As an ASMSU representative, I will not give an excuse for our "lack of responsibility" with the misplacing of software licenses. Instead, I would like to educate the student body as to where its tax dollars are going and why student groups are not losing out due to our "lack of effort" to find the licenses.

ASMSU is made up of several components, Academic Assembly, Student Assembly, Programming Board and Funding Board.

Programming Board is the committee established to sponsor universitywide programs like Puerto Rican Culture Week. And Funding Board helps fund registered student organizations.

A $13 tax is collected every semester from each student through tuition bills. Of that, $3 is automatically given to produce MSU's yearbook, Red Cedar Log. ASMSU is left with the other $10; this money is then completely given to the Student Assembly which is required to give 3.5 percent of the funds to its counterpart, Academic Assembly.

From there, Student Assembly is required to give no less then 20 percent of funds to Programming Board and no less then 10 percent to Funding Board.

The rest of the money is budgeted into other branches, such as legal services and the Freshman and Senior Class councils - any extra money is divided among Programming Board, Funding Board and special projects.

Special projects is the money Student Assembly uses, granted a bill is passed, for events put on by the assembly, helping sponsor projects such as the Interfraternity Council's Safe Halloween and the All Michigan Universities Conference hosted by MSU, and even helping out with paying for misplaced computer program licenses.

There is no group on this campus losing out on funding because of license issue.

ASMSU's next Student Assembly meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 5 in 328 Student Services - all students are welcome to attend.

Jennifer Truskowski
ASMSU Student Assembly,
Communication Arts and Sciences
representative