SGA backs Romney plan

he Undergraduate Student Senate of the Student Government Association this week gave cautious approval to Gov. Mitt Romney's plan to preserve the flagship status of the Amherst campus.

     The resolution, which expresses confidence in Romney education advisor Peter Nessen, passed by a vote of 31-10.

     An ad hoc SGA committee on the Romney plan found both negative and positive aspects in the proposal to separate the Amherst campus from the UMass system. The report endorsed the concept as long as the campus is level-funded and allowed to raise new revenues.

     However, the resolution says tuition or fee increases will limit affordability and access.

     "In the end, we felt the proposal by the governor could benefit this campus without increasing in-state tuition by an unreasonable amount," said Jared Nokes, who co-chaired the ad hoc committee.