page 8 text:

Opportunity From Adversity Cont. faculty rallied in support of the doomed department, however, it soon became obvious that the necessary courses could be retained without a departmental structure. Other pro- grams faced similar reorganization in an effort to increase quality in the remain- ing area of study. Thus, in order to keep the academic fire burning, the University concentrat- ed on maintaining competitive salaries and a research environment that would attract a top quality faculty. Though professors ' salaries could never keep pace with those of the private sector, it was felt that an environment of aca- widely expressed by faculty and aminis- trators alike, that the Graduate Library ' s extensive collections in a wide range of diverse topics, acted as a magnet to educational dignitaries. In the face of soaring maintenance costs, however, administrative officials had been forced to re-evaluate the importance of our prized book assemblage. Ultimately, the University reaffirmed the library ' s immense importance and opted to hike their fiscal budget by nearly 16% over 1980-81 levels. In return, the li- brary chose to reduce some of its own costs by joining an inter-library loan cooperative known as the Research Li- braries Group. As part of this twenty- four member ensemble of universities, Michigan would be able to draw liber- demic excellence would keep Michi- gan competitive with other high quality research universities. Other than salaries, one of the Uni- versity ' s greatest pedagogical lures has always been the extensive library sys- tem which graces the Ann Arbor cam- pus. The Harlan Hatcher Graduate Li- brary ranked fifth among university li- braries in total number of volumes housed, but in terms of quality, the Grad ranked near the top. It was -J. Schrier Students ' spirit on football Saturdays. A Diag musician, Michael Shepard, serenades sweetheart, Sondra Louch, in a quite break be- tween classes. ally on the collections of such noted schools as Stanford and Harvard. Besides the library system, research projects provide a strong incentive for faculty to remain at Michigan. The $129 million that U-M earmarked for re- search projects in 1980-81 places it be- hind only MIT in terms of volume. Un- fortunately, Reagan ' s federal cuts had not left the University ' s experimenta- tion unscathed. A 12% general budget cut in 1981 placed a new emphasis on basic research, and developmental re- search was reduced to only 5% of the entire amount of research being done. The students of the 1980 ' s were forced to face the economic realities of our time as well. Students found them- selves grappling with an increased fi- nancial burden as tuition rose to $910 per term for in state residents. On the home front, dismal job markets in- duced heightened awareness of the economic woes of our time. In recent years, as the cost of a college education (continued on page 7) -K. Aihby The Regent ' s Cube became the Regent ' s Die when creative vandals taped pizza plates to the sculpture. 4 Opening

Page 7 text:

Opportunity From Adversity One of the toughest things to survive at the University is the tempestuous Michigan winters. Students combat the frigid claws of a hostile North wind with a resourceful array of foul weather gear. Though the battle is hard fought, students are eventually forced to re- treat to the safety of their dorm rooms and apartments and to the warmth of their furnaces. These irrepressible scholars may have mastered this aspect of a typical Michigan winter, however in 1982 they were forced to face yet another adversary: the frigid climate of an economic depression. For the first time in nearly sixty years, the University was forced to retreat into its academic fortress, seal off its unnecessary cham- bers, to insulate and strengthen a cen- tral living space or face economic hypothermia. Any description of the 1981-82 aca- demic year at the University of Michi- gan which does not discuss the severe economic depression which had crip- pled the state would be inaccurate. The institution, though insulated, can never be independent of the society in which it exits. For the state of Michigan, 1981 marked one of the bleakest seasons since the Great Depression. 20% inter- est rates, $1.50 a gallon gasoline, as well as a shift in demand for more fuel effi- cient foreign cars, crippled Michigan ' s auto industry. Plant shutdowns and massive employee layoffs sent the State ' s unemployment figures skyrock- eting above the national average. With business moving out of state, less in- come tax revenues and more people than ever before on welfare rolls, Lans- ing ' s coffers were unable to maintain the level of funding previously allocat- ed to the University. On the federal level, President Ron- ald Reagan, under the direction of a new economic approach, Reagano- mics, axed federal support for basic re- search and higher education in general. These cut backs, designed to balance the federal budget with the hopes of curbing inflation and of stimulating in- dustry, provided immediate hardships for academic institutions with no relief in sight. Funding roll backs created an incal- cuable burden for the University of Michigan and its students. The presi- dent of the University, Harold Shapiro, stated in his annual address that in or- der to survive these economic realities and remain a high quality research uni- versity, the school must reduce the number of programs, students, faculty and staff in order to maintain the excel- lence befitting the Michigan tradition. Becoming smaller may be a useful strategy for achieving quality in those programs and activities that we contin- ue. Smaller is not a goal; it is rather a strategy of choice. The question of where to cut back was tremendously complex, so the Uni- versity administration began early in 1981 to seek out excesses and set prior- ities in expectation of the reduced gov- ernment funding. In a widely publi- cized decision, the Geography depart- ment came under review. Students and (continued on page 4) -D. Gal Senior band member, Dan Meyers, leads the sideline pep-bano Opening 3

Page 9 text:

-D. Opening 5