MSA, Law students debate fee legality

As part of the ongoing debate about the legality of the Michigan Student Assembly's proposed student fee increase to fund a campaign for a student regent, students with differing views on the issue met yesterday to share their differing points of view.

MSA officials joined concerned Law students to look at the draft of a letter the students plan to send to Michigan Secretary of State Candice Miller. In the letter, the students allege that MSA would violate the Michigan Campaign Finance Act if it spent the fee increase students approved in this winter's elections to gather signatures for a referendum asking state voters to endorse the installation of a student on the University Board of Regents.

The debate centers around whether MSA is legally a public body. According to the MCFA, a public body cannot qualify a question on a state election ballot. The act says a public body is "any other body that ... is primarily funded by or through state or local authority."

The law students argue that the fee increase, which would be collected by the University Office of the Registrar is funded through a state authority.

But MSA officials contend the assembly's status is as a corporation. Its tax filings show that it is a private body and not governed by the MCFA.

"The crucial issue is whether MSA is a public body for the purpose of Michigan election law," said Law second-year student Dante Stella, special counsel to MSA. "MSA is confident that the regents' tax filings, MSA tax filings and documents of incorporation demonstrate that it is not a public body."

The meeting concluded with the assertion on the parts of both groups that letters of complaint and defense would be mailed within the week. The law students stated their intention to the letter has been mailed.

"For us, this doesn't seem right. You don't have a problem with us. When we mail the letter, you have a problem with the secretary of state," Law first-year student Jackson Lewis said.

MSA officials replied with frustration to the Law students' stated intention of withdrawing from the proceedings.

LSA sophomore Bram Elias, co-chair of the Student Regent Task Force, said that while the Law students spent a few hours drafting the letter, the complaint would mean much more work for MSA.

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