MSA approves committee alternative to student regent

Although the Michigan Student Assembly voted to halt funding for the mission of a student regent at its meeting last week, the assembly passed a resolution last night to form a committee that would serve as an alternative to a student regent.

Former Student Task Force Chair Elise Erickson proposed a Student Regent Liason Committee that would be comprised of the MSA president, the Flint student assembly president and four students elected by the University student body.

Of those four students, two would represent schools from Central Campus, one would represent a school on North Campus and at least one student would represent the University's graduate students.

Erickson said the committee would be given one hour during the week of the regents' meetings "to discuss issues related to the student body."

University President Lee Bollinger approved the proposal Friday. It is currently pending approval by the University Board of Regents and will be tentatively presented at the board's meeting next month.

Erickson explained that the concept of a Student Regent Liason originated from a similar committee at Central Michigan University, which was "highly effective."

Regent David Brandon (R-Ann Arbor) suggested the idea to Erickson and other members of SRTF earlier this semester.

Also passed last night was a resolution to a lot $7,000 to help fund Reverend Jesse Jackson's visit to Hill Auditorium on April 9.

LSA Rep. Joe Bernstein sponsored the resolution, which was introduced at the start of the meeting by LSA Junior Brenda Robinson, Jackson's niece.

She explained that Jackson intends on speaking about "voter registration and education, affirmative action as it relates to diversity and the people's response to the democratic process."

Robinson said that in addition to the money allocated today and funds garnered from the assembly's budget priorities committee earlier this term, the event will be funded by Speaker Initiative, Diversity Days, the Undergraduate Political Science Association, Project Serve and LSA Student Government.

LSA-SG also approved a proposal at their meeting last night to allocate $4,000 for the event.

The Center for African and African American Studies will also take part in organizing the Jackson's speech, Robinson said, which will cost about $18,000.

03-24-99