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UGa Pres still mad at Lambda Chis
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ajc.com > Metro
UGA emphasizes academic quality
Adams says tuition hike likely, also
By KELLY SIMMONS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 01/14/05
ATHENS — University of Georgia President Michael Adams sent a strong message to students Thursday: Classes are going to get tougher and tuition likely will increase as UGA strives to become one of the nation's top-ranked schools.
He used the annual State of the University address to emphasize the research university's need for more money and to warn that UGA's quality could decline if tuition was not raised to support the advanced programs it offers.
NICK ARROYO/AJC STAFF
(ENLARGE)
University of Georgia President Michael Adams delivers his State of the University address Thursday.
"Students at UGA benefit greatly from their experience on the campus of a research university," Adams told a group of about 175 administrators, faculty and students gathered at the University Chapel. "And in order to maintain the quality of that experience, we need the additional revenue of a tuition scale more closely aligned with the breadth of offerings here and with national norms."
He outlined plans to strengthen UGA's academic programs, putting a heavier focus on writing and community service. Surveys that show UGA students study fewer hours than students at other universities — and polls that rank UGA among the nation's top party schools — are an indication that academic rigor has not kept pace with the quality of the student body, he said.
A December incident in which a fraternity member was badly burned during a drinking game is further indication that students are not adequately being challenged, he said.
"The recent incident at the Lambda Chi house is of great concern to me, not only because a student was seriously burned, but also because some group had nothing better to do at 3 a.m. on a Tuesday morning to prohibit them from conducting a non-academic ceremony and playing drinking games," he said. "If there is a growing belief here that Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights are no different than Friday and Saturday nights then we have a problem and we need to address it."
Drew Yonchak, a fourth-year student from Lewisville, said some students probably do party too much, but he called it a personal decision.
"We all agree it's a party atmosphere," Yonchak said. "But we're still all here for academic reasons."
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