IIF vote postponed until end of May

After lengthy debate, Student Regent Jonathan Schmitt made a motion to postpone voting on the proposed first-year student facility until the regents' next meeting May 30, when an initial proposal on the Memorial Student Union renovations will also be presented. The motion passed overwhelmingly.

Several University of Arizona students traveled to ASU-East to address the regents about the IIF.

"From the perspective of students, this building is unnecessary and unjust," said John Barentine, a physics senior.

In support of his position, Barentine mentioned that the DeMichele Report, presented to the board in January, encouraged the three state universities to utilize existing space before considering new buildings.

Barentine also said incoming Associated Students representatives "gave a false impression of student support for the IIF," citing a 1996 ASUA survey that showed 88 percent of respondents were not in favor of constructing the facility.

President-elect Gilbert Davidson, Administrative Vice President-elect Tara Taylor and Executive Vice President-elect Casey Cuny wrote a letter to the regents earlier this month supporting the IIF project.

Rachel Reinhardt, a computer engineering sophomore, said Student Union renovations are the students' priority and urged the regents to consider student input on the Student Union and the IIF.

However, UA admin-istrators argued in favor of the IIF based on its value to undergraduate education.

Michael Gottfredson, vice president for undergraduate education, said the facility is essential to create a common first-year experience and will be a valuable tool to keep students enrolled at the UA.

Joel Valdez, senior vice president for business affairs, noted that financing for the IIF has been already established. However, he said that while the Student Union is in the university's plans, it will be a difficult project and he is not sure how the renovations will be funded.

UA administrators told the regents that the estimated cost of Student Union renovation is $90 million.

The regents came to the meeting with divided opinions on the value and feasibility of the IIF.

"The UA is saying it can fund a $1.8 million debt service for IIF, but later they will tell you (the regents) there is a $10 million shortfall and ask you to raise tuition," said Schmitt, a UA agriculture and resource economics senior.

Regent Kurt Davis also raised concerns about the concept of having a building dedicated to first-year students.

"I don't believe a building strengthens undergraduate education," he said. "We need to be careful when we tie educational excellence to a building."

The issue that prompted the regents to delay a final vote on the IIF centered on the board's agreement that both the facility and an updated Student Union are necessary.

"I think conceptually, IIF is a good idea, but I question building two buildings," Regent Don Ulrich said.

He suggested that the UA come back to the regents next month with a proposal to combine the two projects into one building that would serve the purpose of both the IIF and a renovated Student Union.