Board of Trustees Representative Rebecca Dyer discussed two BOT meetings that took place over the summer where the task force’s proposed suggestions were explained.

One of the suggestions would lead to raising the tuition more at UMaine than at other schools in the University of Maine System, Dyer said.

Dyer also noted positive changes for UMaine, including updating the heating and air ventilation systems in Fogler Library, a new art studio to be constructed in the vacant Steward Commons and repaved bike paths.

Sens. Pete Christopher and Ben Goodman proposed a resolution to “Recognize the Contributions of the late U.S. Senator Edward Moore Kennedy” during the new business portion of the meeting.

Several senators discussed the “appropriateness” of the resolution and its reflection on the student body.

“It’s inherently political in nature,” Sen. Zach Jackman said. “I can not support this. It’s just a political thing.”

“What society have we come to if we can’t respect the dead?” Sen. Nelson Carson said. “There’s nothing bad coming from this. You guys are making something out of nothing.”

“We don’t need something like this to immortalize him,” Sen. Richard Luc said.

Sen. Derek Jones discussed the labels that could be placed upon senate because of the resolution. “This is an unneeded stance on national politics,” Jones said. “I don’t like being forced to decide this when I will be labeled something that I am not.”

Sen. Nyssa Gatcombe said, “I do not feel as if it is our place to recognize people outside of the University of Maine System.”

“It doesn’t benefit students on campus. It’s inappropriate,” Sen. Nate Wildes said.

“He was a champion of the little guy,” Goodman said. “He always spent time looking for the next generation. … The fact of the matter is, Sen. Kennedy always believed the most important thing to do was to invest in the next generation.”

The resolution to honor Kennedy passed with a 12-9 vote with five senators abstaining.

Student Heritage Alliance Council (SHAC) representative Sen. Alexander Ortiz discussed funding for SHAC’s Harambe Jazz Festival on September 5.

Questions were raised about SHAC’s total involvement in the event. Ortiz clarified that SHAC “is looking to make this a yearly event.”

The resolution passed without objection and $3,130 were allocated to SHAC.

According to system Chancellor Richard Pattenaude, the system-wide tuition increase is the smallest in seven years. The 2002-2003 tuition increase was 4.7 percent, while the increases have ranged from 7.6 percent to 10.3 percent since then, according to a press release.

The increases come just three days after UMaine announced savings for fiscal year 2010 totaling $8.8 million, which included 32 layoffs and 31 work-year reductions.

“The university presidents and I are extremely concerned about maintaining our universities’ affordability and quality,” Pattenaude said in the release. ‘The new tuition rates are necessary to protect the quality and value of our educational offerings.”

UMaine’s $9,626 tuition represents 28 percent of Maine’s per capita personal income of $34,119. Of the New England public universities, UMaine is cheaper than all but the University of Rhode Island, but represents a higher percentage of the per capita personal income than all but the Universities of New Hampshire and Vermont.

UMaine projects an operating budget of $248 million next year.

UMaine is expected to suffer a 2.6 percent drop in enrollment for next year after four straight years of increases totaling 5.1 percent. UMaine is the only University of Maine System campus to increase enrollment over the past five years; overall the system’s enrollment has dropped 4.3 percent over the last five years.