The final round to determine the next UT chancellor began this week with the forum of candidate David A. Young, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Arizona State University. Young spoke Monday afternoon at Hodges Library on various topics proposed by students, faculty and staff.

Even though a new chancellor is a big change, the former professor of botany said that change is often needed.

"I always thought change was a better option than extinction," he said.

One thing that attracted Young to UT is our position as a research institution with room to grow.

"You're the only game in the state," he said about public schools in Tennessee as evolving research institutions.

Young said he primarily views himself as a teacher. He said he is very interested in undergraduate learning communities. He believes in institutions aspiring to American Association of Universities status, but said he wanted to focus on student success.

I always thought change was a better option than extinction
-David A. Young, candidate for UT chancellorship

When asked about his stance on differential tuition, or different costs based on what an institution has to offer, Young expressed an interest in the notion both as an institution and within that institution between college programs. He supported financial aid for those in need, saying "a little redistribution is probably not a bad thing."

ASU has a type of financial aid that is similar to Governor Phil Bredesen's proposal of free tuition for state community colleges. At ASU any qualified student whose family earns less than $25,000 per year can go free of tuition, room and board, and Young expressed his approval of such aid to deserving students.

When asked about how he would handle UT's financial situations, such as the latest budget cuts, he said, "Even during tough times you have to grow."

He does not believe in across-the-board reductions, saying that all they achieve is bringing the entire institution down.

Young's second forum will be at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 9, in the University Center Auditorium.