A passage in a Residence Halls Association newsletter says an RHA representative has no interest in representing minorities - a claim the representative denies.
The comments were printed in RHA Today last week when LaToya Logan, director of racial ethnic and progressive affairs for RHA, paraphrased Case Hall representative Adam Raezler.
"Adam Raezler brought it to my attention that he represents the majority of the people in his hall, whom are white, male heterosexuals, which excludes so-called 'minorities,'" Logan wrote in the pamphlet.
Raezler says Logan misunderstood what he said to her in a one-on-one meeting.
Still, the disputed comments put Raezler's Case Hall representative and RHA budget chairman posts in jeopardy, a Case Hall government official said.
RHA officials are expected to discuss the issue at their meeting at 7 p.m. today in West Shaw Hall's lower lounge. Case Hall government leaders will wait for the outcome of the meeting before making any decisions.
The remarks in question occurred Oct. 24 during a meeting between Raezler and Logan. The RHA General Assembly became aware of the comment at a meeting last week.
Raezler began taking steps toward resolving the situation Monday night by sending an e-mail describing the conversation with Logan.
The letter was sent to all members of RHA, the Case Hall government, Case Hall Black Caucus and People Respecting the Individuality of Students at MSU, or PRISM, on Tuesday morning. PRISM is a residence hall caucus group for lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender students.
In his e-mailed letter, Raezler said he regrets that the issue was blown out of proportion and what he actually said to Logan was "the role of the representatives is to represent what the majority of the people in the organization deem necessary and proper for and from RHA."
Raezler said the meeting between him and Logan was intended to address what the role of an RHA representative is, and how to improve the relationship between the Council of Racial Ethnic Students and the Council of Progressive Students.
"It was completely a misquote. She took it completely out of context," Raezler said.
Brad Harris, president of Case Hall government, said hall representatives are taking the matter very seriously.
Harris said impeachment is one of the many possibilities. He said if the Case Hall General Assembly does press the issue, a two-thirds vote is needed by the executive board to impeach Raezler. He added that in his three and a half years in Case Hall government, he has never dealt with an impeachment.
"We don't want to make a hasty decision," Harris said. "We will gather as much information as possible before we make a decision."
Natalie Furrow, chairperson of the Alliance of Lesbian-Bi-Gay-Transgendered and Straight Ally Students, said minorities' voices in the residence halls need to be heard.
"If it does prove to be true, I consider it grounds for impeachment," she said. "I consider it very offensive and the job of a hall rep is to represent all students in halls, especially minority students because they are often overlooked."
Derek Wallbank, RHA's external vice president, said Case Hall government officials face a difficult task in deciphering what actually was said between the two RHA members.
"It's really difficult to figure out how to handle the situation because it's one person's word against the other."
Antonio Planas can be reached at planasan@msu.edu.
