Hackney to attend UA meeting

President Sheldon Hackney will answer questions from Undergraduate Assembly members and other students during a half-hour session at a UA meeting tonight. UA Vice-Chairperson Ethan Youderian said yesterday that Hackney will speak to students in the High Rise South Rooftop lounge at 6:00 p.m. Youderian said that Hackney, who is in the midst of budget meetings, will not stay for the remainder of the meeting. The meeting will provide an opportunity for UA members to question Hackney about the expected tuition increase. Youderian said last week that the UA will press Hackney to keep any tuition increase low. Youderian said that, because students accepted the 6.7 percent increase last year even though state funding was restored to the University, students should be given a break this year even if the state cuts funding. UA Chairperson Mitch Winston said last night that Hackney will discuss the Mayor's Scholarship controversy with the UA. Winston said the status of bicycles on Locust Walk, undergraduate representation on University committees, and various issues brought up by students will be discussed at the meeting as well. "Basically, it's going to be a free interchange of questions and answers," Winston said last night. Winston said the UA will also invite Hackney to the UAs off-campus living forum to be held tomorrow in Houston Hall. Winston said he views this meeting as an opportunity to present students' concerns directly to the president, bypassing University Council, the president's advisory board. Council has proposed eliminating its Committee on Undergraduate Admissions, which Winston said provides students with a voice in such policies. Instead, the University seeks to replace the committee with the Provost's Committee on Undergraduate Admissions, which has just one undergraduate representative. Winston said he welcomes students' comments and questions for Hackney.

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