MSA discusses financial matters, campaign rules

By Michelle Poniewozik

Daily Staff Reporter

Highlighting last night's Michigan Student Assembly meeting was a presentation on the ongoing renovations to Mason and Haven halls.

"We're going to reintroduce a more modern style" than the "bland 1950s buildings" of the other Central Campus buildings, said Richard Reichman, the University's assistant architect.

MSA representatives expressed concern about what impedance the construction will have on parking and noise during final exams, as well as how communication with the students will be handled.

"We'll try to be courteous, but there will also be times when we cannot totally control what goes on. We'll do the best we can and try to accommodate," said Hank Baier, associate vice president for University Facilities and Operations.

Baier also said parking on South State Street will be minimally affected.

"If four parking spots are blocked off, don't call us, but if 10 are, call us," he said.

Construction is expected to be complete in 2002.

After the construction presentation, the assembly's business moved to fiscal matters.

MSA Treasurer Siafa Hage announced at the meeting a deflated budget compared to last year due to a lack of a rollover in the previous years funds. In the past, MSA has had $50,000 to $60,000 for committees.

"This year, we have even less," Hage said.

MSA President Hideki Tsutsumi admitted to signing away unknowingly $1,500 to purchase a full-page advertisement in today's edition of The Michigan Daily with out consent of the assembly.

The ad is part of a campaign to encourage student groups to submit funding request forms.

"A lot of things didn't go right," Hage said. "We lost a lot of checks in our checks and balances system without having a financial coordinator."

It is MSA procedure for any spending of over $150 to be approved by MSA before actual expenditure.

"There was no malicious intent. It was just enthusiastic people trying to promote school funding, but that doesn't excuse it," Hage said.

New committee and commission chairs were decided at yesterday's meeting, with Engineering senior Ryan Whiteherse, SNRE senior Jessica Mendelowitz and LSA sophomore Elizabeth Anderson claiming the Rules and Election Committee, Environmental Issues Commission, and Women's Issues Commission chairs, respectively.

"I want to carry a big stick and let people know if they violate rules, they'll be penalized," Whiteherse said. "Some people saw (the rules) as being biased. I want to make sure it can't happen this year."

Whiteherse will have a new set of rules to enforce this year as the REC chair. MSA successfully amended portions of the election code yesterday.

The amended code will "clarify when people can campaign in residence halls," Whiteherse said, explaining candidates are now strictly prohibited from campaigning near a computer logged into the voting Website.

"We are depending on Housing to report any infractions," Whiteherse said.

The hiring procedure code and a $5,000 disbursement from the MSA general fund to Voice Your Vote Commission also were amended.

Passed resolutions at yesterday's meeting included support of "Affirmative Action 102," Victory Over Violence Week and a Day of Action in support of Affirmative Action, scheduled for Oct. 19.

Before Baier's presentation, MSA representatives and executive officers greeted students interested in joining MSA at the annual open house.

"The purpose of the MSA open house is to let everybody come in and meet the representatives and committee chairs personally and up-close and get an idea of how to get involved in MSA," Matt Nolan, MSA communications chair, said. "It's our primary recruitment night of the year."

"There are lots of energized freshman," Hage said in reference to the large turnout of interested individuals. "The big difference is their eyes are open to what they can do on campus."

LSA sophomore Roger Tsai took advantage of the free cookies and stayed for most of the meeting.

"A lot of people see what goes on, but it's sad people don't get involved. MSA is a great way to get involved and the best way to affect the University directly," Tsai said.