The Michigan Daily-New Student Edition-University-Thursday, September 9, 1993 - Page 7


MSA provides student services

by Jen DiMascio
Daily Staff Reporter
In case new students wonder why a
potential lunch at Zingerman's disap-
pears from their tuition bill each term,
be informed that every semester, every
student pays an extra fee of almost
seven dollars.
If a 35 cent increase is approved by
the University Board of Regents, the fee
will total $6.62 next year.

addition, students pay for the amount
needed to investigate a case, long-dis-
tance telephone charges and photocopy-
ing costs.
Lewis said SLS's main area of liti-
gation lies in landlord-tenant cases. The
office also dabbles in criminal cases,
divorce and family law, and consumer
problems such as student loans and auto
repairs, he said.
Lewis said SLS provides the best
bargain on campus - even better than
a pint of Ben and Jerry's for $1.99.
The second largest committee
funded by MSA is the Michigan Col-
legiate Coalition (MCC). MCC is a
lobbying organization for student
rights.
Including SLS and MCC, MSA is
made up of 17 standing committees.
The committees oversee different
issues, such as health, gender and stu-
dents' rights. MSA also publishes Ad-
vice magazine and retains the services
of the Ann Arbor Tenants Union
(AATU).
MSA Vice President Brian Kight
said computer advancements ob-
structed the completion of last year's
Advice but will resurrect the maga-
zine this term.
Advice is comprised of student

evaluations of classes completed at the
end of each semester. MSA compiles
the, evaluations and then reprints them
in magazine form in time for students to
CRISP. It provides information such as
average class GPA, overall enjoyment
of the class, the professor and the
workload.
'MSA, what is that?'
- Joseph Tracy
LSA senior
"I won't choose my classes without
acappuccinoand Advice," LSAsopho-
more Glenda Kelly said.
Like SLS, the AATU provides help
for students who have problems with
their landlords. The difference lies in
the fact that the AATU provides legal
advice, whereas SLS offers lawyers.
In addition to supporting bodies
that aid students, MSA hosted pro-
grams for students last year. MSA
sponsored a plethora of Earth Week
activities and worked to improve the
Statement of Student Rights and Re-
sponsibilities.
Last year, elections were plagued by

student apathy towards the organization.
The indifference continues.
LSA senior Joseph' Tracey asked,
"MSA, what is that?"
Last year's elections brought some
satire to the process, sparked by the
previous term's ineffectiveness.
Greenberg said MSA was often
gridlocked by partisan bickering be-
tween the Progressive Party and the
Conservative Coalition.
New parties cropped up - the Keg
Party, the Weasel Party and the Michi-
gan Party.
The Kegs enacted a boisterous cam-
paign - poised on kegs, candidates
often tossed candy at unwitting stu-
dents.
Shortly after the election, Michigan
Party member Kight said he was leery
of the Keg candidates who succeeded.
But he added that Keg representatives
worked surprisingly well.
The Weasel Partyran adog for Presi-
dent to protest MSA's general ineffec-
tiveness.
Michigan Party candidates
Greenberg and Kight, however, suc-
ceeded in defeating even the
Progressives who held weekly demon-
strations on the Diag to protest the Code
and the Diag policy.

The money goes to the Michigan
Student Assembly (MSA) - the
University's student council.
But Craig Greenberg, MSA's ami-
cable President, said MSA staffers la-
bored during the summer for a fruitful
harvest in the fall.
Foremost among the changes MSA
proposed is the decision to shed one of
its largest limbs.
Last year, MSA gave Student Legal
Services (SLS) more funding than the
other 700 campus groups MSA grants
money.
Greenberg said increasing legal
costs and the reorganization of SLS
prompted the decision to split. He
added that the money given to SLS
taps funds MSA could spend else-
where.
Douglas Lewis, director of SLS, re-
fused to take sides on the SLS/MSA
split.
"The issue is making sure SLS sur-
I won't choose my
classes without a
cappucino and Advice.'
-Glenda Kelly
LSA sophomore

FILE PHOTO
Engineering senior Tillman Moe prepares for CRISP on North Campus.
CRISP is even more
fun than you heard

by Jesse Brouhard
Daily Staff Reporter
Computer Registration Involving
Student Participation (CRISP) is one
of the first marvels of large University
life students encounter upon arrival to
the U of M.
Themarvel wears offvery quickly,
though.
CRISPcan range anywhere from a
nightmare on your street to just a
minor inconvenience through which
you must suffer twice a year. The fate
you receive at CRISP depends en-
tirely on foresight, planning and luck,
of course.
BEEP!
You obviously didn't heed my ad-
vice
Aat beeping noise is the most
dreaded computer sound effect avail-
able to students in Angell Hall. This
sound means one of the classes you
attempted to sign up for was closed.
This is very baaaaad because for one,
your schedule may now be completely
screwed. In addition, you are now
perfectly able to receive numerous
spiteful stares from everyone waiting
in line behind you who has now real-
ized your delay will cost them pre-
cious time as well.
The key to avoiding this night-
mare is, sorry, another computer other
than the CRISP machine.
By accessing MTS it is possible to
enter CRISP's mind (Yes CRISP is be-

coming alive as this article grows larger)
to find out if your classes are open, and
if so how many spaces are left.
Through the use of this method it
is possible to make your stay at CRISP
a short, and therefore, enjoyable one.
Where did you find these wonder-
ful classes? You found them by perus-
ing the course guide with liberal ex-
cursions into the Advice and course
description book.
The course guide is like a giant bus
schedule for the University. It is usu-
ally easy to use except for one quirk
and one tidbit for those with unbeliev-
able foresight.
If you are checking out a class and
notice that one section meets less than
the other, you are about to be fooled
by enrolling for the shorter one. This
usually occurs when the class meets
in a different room only one time a
week. You have been warned.
If you don't enjoy Christmas Eve
in Ai n Arbor it is sometimes helpful
to check when your finals are sched-
uled. This information can be acquired
in the wonderful key provided by the
course schedulers (Do these people
actually exist, and if so, why 8 a.m.
classes?). The truly thoughtful have
been known to get home to the paren-
tal units early while everyone else is
still cramming for finals. I'm usually
singing Christmas Carols on the steps
of Angell Hall waiting for my last
final to conclude so I can finally leave.

vives," he said.
If the division is approved by the
regents, SLS will receive funding di-
rectly from students. The cost would be *
decided through a student referendum
each term.
SLS provides legal aid for students
atanominal cost. Servicesare free,but Progressive Party candidate Jason Hackner and Michigan Party candidates Craig Greenberg and
students must provide court costs. In debate prior to last year's MSA elections. Greenberg and Kight were victorious.

HEATHER LOWMAN/Oaily
Brian Kight (I to r)



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