amof-Oom S The Michigan Daily -Friday, March 17, 1995 - 3 By Amy Klein Daily Staff Reporter Michigan Student Assembly Elections March 22-23, 1995 The Maize and Blue MSA: 'On a mission to fight for students The Wolverine Party - - ! 1 , I The Michigan Student Assembly. This name has grabbed the headlines in recent weeks and accosted students through the flier-papered walls of Angell Hall. So what exactly does the assembly do? In the most simplified description, the as- sembly allocates money to student groups. The assembly touches the lives of students belong- ing to most groups at the University. In the 1994-95 MSA budget, $66,500 was given to approximately 150 student groups on campus. "Anyone who's involved in a student group should care about us," said MSA President Julie MSA's most visible action is funding student groups. How the money was distributed last year: 3.6% 5.8% * Reserve 8.6°/ Budget ® BPC 50.3% ®Capitial Reserve Intemal 316 BudgetM MSA Committees/Commissions JONATHAN BERNDT/Daily Neenan."We provide a funding source for most groups." LSA Rep. Joe Cox, the chair of the Commu- nications Committee, said that aside from dol- ing out funds, MSA also serves students in a more abstract manner. "The issues that come up are generally stu- dent issues. Things like the safety issue had a huge impact on the campus, but students may not see a day-to-day change. In the long run, though, it greatly impacts their lives," Cox said. Representatives also serve as the students' mouthpiece to the administration. "The things that we put first are student concerns, like campus safety and student repre- sentation," Neenan said. "We are the link be- tween the student body and the administration." MarK DIera5CK Cnris Hanba Cut back language requirement to three terms Revise math curriculum Eliminate political parties within MSA Mike Christie Brooke Holley Reform meal plans to include greater flexibility for students Work with University Transit to push for a monorail to North Campus Work to keep minority students The code, safety remain key issues lommognpumm WaMMMOOLVERI= "WIM" 11 The Michigan Party Flint Wainess Sam Goodstein Adopt a student "Bill of Rights" 0 Put MSA on-line to improve repre- sentative-constituent contact Implement programs for more af- fordable and accessible health care Replacing the usual ideologi- cal banter, this year the Michigan Student Assembly election will be a battle for innovation. Generally, candidates agree that the University's code of non-aca- demic conduct restricts behavior and that campus safety needs improve- ment, but each slate has cleared a different path to the same ultimate conclusion. The varied platforms of each ticket will likely be the determin- ing factors next week. Campus safety Campus safety, an issue con- tinually tackled by the present MSA administration, will probably con- tinue to draw attention in the up- coming year. The Students' Party has an- swered the call for increased safety by proposing free self-defense semi- nars throughout the year. "Self-defense classes show a realistic attitude towards Univer- sity life. It says to freshmen that we know you are adults, and we're giv- ing you the tools to deal with cam- pus safety," said Fiona Rose, the party's vice presidential candidate. The Students' Party also plans to seek additional funding from the administration to expand the hours and services of SafewalklNorth- walk and NiteOwl. The TEA Party has offered a similar solution to the Students' Party in a proposal that extends Safewalk/Northwalk hours to run from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. "Safety on campus is a big iss-ue - I think people realize that, and to that end I don't think it'll be a prob- lem finding people to work during those hours," said vice presidential hopeful Micah Frankel, an LSA first-year student. While the Michigan Party also advocates the extension ofSafewalkl Northwalk hours, it has proposed educating incoming students about campus dangers as well. "Campus safety is probably the No. 1 issue. The University should campus safety Oct. 27- MSA responds to safety concerns with a night-time Campus Safety Awareness Walk-Through. . January - MSA members join a task force to recommend solutions for 190 identified safety hazards. the life of the takforce- until ,einterof 1996. set up some sort of safety items rather than pepper spray, along with some warnings or discussions about safety for students," said Sam Goodstein, a vice presidential can- didate. The Michigan Party also has en- dorsed aplan forimproving thelight- ing on and off campus. The Maize and Blue party aims to increase safety by surveying stu- dent opinion to determine the worst hazards on campus. "I think one of the things is to go around asking student groups, especially women's groups, what they see as the domi- nant problems," said Mark Bier- sack, the party's presidential can- didate. In an attempt to keep safety at the forefront of the MSA agenda, the Wolverine Party plans to propose an amendment to the MSA constitution to make the campus safety task force a permanent commission. "Adding it to the constitution will give the issue of safety a perma- nence so it doesn't have to keep coming up forextensions, giving it a higher priority," said presidential candidate Mike Christie. Independent vice presidential candidate Angie Kelic, a member of the campus safety task force, agrees that safety must remain a key issue for the next administra- tion. "We have to continue follow- ing up on campus safety to make sure all issues are addressed. The city, DPS, the students and the University have to continue to work together," she said. Jodi Masley, an independent can- didate for president, said she thinks the recent MSA walk-through was nothing more than a photo opportu- nity and that MSA should organize a night-time patrol. "I think MSA's campus safety task force and their walk was a big joke and didn't take safety into account at all. I think DPS should be disbanded, and we should have our own patrol," Masley said. The code The University's code of non- academic conduct, the Statement of Student's Rights and Responsi- bilities, has elicited criticism from all the MSA candidates. Masley pledged to work for an abolition of the code. "The whole process of amend- ments is such crap - it's not going anywhere. MSA should pass a to- tal rejection of the code, saying that they don't recognize it. We're capable of dealing with these items without a code," she said. The Wolverine Party has simi- larly adopted the position that the code is unnecessary, claiming it in- fringes on student rights. "We plan to take a harder stance against the administration and pre- vent the code from becoming a per- manent policy. We also plan to point out the flaws of the code by citing the Jake Baker case and the University's failure to follow the code," Christie said. The Students' Party assumes an equally staunch position against all non-academic codes, claiming the University is acting in loco parentis - treating students as children. The party plans to inform and mobilize the student body against the code. "The work that's been done on MSA so far has gone directly to the administration, such that students don't even know what's going on. To inform students, we should hold open issue sessions and by doing education at orientation to talk The Students' Party i kt Brian Elliott Fiona Rose Cut internal MSA spending to allo- cate more money to student groups Require representatives to hold more office hours at central locations Give commissions more influence in student group funding Deciphering the code Nov. 20, 1992 -The regents approve the code as an interim policy. EJan. 1,1993--The code is implemented. It is administered by the Office of Student Affairs. March 1995 - Student jurors hear ame the rcde tn~ n0?tdt the rt t tmonth. about campus issues," Rose said. After rallying against the code for 2 1/2 years, Vince Keenan, an independent presidential candidate, said persistence and tenacity will be the most effective weapons in tight- ing the code. "I'd like to see it rolled back to just dealing with sexual assault and alcohol policies, just because of the federal mandates. I'm not look- ing for a complete abolition," Kee- nan said. The Michigan Party proposes to fight the University's restric- tions by proposing additional amendments to the code and by limiting the code's jurisdiction to campus. The party also hopes to restructure the code amendment process, saying the administration has mishandled the code's revi- sion. "I think the amendment pro- cess was a good idea in the begin- ning but it's worn out its welcome," said Flint Wainess, the slate's presi- dential candidate. "The only pro- ductive solution at this point is to bring down the code at the April regents' meeting." The TEA Party will also work to redraw the code, emphasizing the need for open hearings to inform students about the judicial process. "I'm opposed to the sections of the code that contradict the le- gal rights students have. The points on sexual assault, though, need to be there," said David Valazzi, the party's presidential candidate. 77"ll Independent Vince Keenan Angie Kelic Revise the code to only include sexual assault and alcohol policies Help independent candidates get in- formation on MSA Grant more autonomy to committees r s Independent Jodi Masley Dorma Burnside Complete rejection of the code Mass demonstrations to fight rac- ism, tuition hikes and financial aid cuts Investigate incidences of racism on campus , ;. Some students put off by MSA; others mobilized by politicking Where to vote FXB ECS DOW UNION The TEA Party Voter apathy has plagued the Michigan Student Assembly for years, as turnout has traditionally hovered just below the 10 percent mark. Many students say they don't know enough about the assembly's responsibilities to cast a vote. LSA sophomore Julia Dolfin said she does not plan to vote because MSA seems far removed from her life at the University. "They're not really in touch with the student body and as a result, we don't really know what they're all about. I guess we would know more if they were more in touch," Dolfin said. MSA elections are notorious for low turnout. The percentage of students voting in the last four elections: 1or EPresidential Elections David Valazzi Micah Frankel Expand Engineering honor code to entire University Change pass/fail deadline to coin- cide with withdraw deadline Represent the average student 8 6 4 least probably not as much as I should have," said Cheryl Katub, a first-year LSA student. "I probably haven't been as involved as I should have been. Dolfin agreed that learning about MSA appears time-consuming. "I'm not planning on voting be- cause I'm just not that involved in school politics. I would like to know more about MSA, though, because it does represent the student body," she said. The recent rise in politicking among the candidates may prove to be a successful attempt to drive voters to the polls. Light said the fliers around cam- DENTISTRY PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING SCHOOL OF ED. LAW N. CAMPUS COMM. C.C. LITTLE MUSIC ART/ARCH. 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