MSA approves resolution to support Days of Action

Members of the Michigan Student Assembly approved a resolution in support of the Days of Action in defense of affirmative action and turned down a second measure to sign a petition supporting affirmative action at their meeting last night.

"We have to send a speaker to the rally," MSA President Trent Thompson said. "From here on out, MSA as a whole" will support the days, but assembly members "as individuals students can do as much as they want."

The assembly defeated a resolution to sign the assembly's name to a petition supporting affirmative action in a 12-13 vote. Jessica Foster, an MSA Rackham representative who sponsored both resolutions, said assembly members will submit the petition again at next Tuesday's MSA meeting.

"The vote didn't include everybody who would had voted on" the proposal, Foster said.

The assembly debated what to do about several members who were not able to vote, including two LSA Student Government representatives who were present but not listed on the roll call.

Luke Massie, a member of United for Affirmative Action and the Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action by Any Means Necessary - the groups promoting the petition - said the groups will not cancel the drive for student signatures.

"We've gotten a lot of interest from student groups," Massie said. "We're aiming to show overwhelming support from students."

The sponsors of the petition said there is no set deadline to complete the petition. When the petition is complete, the sponsors will submit copies to the state Legislature.

Several assembly members debating the proposal said MSA could not sign the petition because it would falsely represent the entire student body opinion on affirmative action.

MSA Communications Chair Joe Bernstein said the petition is the only of MSA's eight resolutions on affirmative action he has opposed in the past year.

"I don't this is the proper place for the student government to be making that decision for the student body," Bernstein said. "Every person should make that decision for themselves."

Foster said she encourages individual assembly members to sign the petition.

The resolution to support the Days of Action in defense of affirmative action scheduled for Oct. 21-22 passed in the assembly, 13-11. The student group United for Affirmative Action is coordinating the days in light of the two lawsuits filed against the University last fall that target its use of race as a factor in the admissions process.

Assembly members debated the support for classroom walkouts, but did not approve any amendments to the resolution in opposition of the planned strike.

"We basically are saying it's OK for students to walk out after all the discussion we've had," said Art and Architecture Rep. Nathan Tracer.

Other members of the assembly who support the walkouts pointed out that many students choose not to attend class on a daily basis.

"We have lots of speakers who come in and are sponsored by the University, by MSA and are scheduled during classes," Foster said. "It's another learning opportunity.

"This doesn't say we support affirmative action. It says we support the student initiative to start this discussion," Foster said.

The Budget Priorities Committee currently is working to allocate funding for student groups and will hold appeals meetings this Saturday for groups who did not receive their desired funding.

Student groups who would like to appeal should contact the MSA office by Saturday to make an appointment.

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