Today, we're more than happy to applaud ASMSU.
The State News criticizes ASMSU a lot on the Opinion Page.
We do it for good reason. MSU's undergraduate student government is responsible for representing a large portion of our readers — the student body. They also are responsible for spending huge amounts of student tax dollars. And like any representative group, its actions must be transparent to its constituents.
When ASMSU representatives met with state legislators Thursday to demand more funding for higher education, they showed a determination to best represent the student body they serve.
ASMSU meets with officials a lot, but its most recent effort is certainly impressive. Through more than a month of planning, ASMSU representatives organized a conference including 12 other Michigan universities' student governments to meet with lawmakers, many of whom almost stood them up. It proved ASMSU can use its funding well.
It's good to see ASMSU working hard to make sure MSU students are heard by legislators. Our student government is backing up students on an important issue, which is what it is created.
The state has limited funds and every government department wants more funding, but the legislature must realize higher education is increasingly necessary to create jobs and should have priority in terms of spending.
It also helps keep jobs in Michigan, which should be a goal of the state government as a whole. This conference might help increase funding, although it is unlikely.
Getting 11 universities on board strengthened their message.
Whatever the outcome in the end, working for students in this way helps validate ASMSU's own funding.
It is asking students to voice their concerns and is attempting to make it easier for students to make ends meet. The voices in Lansing last week might go largely unheard by a state struggling to keep everything adequately funded.
However, it's also a way to open doors. This will let legislators know that students do have a voice.
This is the way to create change.
