MSA affirms suit appeal

The Michigan Student Assembly passed a resolution last night to support the appeal attempts of two coalitions trying to intervene in the lawsuits threatening the University's admissions policies. MSA representatives said the endorsement was not necessarily an issue of affirmative action.

"This is in support of an individual's right to a day in court," said MSA Rep. Brian Reich, an LSA sophomore. "This has nothing to do with affirmative action."

MSA President Trent Thompson kicked off the discussion of the proposed resolution by stressing the need to focus on support of student voice in the courtroom and not affirmative action issues.

"Tonight we will be debating this resolution and not its derivatives," said Thompson, an LSA senior.

The resolution stated that "the future of affirmative action cannot be fairly decided if minority and women students ... are not represented in the courtroom."

Last fall, a Washington D.C.-based law firm filed suits on behalf of white applicants who were denied admission to the Law School and the College of Literature, Science and the Arts.

After the University was hit with the two suits last year, United for Equality and Affirmative Action and the NAACP filed motions to intervene. The motions were denied by District Judges Bernard Friedman and Patrick Duggan, respectively.

MSA Student General Counsel David Burden said the assembly voted to support the chance for students who argued for affirmative action to have a voice in the courtroom because, they said, those who are against it have already had their turn to speak out.

"I don't think (this support) will have much effect on the lawsuit," said Burden, an Engineering senior. "But we're spending a great deal of time on it."

"This resolution says we support students' rights to speak on issues important to them," Foster said. "This resolution gives students a voice on an issue integral to their lives and the University's future."

MSA Vice President Sarah Chopp said the resolution MSA voted in favor of last night was simply a display of their support of students' rights.

"This is not an affirmative action issue," said Chopp, an LSA sophomore. "This is a constitutional right. We're not deciding on affirmative action. Don't let it go back to an affirmative action debate."

With the vote of approval, MSA agreed to support the UEAA and NAACP's appeals of the judges decision to deny their initial motions to intervene in the University lawsuits.

09-16-98