Discussion on the rent increases of University housing riled up administrators and faculty at Friday’s monthly University Senate Plenary meeting.

Rent for faculty and graduate students has gone up 5 percent each year for the past two years, with the rising rates expected to increase until at least 2010. Senators have expressed concern because the rate is outpacing inflation, and faculty salaries have only been rising 2 to 3 percent on average. Rental income partially provides funds for the University’s capital investments.

At the meeting, the Housing Committee brought two resolutions to the floor. The first focused on student housing initiatives, and the second called for a new policy on rent increases for those living in University housing.

The latter resolution is a revision of the controversial one brought forth last May and dropped due to lack of quorum in the senate. The resolution asks the administration to allow the committee to “view a formal policy as opposed to a general practice” on the issue of rental increases across the University.

The resolution raises the Housing Committee’s concerns that the administration is using rental increases towards capital investment. The resolution says it seeks to address “the underlying question of the appropriateness of using rental income to finance capital expenditures.”

Upon hearing the resolution, University Provost Alan Brinkley stood up from the back of 501 Schermerhorn in opposition. Brinkley insisted that rental increases don’t pay for “even most of the capital investment” and reminded the senate that rental increases—about 5 percent last year—were substantially lower than the average 15 percent rent increase in New York City as a whole.

He also maintained that policy on rental increases did exist, contrary to the premise of the senate resolution. “There is a plan. It might not be a plan that you are happy with, but there is a plan,” he said. About five minutes later, he stood up and reiterated this thought. Brinkley, who is also a professor of history, did not elaborate about details of the policy.

Senator Michael Alder, a professor at the business school, countered Brinkley’s assertions. “The economist in me needs to instruct the historians here. ... There is no relationship between the market and our rents,” he said.

University President Lee Bollinger, in an attempt to reign in discussion, reminded the senate that a mandate on rental income policy is not within its power. Bollinger outlined both sides of the issue, showing how they may have the wrong idea about each other’s arguments. “We have a jurisdictional issue about the scope, about the powers of the Senate,” he said.

Student Affairs Committee co-chair John Johnson emphasized that the language in the resolution showed it to be a request for information, not a mandate for action. “It has been very careful not to use language such as must or shall,” he said. He also said that the resolution is not even calling for a decreased rent increase, only more information. “It is not saying necessarily that 5 percent increases are wrong, but show us what the plan is,” Johnson said.

The senate also passed education resolutions to establish a Ph.D. program in the School of Nursing through the School of General Studies and a Master of Science program in conflict resolution through the School of Continuing Education.

shane.ferro@columbiaspectator.com