MSU students have the opportunity to have their voices heard in East Lansing government by applying for a seat on any of seven city commissions.
Commission members serve the community by recommending policies concerning various aspects of the city, developing new programs, reviewing city council legislation and giving feedback to council members on how their decisions affect students.
This year, there are three at-large seats open on the University Student Commission, as well as the arts, environment, housing, transportation, human relations and planning commissions.
Councilmember Beverly Baten said she appreciates the opinions of the student members.
“I like hearing from the students and working toward helping them understand what we do here,” said Baten, who serves as the liaison of three city commissions. She also said the student commission is especially useful for expressing student opinions.
The student commission is comprised of 11 seats, including the three open to any student and one from each of the following: ASMSU Student Assembly, Residence Halls Association, Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, National Panhellenic Council, Inter-cooperative Council, Olin Health Center and the Council of Graduate Students. ASMSU is MSU’s undergraduate student government.
The student commission was designed to improve student and local relationships and to establish a link between the student population and the city government.
“It gives students a voice in operations of city and policy,” said Jean Golden, deputy city manager and staff liaison for the commission. “They have the opportunity on behalf of the students to comment to the council about ordinances before they become law.”
Golden said the council is particularly interested in parking, housing and tenant issues, police and student relations, voting, neighborhood relations and community service.
Members also produce an off-campus living guide, review the city’s strategic priorities and plan a housing fair, Golden said.
“Communicating the needs of students establishes a very strong power unit for them,” said Jonathan Rosenthal, the vice chair of the student commission for 2001-2002.
Rosenthal, a business administration and pre-law senior, added that the commission’s creation “was an asset to the students.”
Those committing to the student commission serve for one academic year and meet monthly. The terms for other city commissions vary.
Applications for all of the city commissions are available in the city council office and online at www.cityofeastlansing.com. The application deadline is Sept. 6.
