After the removal of Great Issues from ASMSU's Programming Board last month, some of the board's remaining members are stressing the growing rift between the organization and ASMSU's Student Assembly.
The board, which gets the bulk of student dollars collected by MSU's undergraduate student government, has been in the spotlight since Great Issues was removed Feb. 9 for sponsoring last year's campus visit by alleged anti-Semitic activist Joe Carr.
Members of Student Assembly discussed its situation with Programming Board members at the assembly's March 15 meeting.
"There's a lot of tension right now," Ryan McKnight, vice chairperson for Programming Board, said to the assembly. "I'm sure a lot of you don't even feel it or realize it. But I hear on a daily basis (the programming groups') concerns."
Marc Nardacci, Programming Board representative from POP Entertainment, said Student Assembly's relationship with the board has been "suffocating."
"They try to control every facet and keep certain programs from not happening that we think would be good programs," Nardacci said.
"But they don't happen because it might interfere with their personal preference."
POP Entertainment is a group that works to bring musical events to campus.
"POP hasn't done much lately because of the problems with ASMSU and the inability for me to work with them and the inability for me to get the funding I require," Nardacci said.
However, ASMSU Student Assembly representative Mike Leahy said POP is on probation but would not specify why.
Leahy added that the relationship between Programming Board and Student Assembly cannot be "characterized as fine," and some groups within the board don't want oversight in spending decisions.
"There are a couple of groups on there that don't want oversight at all," he said. "They view Programming Board as a piggy bank.
"Student Assembly gives (them) a little more than $240,000 a year — I'm not sure why the relationship would be suffering if these groups get that much money."
Since its removal last month, Great Issues has placed an item on the current student government ballot for Student Assembly members to do research into the possibility of the assembly and Programming Board becoming independent of each other.
"It would be for Programming Board to have independent rules and policies they enforce," ASMSU adviser Cathy Neuman said.
"They would still receive the same percentage of tax dollars they receive now."
Every MSU undergraduate pays a $16.75 tax per semester to ASMSU.
Programming Board's beginning balance this year was $184,300.46.
"Programming Board does some amazing programs," McKnight said.
"Some of these are massive programs that require lots of funding."
It funded such events as the Black Student Alliance's Black Power Rally and the North American Indigenous Student Organization's annual powwow.
McKnight said the assembly's issues with the board center on the organization's attendance record for meetings and leadership.
"I have brought it up repeatedly — the issue of attendance," McKnight said.
"I'm at a loss for the reason that they feel it is acceptable to do that. I'm struggling with their anger at what's happening (and) their lack of enthusiasm to show up."
Michelle Nickerson, representative from the Alliance of Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transgender and Straight Ally Students, defended the board when other assembly members said the groups may not appreciate the funding they receive.
"I think they're upset with how Student Assembly is looking over them," Nickerson said. "You need to talk to people on Programming Board before you say they don't appreciate being on Programming Board."
Joey Nowak can be reached at nowakjo2@msu.edu. Staff writer Kristi Jourdan contributed to this report.
