MSA discusses racism, affirmative action

Questions about racism and affirmative action dominated last night's Michigan Student Assembly meeting.

The assembly vigorously debated whether to pass a resolution condemning racism and discouraging students who expresses racist viewpoints from running for seats on MSA.

LSA Rep. Joe Bernstein proposed the Anti-Racist Campaign Resolution, saying the racist viewpoints that surfaced during the recent campaign by a student running for an MSA representative seat had compelled him to do something in response.

"I was offended personally by one of the campaigns in the recent elections," said Bernstein, an LSA sophomore. "I saw the posters and read the e-mails. I didn't think that kind of thing should happen at the University or in an election. This resolution does not infringe upon freedom of speech."

A majority of the representatives objected to the language of the resolution, which proposed to discourage students with racist attitudes from seeking MSA posts.

LSA Rep. Barry Rosenberg delivered a stern oration on the need to protect the freedom of speech of all U.S. citizens.

After hearing some members' objections to particular passages of the resolution, MSA Vice President Olga Savic choked back tears as she said the assembly should stand strong against racism and should not hide behind the "mantra" of free speech.

The assembly passed an amended version of the proposed resolution in which references to MSA campaigns was eliminated.

The assembly also discussed other resolutions concerning race. MSA passed a resolution endorsing today's National Day of Action by a vote of 13 to 9.

Dissension on the resolution centered around whether the assembly should support an event defending affirmative action. Burden, speaking for the minority, said MSA should not take a stance in the affirmative action debate.

"I don't want to be on a campus that spearheads the effort to defend affirmative action," Burden said.

LSA senior Jessica Curtin, who failed to gain a seat on the assembly in last month's MSA elections, spoke about another resolution regarding affirmative action. The resolution, which called for a petition of support for the students seeking to intervene in the lawsuit targeting the Law School's use of race as a factor in the school's admissions processes, was tabled and is scheduled to be addressed at next week's meeting.

"We feel that we have an independent and deeper interest in the preservation of affirmative action," Curtin said. "We think that minorities and women students are the real targets of the attacks on affirmative action. We want to be represented in court as our own defendants with our own attorneys."

The assembly also passed a resolution to create a Superfan/Spirit Taskforce, which starts with the statement "whereas, we love Superfan." The taskforce will "promote spirit and celebration."

LSA sophomore Bram Elias declined to take on the position of "Superfan" while other representatives suggested creating a "Superfan" search committee to scour the campus for worthy candidates.

04-01-98