ASMSU’s Student Assembly approved a bill to allocate $33,000 from the ASMSU investment account Thursday to cover speaking fees for g a nationally acclaimed poet to campus Maya Angelou, who is scheduled to speak on campus April 18.
“This is phenomenal,” said Melanie Olmsted, Student Assembly Women’s Council representative. “I think the whole campus is going to be excited.”
However, the measure, which was introduced by Olmsted, did not pass without debate and several stipulations.
Two amendments were added requiring some money be returned to the investment account and ensuring students get first priority on tickets.
Therefore, Olmsted said, an admission will have to be set for those in attendance. Tentative admission is set at $6 for students and $12 for nonstudents.
In 1999, Angelou was named one of the 20th century’s top 100 writers by Writer’s Digest. In 1983, she was named one of the most influential women by Ladies’ Home Journal.
ASMSU representatives and officials also argued against the use of the undergraduate student government’s investment account to fund Angelou’s speech.
The approved measure had to waive rules in the ASMSU Code of Operations preventing investment account funds from being spent on events. According to financial guidelines in the code, monies from the account can only be used to “purchase equipment or to finance an unexpected budgetary shortfall” experienced by the student government.
Andrea Faes, Student Assembly vice chairperson for internal affairs, said she did not support the bill because it goes against the set guidelines.
“It is my job to see that the rules that are established for us are followed,” Faes said. “There is a reason we have rules - so that hasty decisions are not made.”
The account, established for the undergraduate student government’s lack of insurance, is funded by a yearly surplus from the refundable $13 ASMSU tax paid each semester by all university undergraduates.
“The concept of the bill is a good idea, but I am kind of iffy about taking it out of the investment account,” said Trent Hilding, a College of Agriculture and Natural Resources representative. “The investment account was set up for a purpose.”
However, waiving financial guidelines to sponsor student events does not seem to be an uncommon trend within ASMSU.
In September, the assembly also allocated $50,000 from the investment account to fund an upscale homecoming concert featuring rap artist Lil’ Kim.
But the concert fell through because of difficulties in obtaining insurance, the money was returned to the account.
Still, some representatives said strong support for Angelou, such as Thursday’s student-led effort to influence ASMSU, encouraged their vote.
“Because of the overwhelming response from the MSU community, I felt compelled to vote in favor of it,” said Bobbyjoe Glover, a College of Engineering representative.
