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Questions were answered and concerns about education, safety and the economy were raised at the Wayne State Board of Governors forum Thursday.
The forum, hosted by WSU’s Student Council, featured five of the nine candidates competing to fill the two open seats on the Board this year: Rick Butkowski and Terry Haines of the U.S. Taxpayers Party, Margaret Guttshall of the Green Party, Danialle Karmanos of the Republican Party and incumbent Paul Massaron of the Democratic Party.
Butkowski said that education is a part of the “general welfare” of federal and state governments. And while the government does not owe each citizen an education, he said, it should facilitate it.
He wants to "redefine" education at Wayne State with a change in demographics and by improving current programs to help with shrinking enrollment.
Massaron, who was elected to the Board eight years ago, said his main goal is to have affordable tuition for students and prospective students at WSU, despite the economy’s difficult times. This year, he voted against the tuition increase.
Karmanos, the youngest member at the panel, said that as a Wayne State graduate, she wants to be an advocate for students because she can identify with them.
“I remember what it was like when there was a tuition increase; I remember getting the bill and saying, ‘How am I going to pay my rent and my tuition?’” she said.
She said that if elected, she would exhaust every information resource before voting for a tuition increase.
In her third campaign for the Board, Guttshall said her campaign was all about funds for education, not war. She said the billions of dollars saved should be spent to improve and make the education free for all.
Haines suggested what he said was a “trillion dollar idea” – getting Wayne State involved with the production of vehicles that use gasoline, but other alternative fuels, as well.
“When people begin to use alcohol fuels, a number of good things are going to happen,” he said. “It’s going to lessen our dependence on foreign oil, there’ll be less pollution in the air; if an alcohol fuel spills, it will not pollute the water.
“This is one of the best ideas I’ve seen in recent history with regards to energy policies.”
Haines also proposed allowing volunteer staff and instructors to be armed with weapons, in the hopes of preventing an event like Virginia Tech experienced from happening on Wayne State’s campus. Those who agree will be trained and educated in what to do in the time of urgency.
“It may sound radical, but I really don’t think it is,” he said.
Some members of the audience thought this idea was a little extreme, but the issue of safety proved to be a very important one.
One audience member said he based his vote on whether a candidate supported Second Amendment rights.
Though open to all, the forum was sparsely attended.
A current student alternative on Board of Governors, who wished to remain anonymous, said that though she understood the circumstances that may have prevented attendance, it was very important that students be more proactive with the Board and its decisions.
“I feel the Board have a lot of control over the community and how they spend their resources,” she said. “But, at the Board of Governors’ meetings, I don’t see a lot of empathy [toward students]; it’s more of a business.
“I’m the only student there. I can only do so much.”
More about the candidates and their platforms
Rick Butkowski (U.S. Taxpayers Party), 62:
Wants to help local businesses get started, with the help of qualified WSU students, while funding their education.
“These businesses should be associated with Wayne State University and should be used to put money back into that budget,” he said.
Also suggests an apprenticeship program where graduate students work with undergrads.
Margaret Guttshall (Green Party), 58:
Education: Should be free for all at every level, from Kindergarten to university level.
Economy: Money should go toward education, not for war. Wants to stop cuts in funds to Wayne State. Believes rich should be taxed, instead of the poor and jobs, good wages, health insurance, housing and transportation should be provided to all.
War: Believes the war in Iraq should end immediately.
International policy: Wants to stop U.S. aid to Israel and other “unjust regimes.”
Terry Haines (U.S. Taxpayers Party):
-Wants to create a long distance learning program that would give home-schooled and high school students a college experience while they are still in high school.
-Wants to give certificates of completion to specific training areas.
-Thinks teaching of The Federalist Papers and the “original intent of” the Constitution should be mandatory
Danialle Karmanos (Republican candidate), 35:
-Wants to have mentor program for WSU students
-Wants to provide more internship opportunities for students
- Create more relationships between WSU and the city
Paul Massaron, (Democrat), 64, incumbent:
Tuition: Believes WSU should remain financially accessible to all with affordable tuition.
Education: Has worked to maintain high quality faculty and staff.
Economy: Has worked to transform Midtown, with new student housing, state-of-the-art research and education facilities, and public-private economic development projects. Believes research conducted at WSU will spur job creation in Michigan’s economy.
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