By Jewel Gopwani
Daily Staff Reporter
After more than two hours of arguments and debate, the Michigan Student Assembly passed a resolution to "Condone the lift of sanctions on Iraq" by one vote last night.
Citing that "there is a clear causal link between the embargo and the unprecedented rate of death and disease in Iraq," assembly members resolved to support lifting U. S. economic sanctions on Iraq, with conditions "for military technology and ma
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"It is a humanitarian disaster," said Business School Rep. Will Youmans, the resolution's sponsor. "The resolutions will raise consciousness and awareness about the sanctions."
The proposal attracted several people, including members of the student body and alumni, to speak in support of the resolution.
University alumnus Philip Krute said he would be proud of an assembly that takes a stance on this issue.
"I haven't always been proud of everything the University stands for," Krute said. "It would be a powerful statement against our government."
LSA senior Amer Ardati, who has family in Iraq, encouraged the assembly to vote for condoning the lift of sanctions on Iraq.
"If you take the stance, you represent 35,000 students," Ardati said.
Some members who voted against the resolution questioned MSA's role in foreign affairs.
"I don't believe MSA should be debating issues that are international such as this," said Mehul Madia, an LSA representative who voted against the resolution.
When the resolution vote came down to 11 for, 10 against and eight abstentions, MSA President Trent Thompson had the opportunity to vote. Thompson opted not to offer his vote on the resolution.
Thompson said he refrained from voting because of the issue's complexity and potential problems that it would cause for the assembly. "I wanted to split apart," he said. "A two hour debate on this topic isn't enough; it takes a lot longer to make sure we are doing the right thing."
In another major decision, MSA also passed a resolution "to oppose actions of the Ann Arbor Police Department."
This resolution, which underwent numerous amendments since last week's meeting and during last night's meeting, calls for the University to improve and expand its alcohol counseling policy. It also calls for MSA to further inform students of their constitutional rights on campus through "Know Your Rights" posters, which will list the rights of students hosting a party.
A clause that called for "an end to police harassment - including undercover officers - at fraternity parties, house party and parties at the Michigan Union" was removed from the resolution by an amendment from Communications Chair Joe Bernstein.
Former Interfraternity Council president Brad Holcman, who originally argued that the resolution "is not joint to change anything," said after the meeting that he supports the passing of the amended resolution.
"This is what MSA's stance should be," Holcman said after learning about the amendments to the resolution. "The meat of the resolutions are proactive actions."
MSA Treasurer Bram Elias said passing this resolution is an important step for the Assembly.
"Now the entire student government can pro-actively deal with AAPD policy," Elias said.
In its most uncontroversial vote of the night, MSA passed a resolution with unanimous consent "to advocate and support a strong Code of Conduct for manufactures that supply the University of Michigan."
The resolution allows MSA to take a stand on the issue and offer its advice to University administrators, Elias said.
Before its meeting, MSA held an open house to inform interested students about how to get involved in the Assembly.
Bernstein said he is excited about the new faces he saw at the open house, which attracted about 20 people.
"In the winter, we get a low turnout, but this term it is higher than we have seen," Bernstein said.
-Robert Gold contributed to this report for the Daily.
University alumnus Phillip Krute speaks at the Michigan Student Assembly meeting yesterday.
01-27-99
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