MSU students are demanding university officials pay more attention to issues such as affirmative action and racial intimidation.

On Wednesday, student groups unveiled a plan called MSU Affirmative REACTION in hopes of provoking response from school officials.

REACTION stands for Reminding Every American Citizen That It's Our Need.

"We want the university to make a case in support of affirmative action and equal access to education for all people," said Ernesto Mireles, co-chairman for Culturas de las Razas Unidas. "The president on one hand reprimands the racial slurs, but on the other does nothing about it."

The Council of Racial Ethnic Students and the Council of Progressive Students announced the plan during a news conference at the Multicultural Center in the Union.

But university officials say MSU has always taken a firm stance against all cases of discrimination.

"With each incident that occurred, we have made public statements that MSU doesn't tolerate racism - not here, not to our students, not now or ever," university spokesman Terry Denbow said. "MSU can't and won't tolerate that kind of activity."

But Louis Brown, ASMSU's Student Assembly vice chairperson for external affairs, said the issues still are not receiving the attention they deserve.

"We are not being given the proactive response that we need from the university concerning the current racial climate on campus," said Brown, who represented the Black Student Alliance on Wednesday. "MSU is a public institution where all of the residents are public taxpayers, and we do not feel that it is living up to the needs of the community."

ASMSU is MSU's undergraduate student government.

The university's response to affirmative action is crucial to the vitality of the program, said Rodolfo-Jose Quiambao, co-president of Asian Pacific American Student Organization.

"Because (affirmative action) reached a national level, if it dies, then it's dead," he said. "If we don't rally and get together now, then we won't have anything left for our kids."

Affirmative action is necessary, but the University of Michigan's policy is not, MSU Trustee Scott Romney said.

"I am a major supporter of affirmative action, and we have a great record for our affirmative action policy," he said. "The specific program that the University of Michigan has adopted is not one that is universally accepted by the Board of Trustees."

Romney, a Detroit attorney, said the U-M policy isn't right for MSU.

"The policy is overly aggressive and not appropriate for our school, and there is a question as to whether or not it's legal from a constitutional standpoint," he said.

Romney said MSU officially expressing an opinion on the U-M policy would not be a positive step for the university.

"To take a stand is misleading because it just means we're for their particular program," he said. "Their particular program is not our program and not one we plan to adopt."

But MSU Trustee Dorothy Gonzales said the university's silence could cause the nation to take steps backward concerning minority rights.

"I think we should come out and make a positive stance for the University of Michigan's policy, because we can't go back 25 years," Gonzales said. "When we talk about affirmative action, it means leveling the playing field for women, people of color and other groups.

"I can't even begin to fathom what an impact it would have on the community if the University of Michigan's policy wasn't accepted."

A group of students met later in the evening at the Multicultural Center to sign letters asking university officials and state lawmakers to pay attention to affirmative action and racially motivated events on and near campus.

"It's important to do because lately all minorities seem to be under attack like blacks, Hispanics and gays, and we need to let our elected officials know," urban and regional planning senior Ebony Scott said. "This is a way to let them know how we feel."

Scott said each recipient of the letters, which includes trustees, MSU President M. Peter McPherson, state representatives and senators, could receive up to 200 letters in the mail.

"The only way we'll solve anything is to come together," she said. "Racism is not a problem that affects one community.

"It affects us all."

Mireles said REACTION is prepared to take action.

"We have a plan and we will make this happen," he said. "We will force them to take a stance on this and they need to get ready for it."