In order to gather information about the candidates, we sent them e-mails inviting them to respond about various topics. This is the response given by Laurence Deitch.
1. Voting Rights: Michigan voting laws place unnecessary burdens on college students because they require that you re-register to vote each time you change residence, and they also make absentee voting extremely difficult for first-time voters. A significant number of students have been disenfranchised for these reasons, contributing to the marginalization of students by government because they "don't vote." We want to maker sure students take part in the political process. How have you supported student enfranchisement in the past, and if elected, what will you do to make voting more accessible to students?
I have always supported student enfranchisement. In fact, in my years as student at the U of M Law School, between 1969-1972, I was the precinct captain for the Ann Arbor precinct which included the campus and was active in building student voting. I will continue to support all efforts to encourage maximum voting where students live; i.e., in Ann Arbor.
2. Education/Student Finances: Michigan schools, K-12 as well as public higher education institutions, are under funded, and Michigan is ranked as the worst state for funding higher education in the country. How have you supported education in the past, in terms of state/federal funding, loans,scholarships and grants, and making higher education affordable and attainable for all students, and how will you do so if elected? Please be specific.
I am an incumbent Regent. I have consistently advocated for maximum funding for education. I also have consistently supported the University's commitment to financial aid. Whenever tuition has to rise in order to maintain the University's excellence, I believe that there has to be a comparable increase in student aid.
3. Diversity/Affirmative Action: In 2006, Proposal 2 banned the use of affirmative action by public institutions in Michigan. Diversity is a crucial part of the University of Michigan experience. How have you supported diversity in public institutions in the past, and if elected, what will you do to ensure continued diversity in the future?
I was one of the strongest advocates for the University's affirmative action admissions policies. I am proud to have defended those admissions policies to the U.S. Supreme Court. I believe that Gruter v. Bollinger was rightly decided. I was absolutely opposed to Proposal 2 which undermined that position. Given its passage, I believe that we have to re-double our outreach efforts to build a diverse student body with an understanding that the definition of diversity has to be broad enough to include socio-economic diversity.
4. Health Care: During college and just after graduation, health insurance becomes a major issue of concern for many young adults who are no longer covered by their parents' plans and may not be able to afford it themselves. As a result, 18-24 year-olds account for one-third of the uninsured U.S. population. What have you done to promote access to health care in the past, and how will you do so in the future, in general and especially for the student population?
In my years as a Regent, I have always been supportive of a high quality, effective and accessible University Health Service. As for the issue of health care accessibility generally, I believe that we need to elect Barack Obama as our next President.
5. Cost of Contraceptives: As a result of the Deficit Reduction Act, costs of contraceptives have seen an enormous price hike. This significantly impacts the college-aged population, and deters them from being proactive in their reproductive health care. What are your concerns with regards to providing access to affordable contraceptives, and what do you support as a solution to make sure college-aged people are protected? (should we add in abortion? should this fall under health care?)
I think serious consideration ought to be given to the University or perhaps a group of universities using bulk purchasing power to acquire contraceptives at below retail prices and then pass these savings along to students without mark-up.
6. Miscellaneous: This could include anything to do with file sharing, drinking age/MIPs/drug policy (punishments), creating jobs in Michigan, abortion etc.
I believe that no cogent strategy for Michigan's economic rejuvenation can fail to have a robust University of Michigan at its core.
I am for lowering the drinking age to 18 and liberalized marijuana laws. I believe that these actions must be accompanied by improved and intensified educational campaigns to reduce binge drinking and generally irresponsible usage such as driving "while under the influence."
I am pro-choice.