In a battle of words, both on and off paper, ASMSU passed a bill supporting the Coalition for Social Responsibility's divestment suggestions to the MSU Board of Trustees.
The group maintains MSU has violated its own investment policy by investing in companies which do not show social conscience.
Members are lobbying to change this by setting up an advisory committee, which would consist of members of the MSU community, to address divestment requests made by the petition of 2.5 percent of the total population of students, faculty and staff.
MSU divested from companies in South Africa during apartheid, which set a precedent for divesting based on morality, ethics and social conscience.
The bill, originally introduced in December, was met with criticism by some members of MSU's undergraduate student government because of wording which would require the board to act on the recommendations set forth by the advisory committee.
Some members felt the "required" part made members of the board, who are elected officials, seem incapable of making strong decisions for the university.
"Any committee on campus does not have the authority to overrun elected officials," said Andrew Schepers, Student Assembly representative for the College of Natural Science. "That's why we have trustees."
But other members felt having the advisory committee "strongly recommend" divestment gave the group no power to make the board heed their concerns.
"You have to make these demands or else you won't be taken seriously," said Diego Romero, Student Assembly representative for Culturas de las Razas Unidas. "We're not here to 'strongly suggest.'"
But whatever side members took on the wording, many agreed the need for the bill was warranted.
"This is an important direction for ASMSU to take," said Derek Wallbank, Student Assembly representative for the Residence Halls Association. "We will hold the trustees accountable."
Members of the coalition said they were happy representatives in ASMSU showed interest in the idea and decided to back the bill.
"It shows the strength of what we're trying to do," coalition member David Mitchell said.
Mitchell, a human biology junior, said although the process took longer than expected, ASMSU representatives took time to iron out parts of the bill.
University spokesman Terry Denbow said he couldn't predict how the divestment policy will be presented to the board or when that would occur, adding if the board was presented with the information they would "listen attentively."
"ASMSU is an important voice to be heard," he said.
