A2 mayor addresses MSA, urges involvement

Senior representative resigns, Sheldon encourages city work

Ann Arbor Mayor Ingrid Sheldon held her annual visit with the Michigan Student Assembly at its weekly meeting last night.

During her visit, Sheldon encouraged MSA to work with the Ann Arbor city government on issues such as housing, student safety and parking.

Sheldon shed light on the problem of parking near campus. "We will be rebuilding the Fourth Street parking structure," Sheldon said. "It will be a larger structure."

After opening the floor for questions, LSA Rep. Sumeet Karnik asked for Sheldon's opinion on the Ann Arbor Police Department's relationship with students at the University in light of the recent raids of campus parties by police.

"We have some real concerns in our community about underage drinking," Sheldon said.

Sheldon spoke on behalf of the AAPD with regards to its recent actions. "Sometimes harsher enforcement is required," Sheldon said.

Also at last night's meeting, Engineering senior Dave Burden confirmed that he will be resigning from his position as Student General Counsel, an executive office position in the assembly. But Burden said he will remain in the assembly as an Engineering representative.

Burden said his decision was prompted by the assembly's decision to take a stance against the U. S. sanctions on Iraq at its meeting last week.

Before approving the agenda at last Tuesday's meeting, Burden moved for the resolution "condoning the lifting of the UN sanctions on Iraq" to be removed from the agenda.

Burden's resolution was not approved, and the resolution passed by a small margin.

"I decided before I heard from other constituents," Burden said about his resignation.

But Burden said his decision makes a difference in regards to his relationship with the student body.

"As an executive officer I feel a responsibility to defend the assembly's actions," Burden said. "I don't want to be in the position to defend its actions."

Business Rep. Will Youmans, who presented the resolution to condone the lifting of sanctions on Iraq, said MSA should address any topic that students feel is important. "If there is a concerted effort by students to bring an issue to their representatives' attention, then it is this kind of activism that should be embraced and considered," Youmans said.

MSA President Trent Thompson said he disapproves of Burden's resignation.

"As SGC, it was unprofessional to decide to step down once he already committed to this position," Thompson said. "But he disagreed on what the assembly wants."

Rackham Rep. Josh Trapani was elected by consent of the assembly to fill the post of SGC.

During his report, Thompson introduced the new Ambassador Program to the assembly. The program will allow each MSA member to choose a few student organizations to visit and discuss the assembly's projects.

Thompson said the program will also be an opportunity for members of other student groups to initiate projects with the assembly.

"We will be building connections with student organizations," Thompson said.

Budget Priorities Committee Chair Sumeet Karnick announced that student groups seeking funding from the assembly must submit an application by 5 p.m. today.

"At this point it looks like we're going to have around $120,000 for next semester," Karnick said.

Groups geared towards community service have until tomorrow at 5 p.m. to submit an application for funding from the Community Service Board.

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