Bills involving donating money to an organization in Flint and the possibility of donating to a scholarship fund at MSU were discussed at the Associated Student's of Michigan State University's meeting Thursday night. The meeting marked the end of the 52nd Session with elections for the general assembly and class council of the 53rd Session being held this week.
The general assembly deliberated on a series of bills and resolutions to cap off a year during which they took action on sexual assault, Flint relief and mental health among other student initiatives.
“It has been a great year … and I really do believe that this has probably been one of the most successful years that we have seen at ASMSU,” ASMSU president and public policy senior Domonique Clemons said. “We have done a lot of great work, a lot of great advocacy.”
Among the bills passed by the assembly was a $30,000 donation to support the Flint Child Health and Development Fund, a research organization working toward long-term solutions to issues related to the Flint water crisis. Clemons, a Flint native, voiced strong support for the bill, and said it is important for MSU students and people across Michigan to help the city in any way possible.
“The most important thing we have done all year is this Flint bill,” Clemons said. “I think we are going to have a huge impact with that, and we are all excited about that.”
Also considered was a thoroughly debated bill to roll over the remainder of the session’s general fund into ASMSU’s Spartan Scholarship Challenge endowment. While the bill failed, advertising senior and College of Communication Arts and Sciences representative Joshua Slivensky, who seconded the bill, argued the money could be better put to use growing and providing more potential students a chance at a college education.
“That (money) could be the breaking point, that could (make or) break whether someone comes to MSU,” Slivensky said.
With the bill’s failure, the remainder will be split between next year’s general fund and an account used to fund registered student organizations on campus.
As Clemons will graduate at the end of the semester, ASMSU will have a new president by the end of the month. Looking back at his tenure as president, Clemons said he finds the end of his term surreal but looks forward to what the assembly will accomplish moving forward.
“There’s still a ton of work that needs to be done, I think, especially on sexual assault, especially on mental health and especially on diversity and inclusion, and those are the big things I hope I see the assembly next year continuing to work on,” Clemons said. “We have elections coming up and I don’t know who will be in those places, but I am hoping it will be someone that will be strong and be able to take ASMSU even further.”
Following representative elections this weekend, ASMSU’s 53rd Session will convene its general assembly for the first time April 14. The 53rd Session will be in power during the 2016-17 school year.
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