At Tuesday's East Lansing City Council meeting held on campus, about 30 students brought forward concerns about a report by police intended to investigate the April 2-3 disturbances.
And on the same day, Mayor Mark Meadows told The State News he will not seek re-election and instead is considering a run for state representative for the East Lansing district. Rep. Gretchen Whitmer, D-East Lansing, will leave her position at the end of her third term because of term limits.
During the council meeting, several students expressed frustration that the report addressing police action during the April 2-3 disturbances is expected to be released the week of May 2 - when student final exams are scheduled.
"It seems like you're not giving any report a chance, you're already condemning students," history senior Michael Codd said.
Police estimate more than 3,000 people took to the city streets after the men's basketball team lost to North Carolina in the Final Four. East Lansing police have said they used 130 tear-gas canisters, and about 250 officers from eight agencies were working that evening.
Angela Bianchi, a journalism freshman who did not speak, said she did not like that the report was coming out during finals week.
"They are making a good move, with not making judgments before they know the facts," Bianchi said. "But it seems like a coincidence that the report doesn't come out until finals week. The students will be studying. They won't be able to do anything about it because they will be going home."
Mayor Pro Tem Sam Singh said the council also is open to hearing the information from an independent commission called for by East Lansing police Chief Lou Muhn, and open to student concerns.
"Having the independent investigation is a very significant step," Singh said.
MSU journalism senior Derek Wallbank, from the University Committee on Student Affairs, said the committee has passed several resolutions including one that requests the investigation commission be completely independent.
"We would like to see that the commission not share their personal experiences but the experiences of students on the scene that evening," Wallbank said.
Wallbank said the group also does not want the disturbances to be legally designated as a riot until reports are reviewed.
City attorney Dennis McGinty said the riot designation will not be used unless students are convicted, so it would not impact their trial.
"I wasn't there, and I don't want to give an opinion on something I don't know anything about," Councilmember Beverly Baten said.
After the council meeting, Meadows discussed the possibility of pursuing the state representative seat. Meadows said because state revenue to the city has decreased, it is a concern of his and something he would like to change.
"The issue of shared revenue is extremely important," Meadows said.
Political theory and constitutional democracy junior John Fournier said he wished Meadows the best of luck if he runs.
"It will be a wide-open race for 2006, with many people running for that seat," said Fournier, who also is considering running for City Council. Staff writer Jennifer Toland contributed to this report.
