Students will decide if two organizations join ASMSU’s Programming Board during this spring’s student referendum.
Two potential organizations, the Campus Interfaith Council and Spartan Armed Forces Council, will be placed on the referendum after ASMSU Student Assembly passed two bills to recognize the organizations as Council of Progressive Students, or COPS, groups.
ASMSU is MSU’s undergraduate student government.
The 10 COPS and Council of Racial and Ethnic Students, or CORES, groups can apply for funding through the Programming Board, which allocates about 20 percent of ASMSU’s budget.
“The fundamental reason for creating CORES and COPS groups was to represent the different groups on campus that have unique perspectives that need to be heard,” said Michael Leahy, Student Assembly chairperson.
However, some representatives believe concerns of potential members of the two groups could be addressed by individual colleges or existing CORES and COPS groups.
Christopher Wickman, public relations coordinator for the Council for Students with Disabilities, said he was disappointed when he heard which groups were seeking a spot on the Programming Board.
“The two proposed groups bring a dangerous precedent in that they are not ethnically or culturally representative,” Wickman said.
Osman Elfaki, vice chairperson for student programming, said representation on the Programming Board isn’t limited to ethnic or cultural groups.
“Both of these councils are going to represent a significant number of students and we must empower them,” Elfaki said. “We must help them by empowering them to achieve the goals and awareness they want to raise for their constituencies.”
Students vote on the referendum during ASMSU elections March 31 to April 3.
“What’s great about the whole thing is if students don’t like the idea, it doesn’t move forward,” Leahy said.
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