The Academic Assembly of ASMSU has formally denounced a proposal that will take money away from life sciences at MSU and the Michigan Merit Award, and give it to health-care programs.
The bill to denounce Proposal 4 was introduced at the assembly’s Tuesday meeting and passed with 13 voting in favor, three opposing and one abstaining.
“No matter what happens, it’s a student government’s job to serve as a resource,” Academic Assembly Chairperson Matt Clayson said. “However, by us denouncing the bill, it’s saying it isn’t good for the students.”
The law would redirect about $8 billion obtained by the state in a 1998 settlement with tobacco companies. Currently, a portion of the money is used to fund the Michigan Merit Award, which awards qualified students with $2,500 scholarships.
A portion of the settlement money also is used to fund the Life Sciences Corridor, a program that aims to spend $1 billion on biochemistry projects in Michigan over the course of 20 years.
Chelsea Hasenburg, a James Madison representative for the Academic Assembly, spoke at the weekly meeting to denounce the bill.
“It’s important for students to make their own opinions,” she said. “But we are a governing body. It’s our job to take a stance.”
Clayson said the assembly will work to bring both sides of the debate to the student body so it can make its own decision, even though ASMSU has decided against the proposal.
“After doing this, I am fully confident we are doing this in the best interests of the students,” he said.
The MSU Board of Trustees also opposed the proposal. Trustees voted unanimously against it.
“We’re very concerned for the thousands of young people who have qualified on the (Michigan Education Assessment Program) score and will not receive this $2,500,” Trustee Dee Cook said.
Cook applauded the Academic Assembly for taking a stance on the proposal.
“I’m happy that ASMSU has taken it upon themselves to speak out on this issue,” she said.
James Madison representative Adam Raezler voted against the bill to denounce the proposal.
“Every time we say ballot Proposal 4, no one knows what it is,” he said. “All they now is what they’ve been spoon-fed - that the hospitals want to take your money.”
Raezler said the Academic Assembly shouldn’t be taking a position on the issue.
“We’re not here to make political decisions,” he said.
Clayson said the assembly should take a stance on the issue because it’ll have a negative impact on the student body if it passes.
“Unfortunately, there’s nothing good about this proposal,” he said. “I don’t want special interest groups to take care of the state budgets. I believe we elect state Legislatures to do that, no matter how inept they can be.”
