MSA debates funding

By Carrie Thorson

Daily Staff Reporter

Last night the Michigan Student Assembly decided to split the proceeds from the upcoming "Vagina Monologues" evenly between SAFEHouse and Planned Parenthood with a vote of 24 - 2.

This controversial decision was "a microcosm of what's happening nationally," said Nursing junior Elise Erickson, saying President Bush's administration's has a "fear of funding international groups that have anything to do with abortion."

It was originally decided that proceeds from the "Vagina Monologues," an upcoming play to promote awareness of the movement to end violence against women, would be split evenly between Planned Parenthood and SAFE House.

LSA Rep. Doug Tietz and Engineering Rep. Greg Hayes proposed to give all the proceeds to SAFE House, citing that Planned Parenthood performs abortions and MSA would get "the most bang for our buck" by forcing the Vagina Monologues to only donate to SAFE House, Tietz said.

"If MSA (passes Tietz's resolution), they are essentially forcing students to support something against their religion," LSA freshman Charles Wang said.

"Have you ever been forced to give charity?" LSA Rep. Shari Katz responded.

Several constituents argued that it was not MSA's job to tell their commissions - the Women's Issue Commission being the one sponsoring the "Vagina Monologues" - where and how they can spend their money.

"It's extremely arrogant for people who have no part in the women's movement to come in and try to stop us from donating to a group that has been there for women for so long," said LSA junior Karen Soules, director of the "Vagina Monologues."

She, along with other constituents, stressed the fact that no patron of the show will be required to donate and that the focus of the event was not abortion but "V-Day," a day of awareness of domestic violence.

"This is not a life versus choice argument," self-declared pro-life supporter and LSA Rep. Matt Nolan said. "It is a pro-woman argument," he finished, eliciting applause from the assembly.

New to the assembly this meeting was Kinesiology Rep. T.J. Wharry and School of Art and Design Rep. Brooke Gerber.