ASMSU officials are considering next week a statement denouncing the circulation of explicit anti-University of Michigan T-shirts and fliers.
The public statement would not be made until the week after the football game.
A bill was sent to both assemblies of MSU's undergraduate student government to make a statement against a flier distributed across campus last week that bore the phrase "Wolverines Pack Fudge" above an explicit drawing as an advertisement for T-shirts bearing the same image.
"We support diversity on campus," Student Assembly Vice Chairperson for Internal Affairs Andrew Schepers said at the Academic Assembly meeting Tuesday night. "ASMSU Assemblies need to come together for a joint stance on the issue."
Schepers said the fliers and shirts could be offensive to members of MSU's lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender community, and the student government has a responsibility to intervene when harassment causes harm to students.
Some members argued that the public declaration could infringe upon free speech, but Schepers said a public statement wouldn't.
"Issuing a joint statement adds more weight and we are not physically stepping on anyone's free speech," Schepers said at the meeting. "We would just be issuing a statement that we don't support this."
Biomedical science junior Carmen Peter and economics junior Charlie Peck, who made the shirts, could not be reached for comment.
ASMSU handled a similar instance in January when fliers circulated in Shaw Hall to advertise a "white caucus." A bill was introduced and action was taken to condemn the distribution of the flyer.
"The T-shirts are offensive because they portray negative stereotypes," Academic Assembly Vice Chairperson for Internal Affairs Tom Morse said at the meeting.
Several assembly members questioned the bill's placement in Academic Assembly, so it was sent to the steering committee on Friday for ASMSU officials to reach consensus on the bill's proper placement.
"Any form of harassment or discrimination would be going against the ideals set by the association," Morse said.
The bill will be voted on by the Student Assembly on Thursday and the Academic Assembly next Tuesday.
But Residence Halls Association spokesman Brian Winters said ASMSU's future action against the flyers might be too late.
Winters said his organization already condemned the flyers and an ASMSU statement would be a moot point.
"The MSU, U-M game is this weekend and by the time they pass that resolution, the game will already have happened," he said.
Winters said RHA's statement against the flyers has brought closure to the situation.
"Our point has been made," Winters said. "RHA already issued a statement to the university against the fliers and the T-shirt makers have apologized.
"We have already accomplished what we could do with the issue."
