MSA proposes amendments to Code of Conduct By Lisa Koivu Daily Staff Reporter The Michigan Student Assembly spent most of its meeting last night in heated discussion concerning proposed amendments to the University's Code of Student Conduct. MSA was also awarded for its work in recent years for the Michigan Child Care Challenge. The bulk of the meeting focused on changes MSA hopes to make to the Code, the University's internal disciplinary system. The first point of discussion was whether to add that faculty and staff should also be held responsible under the Code in addition to students. This amendment passed. Students' Rights Commission Chair Abe Rafi proposed an amendment concerning the locations where students can be held accountable for Code violations. Although currently students can be charged with committing a violation on both University property or in the city of Ann Arbor, Rafi proposed that the Code only govern University-controlled property. Rafi contends the entire clause be replaced by a new statement: "Only behavior which occurs on University-controlled property may violate the Code." But Student General Counsel Josh Trapani suggested that only the city of Ann Arbor clause should be deleted. "We need to change this so that students living in Ann Arbor and those living in Ypsilanti are under the same rules. Right now there are two different sets because those living in Ann Arbor are still under the Code and those outside of the city are not," Trapani said. The motion to leave the paragraph without references to the city passed. Discussions concerning other Code modifications went past midnight. University Vice President for Government Relations Cynthia Wilbanks presented MSA a plaque for the contributions the assembly made years ago to the Michigan Child Care Challenge. The program aims to provide affordable child care to the children of students and faculty attending the University. "I was impressed with MSA and those who were concerned about the availability of child care," Wilbanks said. "MSA helped raise funds to help pay for the care and the University regents agreed to double the amount raised. Overall, this money supported close to 500 students." Leslie de Pietro, program coordinator for the Family Care Resources Program said the money "enables students to continue their education and not drop out of school." MSA President Bram Elias said although none of the current assembly members contributed to the accomplishment, Elias was pleased with the award. "It's good to know that a long time ago MSA did a very good thing," Elias said. The assembly also used the meeting to select the dates for the MSA presidential elections. Previously, the assembly's Steering Committee voted to hold elections from March 22-23, but many felt the date should be moved back to March 15-16. Taking into consideration how close the election would be to the end of spring break, the assembly voted to keep the election on March 22-23. The assembly also voted to disburse $1000 from the Committee Discretionary fund to the Voice Your Vote Task Force, an effort to encourage University students to become active in elections. SAM HOLLENSHEAD/Daily University Vice President for Government Relations Cynthia Wilbanks presents an award to Michigan Student Assembly President Bram Elias last night at the Michigan Union. Originally on page 1A in the 1-26-2000 issue of the Daily.