Eco officials say they are disappointed a $5 tax for renewable energy will not be added to student tuition bills this fall, even though the referendum was approved by about 3,800 voters.
In April, the University Student Appeals Board denied a request by ASMSU to disregard a university rule which requires more than 50 percent of undergraduate students to vote and the majority of those voters to pass a new tax when it's placed on MSU's undergraduate student government's March ballot.
The voting numbers were not released until after the board made its decision to deny Eco's request.
The number of "no" votes for the tax referendum was less than 1,000.
Eco, an environmental student organization, came to ASMSU to have the $5 tax added to the organization's existing $13 tax. The money would go toward purchasing renewable energy resources, such as solar and wind power for MSU's farms.
ASMSU officials hoped the board would decide to place the tax under a university rule already in place for existing student taxes, which only requires the approval of the majority of students voting on the referendum.
"The numbers speak for themselves," said Amy Gregory, an Eco spokeswoman.
Gregory said the high number of votes shows students are interested in making MSU more environmentally friendly.
Gregory said Eco members will still be working on getting the initiative passed.
ASMSU officials said they continue to support the idea of purchasing renewable energy with student tax dollars.
"We already backed it once," said Missy Kushlak, ASMSU Student Assembly chairperson. "The bill stands (and) our support behind the issue stands."
Student Life officials said the university rules on student tax referendums will be reviewed this summer to clarify the wording.
Lee June, vice president for Student Affairs and Services, said the Eco issue played some part in the decision to review the wording. The university rules on student taxes have not been changed since 1984.
Gregory said Eco would like to have a voice in any decisions to revise university rules on student tax referendums because it will affect how the group goes about getting their renewable energy initiative passed in the future.
Cathy Neuman, associate director of Student Life, said the group could try to pass the initiative by changing their constituency to a particular college, instead of all undergraduate students. But June would have to approve the change.
Neuman said any changes to the university rules cannot be too liberal because groups would be passing more taxes than needed. But she said there is a need to rework the rules.
"It would be nice if it wasn't so complicated," she said. "(We're) redoing this so that it is more empowering to students and that it is not frustrating students."
