Although many ASMSU officials talk about working for the best interests of students, the undergraduate government’s recent actions tell another story.
Last week, ASMSU officials refused to release proposed guidelines for undercover police work at MSU to The State News, even though the guidelines were passed out to Student Assembly members at a public meeting.
The student guidelines were finally released to The State News on Sunday, and officials released the administration’s guidelines Monday.
Jeff Ziarko, ASMSU director of university governmental and budgetary affairs, said it is in the best interest of students not to be aware of such proposals until a policy is finalized. Apparently to emphasize his point, he stood over the shoulder of a State News reporter at the public meeting to keep the information from becoming public.
Such action is deplorable and spits in the face of the principles our nation was built on.
Ziarko’s and the rest of ASMSU members’ loyalty should not be to university officials, but to the students who pay the student government’s semesterly tax.
It also is deplorable that Student Assembly Chairperson Quinn Wright did not hold ASMSU employees, namely Ziarko, in check to ensure the organization meets its obligation to students by operating in public.
The proposed guidelines for undercover police investigations into student groups were developed for the University Committee on Student Affairs, which includes five ASMSU representatives.
The committee is working on a final set of guidelines in response to an undercover MSU police investigation in the student group United Students Against Sweatshops, now called Students for Economic Justice,beginning about February 2000.
Two sets of these guidelines were distributed among ASMSU Student Assembly members Thursday - one from student committee members and the other from university officials.
ASMSU officials are wrong to think students shouldn’t be involved with discussions about these guidelines. The student government should do everything in its power to consider student input on one of the most important issues involving undergraduates’ right, during the past two years, to assemble.
The student proposal includes six points that recommend the university president should decide if an investigation’s circumstances are extraordinary and ask the president to seek counsel from other administrators and students before moving ahead with an infiltration - if feasible.
It also requests that clear goals be outlined for the investigation prior to its commencement.
The administration version of the guidelines, while more procedurally detailed, doesn’t provide for student consultation before an investigation is approved.
It is expected MSU President M. Peter McPherson will approve a finalized set of guidelines from the Academic Governance system next month. The guidelines will point out fault if an improper infiltration occurs and suggest procedures for future undercover work.
ASMSU should step up to the plate in this situation to fight for the students it represents. An infiltration such as the 2000 investigation should not occur on this campus again. Student groups have a right to plan peaceful protests without being intimidated by university officials.
It goes against what our nation represents for elected leaders such as those in ASMSU to deny students input into their workings. ASMSU representatives work for students, not themselves or the university.
If officials such as Ziarko choose to work for the best interests of university administrators, their resignations from the student government are welcome.
ASMSU officials have done a lot of talking recently about empowering more students and raising campus awareness. But MSU students deserve more than idle talk.
