MSA moves swiftly through agenda

The Michigan Student Assembly passed two nominations and five pieces of business in fewer than 30 minutes at last night's weekly meeting. MSA President Bram Elias described the meeting's brevity as "an MSA record."

The assembly unanimously named Student General Counsel Josh Trapani to the recently vacated chair of the Campus Governance Committee. The nomination came after former SGC Chair Rory Diamond officially resigned from the post Friday.

MSA also unanimously approved LSA senior Mehul Madia, a former assembly member, as election director for the upcoming MSA election in November. Five election board members were also appointed.

Four pieces of business passed through the assembly without objection. The first was an amendment to the MSA Complied Code, which prohibits the assembly's committees and commissions from conducting business any time outside of the fall and winter terms.

This amendment to the complied code arose from the findings of an investigative committee, which had looked into alleged violations of the code by Rackham Rep. Jessica Curtin and the MSA Peace and Justice Commission.

The investigative committee found Curtin in violation of a rule that prohibited the committee to conduct any business during the spring and summer term. PJC members distributed fliers on Aug. 31, before classes were in session. This resolution, presented by Trapani, investigative committee chair, hoped to clear up ambiguities.

The second vote was for a resolution sponsored by the Women's Issues Commission to create a response to T-shirts sold by two University students stating "FRESHMAN GIRLS - get 'em while they're skinny." The response will take the form of the National Young Women's Day of Action Speak Out tomorrow. WIC is trying to create an awareness and protest of the shirts by encouraging students to wear plain blue shirts Friday.

MSA members also consented to a resolution in which MSA's Voter Registration Task Force will support legislation that establishes online registration forms for Michigan voters.

The final resolution passed was a joint declaration between MSA and Western Michigan University's student government to pursue better banking options for students. The University's contract with National City Bank, which will expire in June 2000.

The fifth resolution, which passed 21 to two, called for a ballot initiative in the fall elections. The item would implement a $0.25 increase for one academic year to create an endowment fund for club sports, which will be separate from the general student group activity fund.

"The Budget and Planning Committee has traditionally funded club sports," explained BPC Chair Glen Roe, adding that the amount MSA currently provides does not sufficiently cover the needs of all club sports.

MSA Treasurer Suzanne Owen objected. "Although we want to help them, club sports is a luxury that students take on themselves."

LSA Rep. Ellen Friedman supported the inclusion of the initiative on the ballot, saying it should be a decision for the entire student body. "It is not our place to say whether or not it's a luxury. The feedback we get by putting this motion on the ballot will say it for itself," she said.

10-20-99