MSA votes down ballot question

The Michigan Student Assembly decided last night not to include a question on the March election ballot asking whether the assembly should urge University administrators to continue to use race as a factor in admissions processes at the University.

Budget Priorities Chair David Burden said MSA should put the question on the ballot not to indicate the assembly's stance on the issue, but to allow students to voice an opinion on the issue.

"I think that it is a very controversial issue and I would have liked to have students decide what the student opinion is, rather than have MSA do it," said Burden, an Engineering senior.

Members of the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action by Any Means Necessary said that putting the question on the ballot would be inappropriate.

Rackham student Julian Heilig said he did not support the resolution because factors including athletic talent, geographical location and alumni status of applicants are considered by admissions as well.

"Why is it that some of our friends in MSA have targeted race and ethnicity?" asked Heilig.

MSA members and other students also discussed the importance of informing and educating the campus about affirmative action and its complexities before placing a question addressing the issue on the ballot.

Budget Priorities Vice Chair Joe Bernstein said he does not support the affirmative action ballot question because of the complexities of the University's admissions policies.

"The admissions policy is more complicated than just affirmative action," said Bernstein, an LSA sophomore. "There are more issues there. There needs to be more discussion about it and more education about it before we actually put it on the ballot."

The wording of the ballot question also sparked discussion at last night's meeting. Rackham student Nadia Kim said the ballot question would further misconceptions about the affirmative action policy.

"Just by doing this, it is totally perpetuating misinformation," Kim said. "I really urge you to not put this on the ballot unless it encompasses the whole issue."

MSA President Mike Nagrant said that although he does not vote on MSA resolutions, he did not favor last night's proposal for an affirmative action ballot question.

"I usually feel that MSA should allow students to determine their own fate, but I think that we would not be treating the issue with the respect that it deserves," Nagrant said. "It could really play an active part of determining the fate of affirmative action in this country. I think that the way things turned out tonight was for the best."

01-28-98