tl20030911-000 "Thp ThwerIihft Baltimore's #1 College Paper - Published Twice-Weekly - www.thetowerlight.com Thursday, 9/11/03 Campus reflects two years later New college dean getting adjusted Mike White talks up new 'School' 13 'Mexico' last in violent trilogy , .. t .,.., � � , , I 14 Departments Opinion 2 News 5 Police Blotter 6 Nation 6 Arts 13 Entertainment briefs 15 He Says She Says 15 Cuisine 16 Sports 20 Punt, Pass, & Pick 19 In this corner 20 Classifieds 17 Democrats face off in debate Presidential hopefuls discuss education, jobs, at Morgan State; Dean, Lieberman spar over Middle East policy Cailin McGough Jenny Lehman The Towerlight Nine democratic presidential candidates faced off in Baltimore Wednesday, raising issues from for-eign policy to racial equality in a debate at Morgan State University. Sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus Institute, the debate focused largely on domestic social issues including unemployment, racial equal-ity and educational opportunity. Sen. Bob Graham (Fla.) said that the key to funding higher education is for the federal govern-ment to ""do no harm in the revenue base of states."" ""The reason so many states are increasing their tuition is because they have seen a deduction in state support. That has happened here in Maryland,"" he said, adding that reductions in fed-eral revenue are a result of tax cuts. Graham said he would provide for a new form of educational savings available to all Americans, which would enable them to save throughout their lives for college or additional skills training. Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean said he would address higher education costs by eliminat-ing Bush's tax cut in order to reinstate educational grants. ""The president paid for his tax cuts by cutting Pell Grants. We want to put these programs back up and then we want to correct another thing the president did Which he promised he wouldn't. He promised to increase funding for AmeriCorps; he decreased it,"" Dean said. ""We have thousands and thousands of young people who are deciding not to go to college because they can't afford it."" John Edwards U.S. Senator Dean said enhancing AmeriCorps and increasing the payment for tuition benefits would aid stu-dents on their way to college. ""You get 18, 20-year-olds serving their country all together from all different backgrounds, and then you'll get enormous help in paying for their college education. That's the best thing we could possibly do for kids and the country,"" he said. Sen. John Edwards (N.C.) promised ""college for everyone."" ""We have thousands and thousands of young people who are deciding not to go to college because they can't afford it. We ought to make col-lege affordable to any young person who's willing to work for it,"" Edwards said. He also said that as president he would lead a national initiative to pay teachers better, offering incentives for those educators willing to work in disadvantaged areas. ""We still have two public school systems in America: one for the haves and one for the have nots. If you live ill an affluent community, the odds are your child will get a good public school educa-tion. If you don't, the odds go down dramatically,"" Edwards said. While the nine candidates took a united stand against the Bush Administration's handling of the war on Iraq, a debate over Middle East policy drew more clear divisions. Sen. Joe Lieberman (Conn.) challenged Dean on remarks he made last week about not choosing sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He criticized Dean for failing to stand beside Israel as an ally sharing American values of democ-racy. ""We do not gain strength as a negotiator if we compromise our support of Israel. Let me say to Gov. Dean, he is saying he wouldn't take sides, but then he says Israel ought to get out of the West Bank, and an enormous number of settlements ought to be broken down,"" he said. ""That's up to the parties and their negotiations, See DEBATE, page 12 Saul Staaganicalla Tawarlight Sen. Joe Lieberman and Sen. Bob Graham field questions from the press. Nine Democratic candidates participated in Tuesday's debate in Baltimore. Today High 77 Low 59 Friday High 75 Low 57 Saturday High 77 Low 60 POODllpo_ Sunday High 83 Low 69 Monday High 79 Low 63 "
