John Marcus is more than willing to represent any college or group if an ASMSU student assembly representative he’s currently filling in for returns to his position.
Marcus, an economics junior and temporary representative for the Arab Cultural Society, could potentially be the first student to represent a college he isn’t affiliated with because there are no vacancies in the College of Social Science, the school he’s enrolled in.
Some representatives believe appointing an individual to represent a college or group they aren’t affiliated with will cause a breakdown in communication between members and the representative.
ASMSU is MSU’s undergraduate student government.
Christopher Wickman, a Residence Halls Association representative, said students within a group or college would have issues communicating with an outside representative.
“Other than a member of a college taking the initiative and e-mailing their representative about their concerns, there is not a true way for a representative to easily be in touch with their college,” Wickman said.
Michael Leahy, ASMSU’s student assembly chairperson, presented a plan that would allow appointed students to represent a college or group without an affiliation.
Leahy said he didn’t think there would be any less communication than in ASMSU’s current system.
“We don’t want to appoint people that are going to do it and then stop coming. I want people who are dedicated and willing to put in the effort,” Leahy said.
The chairperson is allowed to appoint an individual to a vacant seat, said Nathaniel Giddings, policy committee chairperson. According to university bylaws, it’s not specified that the individual must be from the college or organization they represent, he said.
The committee unanimously approved Leahy’s plan in January, but said Leahy must ensure an individual unaffiliated with the college or organization are reaching out to its members and remains active in ASMSU.
Appointed representatives will serve for one month before appearing in front of the policy committee for formal approval, Giddings said.
The committee’s main concern was whether an appointed representative would be able to adequately represent a college or group they didn’t have ties to, Giddings said.
“Leahy reasoned that it is better to have someone actively representing a college in the student government than not,” Giddings said in an e-mail.
Leahy said his goal isn’t to fill all vacancies, but to give those whose college or organization has no available seats a chance to stay active in ASMSU.
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