When Robert Mugabe took power in Zimbabwe 27 years ago, he preached peace and cooperation.
In 1990, Mugabe received an honorary doctorate degree from MSU when he visited campus.
And now, ASMSU wants it back.
At its Feb. 22 meeting, ASMSU's Student Assembly began discussion to demand revocation of Mugabe's degree.
"He basically slaughters anyone that doesn't agree with him," College of Social Sciences representative Mike Leahy said at the meeting. "A lot of people at the university are embarrassed that we gave him this degree."
ASMSU is MSU's undergraduate student government.
Chairperson Roger Ludy explained when MSU granted Mugabe the degree, Zimbabwe and its new leader were in an entirely different situation.
"It was in the earlier stages in his ascent to power," Ludy said. "At the time, he was relatively well received."
Nigel Scarlett, Student Assembly's vice chairperson for external affairs, urged representatives to wait until the next meeting when more representatives were in attendance to vote on the issue.
"The man has had his honorary degree for 17 years, and I don't see why we should make this decision," Scarlett said. "It's not enough for me that these organizations say he's a bad guy. A decision like this should be made with as many people here as possible."
The end of the discussion was tabled to the assembly's March 15 meeting.
The results are in
The results of a survey ASMSU conducted of MSU's IM Sports facilities have been made public.
ASMSU had the results of the survey last spring, but did not intend on making them public to students. Rather, they made recommendations to the Board of Trustees based on their findings.
"It's already been taken to the board," Ludy said. "I've presented them with a list of recommendations."
He said the recommendations the board approved have been placed on the "just-in-time" list, a list of projects paid for by leftover budgeted university money.
ASMSU paid $10,000 for the services of Brailsford & Dunlavey, a facility planning program, to put the results into a summary. ASMSU's budget is generated by a $16.75 student tax each semester.
According to the report, "there is a significant shortage of recreation and fitness spaces on MSU's campus" and "addressing the shortage is a high priority among the MSU student body."
The survey did conclude, however, that students do not embrace the idea of paying for improvements out of an increase in fees.
Ludy said by being placed on the "just-in-time" list, the projects will not cost students anything.
"This is coming out of the university budget," Ludy said.
The survey reported that 65 percent of students with IM Sports passes feel the facilities at MSU are "a little worse" or "much worse" than they expect them to be.
Five percent of the MSU student body, or 2,190 students, responded to the survey — which was conducted on a Web site.
Ludy expects the projects to begin and to possibly finish this summer.
Advocacy in action
Both Academic and Student Assemblies are busy planning ASMSU's Advocacy Week, which will take place April 17-19. The week involves MSU students taking buses to Lansing so they can meet with local politicians, and ASMSU representatives lobbying city, state and national politicians.
ASMSU Director of Governmental Affairs Melissa Horste said a main focus of the week this year will be early registration. Students can register at the Governmental Affairs Town Hall meeting at 7:30 p.m. March 14 at 1145 Engineering Building.
"This will guarantee that we meet with as many representatives as possible and get an opportunity to have a quality conversation with them," Horste said.
