New UW President Young faces controversy on first day

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SEATTLE -- It didn't take long for new University of Washington president-elect Michael Young to get thrown into the fire.

The first question from the press was about the current controversy over decreasing the amount of in-state tuition students to allow more space for the higher paying out of state students.

"I think there's a concern about how we make sure the university serves the state," Young said. "The university certainly serves the nation as well. But it needs to also serve the students of the state. I don't know what the right balance is. I'm not sure that that isn't a continual matter of debate that will be thought about year, after year."

The University of Washington is also facing major budget cuts for the third year in a row.

"(I am) concerned in two levels. There's an immediate concern about what we do next year. There's also a broader concern," Young said. "We have this system where we set up our premier universities, essentially at the state and not the federal level. Different from almost any other country in the world.

"That has created, over the last three decades, some challenges. Challenges that we've got to think through. Because whats critical about public higher education, is that is who educates America."

Although Young faces many challenges, he is enthusiastic about the future of the University.

"This university is great in some very large measure because for 150 years it's had the support of a tremendously engaged, passionate community," Young said. "I look forward to the privilege of working with that community as we continue to work together to build this great community."

Email: mhopkins@ksl.com