LWVKA 2008 U of M Regents

Candidates were asked to summarize their backgrounds in 75 words and were allotted 75 words to answer each question. If the candidate did not reply by the required date for publication, the words, “Did not respond in time for publication” appear under the candidate’s name.

1. What role should this university play in the economic development of the state of Michigan?

2. Given the current economic climate, what measures will you support to make education more affordable for students and their parents without sacrificing quality?

3. What is the most important issue facing this public university today and what is your position on that issue?

Susan Brown
Republican

U of M graduate, 1963 (BA) degree. Susan has served on the U of M President's Advisory Board and is currently on the Boards of the U of M Museum of Art and Ford School of Public Policy. She is a lifetime member of the Alumni Association. In addition to her service to the U of M she has served as trustee of Kalamazoo College, the founder and President of the Kalamazoo Historic Conservancy for the Preservation of Art, is a member of…

1. A positive future for Michigan depends upon developing a knowledge-based economy. Michigan is the engine behind the state's economy and has the ability to become a leader in technology transfer; the spinning off of University sponsored research into viable businesses, which create jobs. Today Michigan is a $5 billion enterprise and the 3rd largest employer in Michigan with 40,000 employees on its payroll. Its success and viability is crucial to the revival of Michigan’s economy.

2. With a University the size of Michigan a single issue is difficult to name. However most of the issues revolve around financial matters; rising cost of tuition with declining state support. Michigan is aware of the importance of holding down tuition. In this present campaign Michigan put almost $800 million into the endowment to support many areas is most admirable and that over $400 million was put into the endowment for student support is unbelievable.

3. In order to maintain the quality of U of M's education Michigan must continue looking for alternative revenue. Along with the successful transfer of technology in which the University can claim an ownership interest, the partnerships and programming at the satellite campus’s, renewing and solidifying relationships with alumni and supporters along with their aggressive fundraising campaigns, U of M has a bright future. Fundraising for student aid is one of their highest priorities.

John G. LaFond
Republican

An Upper Peninsula native, I received a BSE (Aerospace) and an MBA from U of M. I gained broad experience with 30+ years of Ford Motor executive engineering and business career; culminating as Director of Ford/U of M Program Development Office resulting in extensive knowledge of U of M academic and business operations. I received the 2006 U of M Distinguished Alumni Award and currently serve as chairman of the U of M Aerospace Engineering Advisory Team. For more information please visit www.VoteLaFond.com.

1. The University has three crucial roles to play: to provide a stimulating and challenging educational environment which prepares graduates to meet the challenges of a global Michigan economy; to help create new business enterprises arising through the deployment of intellectual capital from a multitude of University resources; and to help develop a state infrastructure that will keep the best and brightest graduates in Michigan as entrepreneurs for the future.

2. I will support the enactment of business principles and strategies that will provide a new focus on cost and spending controls, the initiation of new ideas to increase both existing and new sources of revenue streams to help deal with decreasing state funding, and the development of a more dynamic and accurate business model that addresses the impact of a global economy on the families and students who live in our state.

3. The most important problem is the lack of bold and decisive leadership. University leaders, including the Regents, must develop productive ideas that will create a quality educational experience at an affordable tuition. Leadership must reverse the trend of continually increasing tuition, while academic University rankings decrease. As a Regent with extensive business experience I will represent the families and taxpayers of our state and bring more accountability for University decisions and actions.

Laurence B. Deitch
Democrat

Lifelong resident of Michigan. Graduate, Detroit Public Schools, U of M - B.A., J.D. Corporate Attorney—Partner, Bodman LLP, Detroit. Incumbent Member of University of Michigan Board of Regents since 1993. Former member—Michigan Civil Service Commission. Former Treasurer—Michigan Democratic Party. Director—Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Married 39 years; 3 children, 2 grandchildren. Resident of Bingham Farms, Michigan.

1. Any cogent strategy to rejuvenate the Michigan economy depends on a robust U of M. Michigan will again be a leading economic power through innovation and a skilled work force. U of M's highly acclaimed medical, engineering, business and law schools as well as its Life Sciences Institute are all combining synergistically to produce the technologies and jobs of the future. U of M, MSU and WSU, as world class research universities must increase collaboration.

2. As a center for the creation of knowledge, U of M is not a business. Yet, it has to be run in a business-like manner. We have to enhance our already great fundraising and continue our top quality investment returns in order to create a large endowment with as much emphasis on general fund support as possible. As tuition increases, there must be a like or greater increase in financial aid.

3. Maintaining excellence and accessibility in the face of declining state support: My answers include: Public advocacy on the value of higher education, increasing efficiency, fundraising, attracting greater indirect support for research from both the federal government and the private sector, putting greater emphasis on technology transfer, harnessing U of M's world wide reputation to develop distanced learning and satellite classes in Asia and the Middle East as profit centers.

Denise Ilitch
Democrat

I am a University of Michigan alumna and the proud mother of a 2007 graduate. I am “Of Counsel” at Clark Hill PLC and owner and publisher of Ambassador Magazine. As the former president of Ilitch Holdings, Inc., a privately held business that manages such entities as Little Caesars Enterprises, the Detroit Red Wings, the Detroit Tigers, and Olympia Entertainment, I was part of the team that brought Comerica Park and Ford Field to Detroit.

1. With total net assets of $11.5 billion and 32,000 employees, the University of Michigan is an important economic engine for all of Michigan. I will support research efforts that can lead to new industries and new businesses in the State, especially those that help us find renewable sources of energy. I will also support programs that keep our highly qualified graduates in Michigan to pursue their professional careers, or become entrepreneurs.

2. Avoiding tuition increases will be my top priority. I will use my extensive background in business to advance ways to increase revenue, promote cost-savings and efficiencies and create ways to help students finance their college education, using my relationships with banks and financial institutions. And finally, I will work to continue the growth of the hospitals and health systems, which are important components to the University’s long and proud history of excellence.

3. Ensuring the University of Michigan continues to provide an affordable, high quality education for Michigan students is the most important issue facing the University of Michigan. Last year, 92% of U of M graduates ranked in the top 10% of their class nationwide. As your Regent, I will review the University’s policies and practices to make sure the University is doing all it can to make that quality education accessible to Michigan’s hard working families.

Eric L. Larson
Libertarian

I attended Okemos High School and then University of Michigan. I graduated from the U of M with a BSE in nuclear engineering in 1996. I went to medical school at the University of Iowa and graduated with my MD in 2000 and finished my anesthesiology residency in 2004. I moved to Michigan with my wife and children in 2004. I am currently a staff anesthesiologist for Anesthesia Medical Consultants, PC in Grand Rapids, MI.

1. The University of Michigan plays a role in the economic development of Michigan by providing a respected technical and liberal arts education. Developing industry leaders and tomorrow’s entrepreneurs is as critical to the state’s economic revival as the necessary step of improving the business and tax burden. Without making the state hospitable to businesses—no matter how educated a work force we have—graduates will continue to leave the state for opportunities elsewhere.

2. The increase in cost of higher education is unsustainable. We are making college too expensive for many Michiganders. To control the cost we must use innovative ways of saving money like forming public-private partnerships. These can be in the form of outsourcing janitorial and maintenance services. Or turn the construction and ownership of buildings to the private sector. Many universities have private firms run their dorms and food service, which frees up money for education.

3. The most important issue facing the U of M is the silencing of free speech through the university’s Student Code. College is a place where students should be challenged intellectually both in and out of the classroom. There is no better time to deal with offensive topics (that one will most certainly confront after college) than in an environment in which there are resources at hand (professors, libraries, etc.) to factually defend or debunk ideas.

Kerry L. Morgan
Libertarian

Kerry Lee Morgan is an attorney and author. His legal practice involves municipal law, employment discrimination, environmental law and educational policy. He previously served as an Attorney-Advisor with the United States Commission on Civil Rights in Washington D.C. In 1997, University Press of America published his book, Real Choice, Real Freedom in American Education, a scholarly work that articulates the legal and Constitutional case for parental rights and against governmental control of American Education.

1. The University should remain true to its primary mission of higher education. To the extent that it promotes economic development it should do so by creating incentives for its faculty to undertake educational seminars. These University sponsored seminars should be geared to meet the needs of Michigan business owners pertaining to the legal, regulatory and economic environment in which they must operate.

2. Tenure must be seen as it is—an economic decision, not an academic one. The entire idea of tenure and compensation associated with it must be explored. The private sector has seen the necessity of buying out senior management because of economic realities. The University cannot long escape those realities either.

3. The current Board of Regents and Administration of the University of Michigan have corrupted and politicized the educational mission of the University. The implementation of unconstitutional race-based admission schemes that subvert the merit principle, is but one shameful example. The belligerent enforcement of politically correct student "speech codes," contrary to the core freedom of student speech is another. These abuses must be eliminated.

Richard Ryskamp
US Taxpayers

Richard Ryskamp is a 52 year-old physician. He graduated from Lehigh University with a BS degree in engineering, and then earned his MD from University of Rochester. After completing an internal medicine residency in Michigan, he served four years in the U.S. Army Medical Corps at Landstuhl, Germany. He received an honorable discharge with the rank of Major and subsequently returned to Michigan in 1997. He and his wife have two sons.

1. Section 8:1 of our state constitution has the answer as to how Michigan could enjoy better government and more happiness, including a better economy! It states "Religion, morality and knowledge, being necessary for good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged." Our education institutions, including U of M, should invest more effort in dissemination of knowledge and less effort in undermining religion and morality.

2. 1. Stimulate the economy by lowering taxes. 2. Increase tax incentives for charitable contributions to educational institutions. 3. Concentrate current financial assistance and tuition subsidies in areas where graduates will provide critical skills to our economy (e.g. science, engineering, business). 4. Better stewardship of tuition and tax dollars. When U of M offers politicized courses like "How to be Gay," they demonstrate that they are poor stewards and that new leadership is required.

3. State educational institutions, especially the U of M, have been hijacked by those who are attempting to indoctrinate the next generation in their reckless and amoral social agenda. The U of M mission statement calls it "developing leaders ... who will challenge the present." In practice this means free condoms, graduate certificates in "Gay, Lesbian, Transgender and Queer Studies", and training young doctors to kill babies in their mothers' wombs. It's time for a turnaround!

Joe Sanger
US Taxpayers

Married, 1 daughter, 3 grandchildren. Self-employed Certified Public Accountant for the past 38 years. BA and MBA from the University of Michigan. I have served as a volunteer Treasurer of a number of political and other public service committees. See "Who is Joe Sanger" at my website: www.electjoesanger.com.

1. Article III of the Northwest Ordinance provides that: "Religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government and the hapiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged." Since runaway courts have now banned religion and morality from public life, the University's remaining role is to provide "knowledge".

2. According to the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank, since the autumn of 1955 the cost of living has increased by 774%. At the same time, full-time in-state tuition at the University of Michigan has increased by 5129%—an unconscionable price increase. See "Affordable College" on my website: www.electjoesanger.com for my proposals on controlling costs and reducing tuition and fees.

3. After restoring financial responsibility and rolling back tuition increases to a level consistent with the cost of living increase since 1955, the most important issue is elimination of the abuse of power by faculty and administrators in substituting ideological advocacy for education. The University must not be used to indoctrinate students in the perverse ideology of the state sponsored false pagan religion of "political correctness".

Ellis Boal
Green

Ellis Boal matriculated at Michigan law School in 1969. Spurred by the 1970 Black Action Movement strike for affirmative action, he left U of M for Detroit and involvement in working class movements. Finishing school there, he practiced privately for 25 years, representing unions and dissidents. Two decisions he obtained are widely cited in law school casebooks. He relocated to Charlevoix in 2000, where he plays leading roles in local anti-war, economic development, labor, and environmental movements….

1. It's a global economy. In assessing its development role, the university should not limit itself to Michigan. The Green Party platform calls for an economic system based on a combination of private businesses, decentralized democratic cooperatives, publicly owned enterprises, and alternative economic structures. Collectively, this system puts human and ecological needs alongside profits to measure success, and maintains accountability to communities.

2. There must be a reordering of the federal budget priorities. Half of the total federal budget operating expenditures goes to the military, starving the education sector. Less military, more education.

3. As Ralph Nader told the Michigan Daily in 2004, large research universities like the University of Michigan compete for corporate contracts. There is some indication that there is a cross-subsidization, that tuition is beginning to pay for these kinds of corporate, joint corporate-university interplay. To find that out, we have to go into the most complex, arcane, and secretive subject, the university budget. We get summaries and so on, but they're very, very secretive.