ASMSU officials decided at a joint meeting to pass its amended constitution Thursday to keep the two assemblies separate, despite one representative's plea not to.
ASMSU's constitution is a blueprint of how colleges, minorities and progressive students are represented within its system. The constitution also defines the type of system - bicameral or unicameral - that ASMSU will operate.
Council of Students with Disabilities Representative Derek Wallbank proposed that the Student and Academic assemblies merge to become one governing body.
"Having one assembly will eliminate seats that never get filled and increase competition for seats," Wallbank said. "More competition brings more information and more information makes us a better assembly."
Student Assembly Chairperson Andrew Schepers was not pleased with the sudden request from Wallbank, and he let Wallbank know during the meeting.
"You were not present when the committee met to draft the new constitution," he said. "Why now would you propose such a drastic change after all the work we've done?"
Other representatives who assisted with the constitution's drafting also agreed that Wallbank's request was "late in the game."
The assemblies voted to deny Wallbank's proposal.
MSU students will be able to vote on the undergraduate student government's updated constitution in the March elections.
Before the changed constitution passed by the assemblies, University of Undergraduate Division Representative Scott Lachman proposed the Jewish Student Union, or JSU, have seats on both the Academic and Student assemblies. The assemblies passed the proposal, and now there could be one seat available on each assembly in the fall.
"As a member of ASMSU, we recognize the individual liberties of our diverse population," he said. "There are 3,000 Jewish students on campus and they need a voice to represent them."
Lachman said "being Jewish is a way of culture and life" just as the other COPS and CORES groups. COPS and CORES are Council of Progressive Students, and Coalition of Racial and Ethnic Students, respectively.
Racial, Ethnic, and Progressive Student Affairs Director for ASMSU Rodolfo-Jose Quiambao said the JSU can only be defined as a COPS group by the assemblies.
Student government representatives were concerned that by giving the JSU recognized seats, other religious groups would request the same.
College of Business Representative Ryan Townsend said the JSU does not advocate for progressive issues such as the Women's Council does for feminism.
He also said they're not a CORES group because the government does not define them as a racial-ethnic group.
"I just don't want to open the flood gates to groups who consider themselves COPS or CORES," he said.
