Derek Wallbank, College of Communication Arts & Sciences representative for ASMSU, believes there are options other than alcohol for students during the Welcome Week celebrations at the beginning of each school year.
Welcome Week is the first few days before classes begin, when freshmen have the opportunity to become used to the college lifestyle.
"Some people have weird ideas of what happens in college," Wallbank said. "MSU is a party school, but you're not going to find a complete 'Animal House' mentality on campus. At the end of the day, people need to realize (they) have alternatives to going out and getting drunk."
On Thursday, Wallbank will present his alternative to the Student Assembly when he proposes a bill to allocate $50,000 from the group's Risk Management Account for a Welcome Week concert on Aug. 27. A bill to hold the concert was proposed April 21, and Wallbank was charged with figuring out how to fund the event.
The Risk Management Account ensures ASMSU against a loss of property and allows members to tap into the reserve to use for large projects, Wallbank said.
"Any ASMSU concert is going to be an alcohol-free zone. It's important student groups provide these alternatives for students to go," Wallbank said.
But Roger Ludy, vice chairperson for internal affairs for the Student Assembly, said it might be difficult to sway the assembly while keeping the financial code in mind.
According to ASMSU's financial code, "An ASMSU Risk Management fund shall exist with the purpose of providing a pool of money to be available to partially complement the budget process in emergencies or times of need."
Ludy questioned whether funding for the concert should be considered a priority and is uncertain of how the Student Assembly would vote on it.
Incoming Association Director Jason Bucholz is helping to plan the event but many of the details remain uncertain. Plans probably won't be finalized until May, Bucholz said.
"All we know is we want a nationally known band, but we don't know where," he said about the concert location. "There are a lot of ideas of who to bring, but we're leaving it open ? After Thursday we'll have more information and numbers to speak with booking agents."
