MSA passes 3 resolutions at meeting

Last night, at its first meeting of the winter term, MSA passed three resolutions affirming the assembly's position on the University's tobacco investments, allocating more funds to the quest for a student regent and supporting this Monday's Martin Luther King Jr. Day March.

The University currently owns approximately 2.5 billion dollars worth of stock, said Budget Priorities Chair Sumeet Karnik.

"One percent of that money is invested in tobacco stocks, including Philip Morris Tobacco Company," he said.

The assembly passed Karnik's resolution to divest the University's money from tobacco stocks, because it is not necessary to keep tobacco stocks, while other stocks could offer similar dividends, he argues.

"We can afford to sell stocks like Philip Morris and buy stocks like Intel," Karnik said.

MSA Business Rep. Andrew Serowick questioned the practicality of divestment.

"Selling our shares is not going to affect their stock price," Serowick said. "We can use the shares to influence tobacco companies."

MSA Communications Vice Chair Vikram Sarma argued against Serowick's point using a more philosophical perspective.

"Tobacco is not allowed inside buildings on this campus, yet we make money off of it," Sarma said.

In agreement with Sarma, Business Rep. Will Youmans said, "This is a matter of principal."

A majority of MSA members voted for the assembly to take a stand for divestment of University funds from tobacco stocks.

Karnik said the assembly "will hopefully present its stance at the next (University) Board of Regents meeting," and recommended that the board create a regent committee on tobacco divestment.

Karnick said he hopes the committee will seek a consensus on tobacco divestment among students and faculty. If a consensus is found, the committee will recommend that the regents follow through on divesting its shares from tobacco corporations.

MSA also resolved to allocate $1,750 to the Student Regent Task Force.

Last winter, the assembly ended its campaign to elect a student regent, which involved using student funds to put the regent question on the statewide ballot.

"It is illegal for a university to raise money for a ballot initiative," said MSA President Trent Thompson.

To obtain an initiative, the SRTF will form a corporation with a non-profit tax status. Through this tax status, the corporation will be eligible to receive donations. The money that the corporation hopes to raise will be used for a petition of 500,000 signatures, which are need to put a student candidate on a statewide ballot.

Last night, the SRTF asked for $1,750 to form the non-profit tax status. The money will directly go to STRF's legal advisers David Cahill and Ralph Rumsey. Five hundred dollars will be allotted for the corporation to obtain tax status from the government.

Before passing the resolution to allocate these funds, certain MSA members were skeptical about the future of the student regent cause.

"We need to step back and see if this is going to help students at this university," said MSA Student General Council Dave Burden.

MSA Treasurer Bram Elias argued that assembly members should keep an optimistic point of view in regards to a student regent.

"Don't stop a longshot program because it seems risky," Elias said. "It will be a big victory if it does happen."

The resolution to allocate these funds to STRF was passed by a majority of assembly members.

MSA also resolved to support the Annual Martin Luther King Day March to be held this Monday. The resolution, which calls for MSA to "support and help publicize the march," as well as send a speaker to the rally following the march, was presented by Defend Affirmative Action Rep. Dowdell.

The march has traditionally been sponsored by the Black Student Union, but that organization has chosen not to participate this year. United for Affirmative Action has decided to organize the march this year.

Burden, who is against affirmative action, said "endorsing this resolution would be endorsing affirmative action."

Supporting the resolution, MSA Vice President Sarah Chopp said, "It is a day to say we will be politically proactive about society."

Jujan Buford, who spoke on behalf of Black Student Union said, "BSU's concern is that the MLK march is no longer an instrument to provoke students."

MSA passed the resolution with a majority vote.

01-13-99