Arizona Daily Wildcat Online
sections
Front Page
News
Sports
· Basketball
Opinions
· Columnists
Live Culture
GoWild
Police Beat
Datebook
Comics
Crossword
Online Crossword
Photo Spreads
Special Sections
Classifieds
The Wildcat
Letter to the Editor
Wildcat staff
Search
Archives
Job Openings
Advertising Info
Student Media
Arizona Student Media info
UATV - student TV
KAMP - student radio
The Desert Yearbook
Daily Wildcat staff alumni

News
Two new regents set to debate raised tuition at first meeting


By Bob Purvis
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Friday, March 5, 2004
Print this

PHOENIX ÷ Two new members of the Arizona Board of Regents, confirmed by the Arizona Senate Tuesday, say they are eager to weigh in on major issues facing the university.

The new regents, civic activist Lorraine Frank and attorney Ernie Calderon, both of Phoenix, will be faced with a hot issue at their first meeting as acting regents Thursday with the proposed $490 tuition increase on the agenda.

Both Frank and Calderon said they are ready to tackle the issue.

Calderon, a product of the Arizona university system who did his undergraduate studies at Northern Arizona University and earned a law degree from the UA, said he remembers his days as a student and is leaning away from approving any major tuition hikes.

"I have concerns that a 40 percent increase followed by this increase would bar the door to a lot of students," Calderon said. "(Another tuition hike) is a whole lot to grapple with."

Affordability and fiscal responsibility are areas that Calderon will look to first as his eight-year term on the board begins, starting with the proposed tuition hike which he says has yet to be proven necessary.

"So far, in most cases the figures are being based on wants and not needs," Calderon said.

Calderon said he promises to base his policy decisions on the best interest of the student body.

"Students are my number one priority, and faculty and staff come second," Calderon said. "But (if not) for the students there wouldn't be a university."

Frank, who has already worked with the board of regents serving as the director of the Regents' Commission on the Status of Women from 1989-1991, was cautious to indicate if she'd support a tuition hike.

"That's very much on my mind as it is on anyone else's," Frank said.

Gov. Janet Napolitano handpicked Frank and Calderon in September to replace outgoing regents Don Ulrich of Paradise Valley and Kay McKay of Flagstaff.

Napolitano said she based her selection on their lengthy involvement in higher education, and specifically their experience working with Arizona's universities.

"Lorraine and Ernie both have experience working with Arizona's universities. Lorraine's experience with education and humanities and Ernie's knowledge of the law will make them tremendous assets to the board of regents," Napolitano said. "The regents have some challenging work ahead of them as they complete the Changing Directions initiative and help the universities refocus their efforts. I know Lorraine and Ernie will be valuable in that process."

Regent President Chris Herstam said he is pleased with the selection of Cauldron and Frank.

"Both new regents are energetic, bright and articulate. And they are both dedicated to the state's university system and its success," he said.



Write a Letter to the Editor
articles
Chapman elected president of ASUA
divider
UA can't lure top math theorist
divider
Students prescribed Vicodin for colds
divider
UAPD calls on students to be safe drivers
divider
Students volunteer to teach UA employees
divider
U.S. consulate in Mexico advocate for student visas
divider
Two new regents set to debate raised tuition at first meeting
divider
On the spot
divider
Fastfacts
divider
Wordup
divider
Police Beat
divider
Datebook
divider
Restaurant and Bar guide
Search for:
advanced search Archives
CAMPUS NEWS | SPORTS | OPINIONS
CLASSIFIEDS | ARCHIVES | CONTACT US | SEARCH


Webmaster - webmaster@wildcat.arizona.edu
© Copyright 2003 - The Arizona Daily Wildcat - Arizona Student Media