University President B. Joseph White answered questions from callers about the state of the University and campus issues Tuesday night.

The discussion was hosted by WILL-TV, and members of the panel included WILL-TV’s John Paul and Courtney Klemm, Illini Media Company employee. White said he thought his first year has been good, but that it was too early to grade himself on his own performance.

When asked about the status of the Chief Illiniwek symbol, White responded that the University Board of Trustees would be handling the issue.

“I don’t think that it’s necessarily the most important issue facing the University by any means,” White said.

Concerning the rising cost of tuition, White said that the University provides a great value for the education students receive, despite the inevitable rising costs of tuition.

White also addressed the concern of state funding for the University, saying he expected to hear “moderately good news” from Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s budget address on Wednesday.

“We’ve been in a drought for four years, a couple years of budget cuts,” White said. “We’ve been making our case very strongly, that the University is the state’s most valuable asset in bringing a prosperous future to the people of Illinois.”

In addition to state funding, White said private funding and federal funding is helping the University. He said the University was 17th in federal funding in the nation and that private funding has seen an increase in the past year.

Responding to the issue of recruiting more minorities at the University, White said the University was going to do better, but that it was doing well overall.

“My goal is that the University will be inclusive,” White said.

When asked about his views on the merger of the Department of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, White said that he has been observing the arguments on both sides, but is respectful of the judgment of the dean, provost and chancellor.

“I have not seen a compelling reason for me to intervene and say this is on the wrong track,” White said.