Friday, March 29, 2024

Students seek funds for authors visit

March 23, 2001
Political science and pre-law junior Andrew Banyai plays the bongos outside Student Services building Thursday. Banyai, a State News columnist, was trying to draw a crowd with his music to create awareness for a bill to bring Maya Angelou to speak at MSU. —

A group of students gathered in front of Student Services building Thursday to sing the praises of Maya Angelou.

The students were advocating the approval of ASMSU funds, which would help bring the renowned author and poet to campus.

“She is such a wonderful person and artist,” said Jen Taylor, a theater graduate student who was among the students participating in the rally. “To deny Maya the opportunity to come here would be very irresponsible on the university’s part.”

ASMSU’s Student Assembly considered a measure Thursday which would allocate $27,000 from the ASMSU investment account to cover Angelou’s speaker fees. She is expected to speak April 18.

The ASMSU investment account, a tab established for the undergraduate student government’s lack of insurance, is funded by a yearly surplus from the refundable $13 semesterly ASMSU tax paid by all university undergraduates.

The student rally featured music and a bake sale to help garner funds for Angelou’s appearance.

Melanie Olmsted, a Student Assembly Women’s Council representative, said Angelou, who is a humanist, would likely appreciate such a scene.

“I think she would definitely see humor in this,” Olmsted said. “And sometimes you have to go to ridiculous stretches to achieve a good outcome.”

Olmsted said she would approach organizations outside the university, such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, if the funding is not approved by ASMSU.

Still, some students contributing to the rally asked why ASMSU and the university need to deliberate over money for Angelou’s appearance.

“It shouldn’t even be a question, our university should jump at the chance to have such a woman come to our campus,” said Margaret Schugt, a theater graduate student, who played guitar and sang in support of Angelou’s appearance.

Meanwhile, ASMSU representatives and officials have been debating over whether the account should be used as a form of insurance or for funding student events.

“There are problems within the organization that we need to use the investment account for right now,” said Andrea Faes, Student Assembly vice chairperson for internal affairs. “If you’re not working inside, you are not going to work outside.”

Yet, supporters of applying the investment account toward student events said money is of no importance in this case.

“Her speaking, to me, is worth more than that $27,000 in our account,” said Bryan Newland, Student Assembly North American Indian Student Organization representative.

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