Due to Michigan State cancelling classes on Thursday, the Associated Students of Michigan State University, or ASMSU, moved their general assembly meeting to Friday, Feb. 1.
They voted to fund the MSU chapter of Period — a national organization that provides free menstrual products on campuses, received a presentation from the Student Athlete Advisory Council, or SAAC, and filled three openings on the general assembly.
Here are three takeaways from the undergraduate student government's second general assembly meeting of the semester.
Free menstrual products on campus
ASMSU voted to allocate $1,000 to the MSU chapter of Period. The $1,000 will fund a trial period, which will be tracked and presented to the university. This aims to provide reasoning for MSU to permanently fund menstrual products.
“This is something that people that menstruate have to deal with on a monthly basis," College of Business representative Olivia Long said. "It can often come unexpectedly, it can interfere with your academics, it can ruin somebody's day."
Other members of the general assembly pointed out that if residence halls provide free contraceptives for men, they should provide free menstrual care for women.
“The university is going out of their way to send me (condoms), and send other people of my similar gender the same resources," College of Business representative Oscar Garner III said. "I don’t see why we can’t do the same (for women)."
SAAC presents on future representation
SAAC presented at the beginning of Friday's meeting, arguing to be included in next year’s session of ASMSU. SAAC is an advisory council made up of two members from each varsity athletic team, mediating the student athlete experience at MSU.
President of SAAC Bailey Higgins, a member of the MSU field hockey team, sat down with The State News afterwards to discuss why they believe SAAC deserves to be represented in ASMSU.
“The big thing is just a connection to another large group on campus,” Higgins said. “(Student-athletes) have a lot of light on them. The news is always on them, so if the news is catching them, building this connection with ASMSU and with the governing body ... I think it would have a good, positive experience for the whole university.”
Three general assembly positions filled
After the semester change, there were several openings on the general assembly. On Friday, three new members officially joined the undergraduate student government.
They include College of Nursing representative Michael Prosi, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources representative Logan Krause and College of Communication Arts and Sciences representative Erin O'Brien.
O'Brien said she learned about ASMSU after looking through a list of MSU clubs and organizations online.
“I honestly don’t know anything about it. There was something called Model Congress at my school, so it’s something very similar to this. So, I have an understanding, but I’m very blind walking into this," O'Brien, who moved from Branford, Connecticut, said. "I’m just trying some new things out.”
ASMSU's committee meeting will be held on Feb. 7 in the Student Services Building.
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