Bill 60-19, which was introduced in the last general assembly meeting, originally disallowed ASMSU candidates from campaigning door-to-door in on-campus housing and stated that representatives must be in a major within the college they represent to ensure representatives don't change majors in the middle of a term. 

The assembly committee amended the bill to include representatives with "no preference" for their major, as those students would eventually switch colleges when choosing a major. The bill now defines the undergraduate “academic population” more specifically, as not all of them consist of four-year students. 

James Madison College Representative Shaurya Pandya asked for clarification regarding which areas of each residential hall are off-limits for campaigning. 

"This isn’t stopping you from going into residence halls; this is stopping you from going into the dorm areas," Vice President of International Administration Connor Le said. "So you can still go into Case and be in their main lobby, their cafeteria, the classroom areas, study lounges, same with Snyder-Phillips … You just cannot go into a place that is not publicly available unless you live there." 

Pandya said the bill could be interpreted as saying students are not allowed to campaign in any residence halls, which he said could hinder campaigns, especially those whose colleges use a dorm. He proposed an amendment that would clarify what areas of a residential hall open for students to campaign. The amendment was approved. 

Bill 60-19 passed with 27 approvals, three disapprovals and four abstentions.

Bill on MSU presidential search

Bill 60-27 advocated for MSU's presidential search committee endorsements to have approval from all faculty and students on the committee. 

The bill pushed back against Presidential Search Committee Chair and Trustee Dennis Denno's comments to The State News in September. In his comments, Denno said the person the Board of Trustees selects doesn’t need an academic background and may not be someone recommended by the committee. 

ASMSU's action followed a similar resolution in the faculty senate and statements from university administration.  

Vice President of Academic Affairs Alissa Hakim, who introduced the bill, said that it was written in solidarity with the faculty senate’s resolution. 

“We’ve expanded on that to include that they shouldn’t only be approved by faculty, but also student representation on the committee,” Hakim said. “We also included that whoever is receiving the endorsement of the presidential search committee should be dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion, to promoting the 2030 strategic plan, and should have experience as a scholar, academic and (on a) university administration.” 

Bill 60-27 passed unanimously. For more extensive reporting on the bill and its predecessors, read the long-form story here. 

Following this bill and the widespread backlash to his comments, Denno released a statement conceding to the criticism, in which he stated he will “not deviate from the candidates that the search committee has chosen in the first round and the final candidates that they will present to the full Board of Trustees.” 

Presentation on academic goals

Interim Provost Thomas Jeitschko attended the meeting to present goals and policy updates for this school year. 

Jeitschko said the university is redesigning space in the library for undergraduate education, faculty and academic staff development, and the Center of Teaching and Learning Innovation. 

The Office of the Provost also plans to construct new advising space in the Union and to have a one-stop shop support services for students in the Hannah Administration Building. 

“It will really help students’ success a great deal when there’s one place that you can come to,” Jeitschko said. “They can work with you to sort out what your problem is rather than send you to another place and then another place.” 

The Office of the Provost also wants to begin university-wide advising. Advising traditionally takes place within colleges, and college-specific advising will still exist, but Jeitschko believes students should have access to resources not tied to any college, as 74% of undergraduate students change their major at least once while at MSU, Jeitschko said. 

He also commented on conversations about lighting on campus, stating that he hopes MSUPD can soon ensure every area on campus is well-lit for student safety. 

MSUPD presentation on sextortion

ASMSU then heard from MSUPD Detective Jamie Izen, who gave a presentation on sextortion and scams. 

Izen defined extortion as the practice of obtaining something, often money, through force or threats. Sextortion deals with nude photos and nude videos, whether the perpetrator illegally obtained them or used them as blackmail. 

MSUPD had 22 reported sextortion cases from January to September of this year, Izen said. 

"Honestly, I would say that’s low," Izen said. "Some of our officers … had taken six (cases) in the last week, and those are just the ones that are reported to us."

Anyone who finds themself in this situation should cease contact with the perpetrator and consider deactivating their social media account, Izen said. The perpetrator might threaten to leak the content unless they receive money, but the MSUPD recommends not paying. 

“When you pay them, you’ll probably get further extorted,” Izen said. “It never ends. There’s no honor among thieves. There’s no guarantee (that if) you pay them, they’ll do what they say.”

Izen encouraged victims to report the crime to law enforcement. Despite possible embarrassment, a person shouldn’t delete conversations with the perpetrator, as these can be collected for evidence. Following a report, MSUPD conducts an investigation using evidence like bank records or social media accounts.

“Most of these lead out of the country, which is not helpful, because we only have so much power we can (use) in the United States," Izen said. "That’s why prevention is really key.”

She advised students not to take nude photos because sharing them can be dangerous, regardless of whether it is with a significant other or stranger over the internet. 

“Once you send those pictures or do that video, it’s not on your terms anymore, it’s on their terms.”

Izen shared red flags that everyone should look out for when online: the person claims to not have a working web camera, their profile has a low number of pictures, they misspell numerous words, their fast-paced contact rapidly turns sexual or they use fear and intimidation. 

"Be on guard when you’re online talking to people you do or do not know," Izen said. "If this does happen to you, please tell someone you trust. It doesn’t have to be law enforcement — it can be a friend, it can be a professor, a parent, whoever. Just make sure you’re getting the help you need.” 

Hakim asked Izen about ticket scams and fake services that offer to write students' essays. Izen said MSUPD sees “tons of scams” using fake items, including event tickets, bicycles, mopeds and job opportunities. 

“If you ever find yourself in a situation where you’re messaging someone or you’re applying for a job, and it just seems really weird and off, please reach out to us and we’ll help you find out if it’s legitimate or not,” Izen said. “You can always meet them up in the lobby of our police department … Certainly do not pay for something before you receive it.”

Students with Disabilities Representative Gillian Robbins asked how the MSUPD prevents people from using artificial intelligence to create fake nude photos. 

“It is not the norm, yet,” Izen said. “Our best advice for that is, if it’s not a true picture of you, certainly don’t pay. Unfortunately, there’s not a whole lot to stop it. However, we still can do some type of legal action. So do report them to law enforcement because that’s not acceptable or O.K.”

Izen said that sextortion of all types "is not just an MSU thing" and is happening country-wide. 

Comments from a former representative 

Former Lyman Briggs College Representative and pre-med senior Zaaki Mandwee addressed the general assembly about alleged "ongoing false information and rumors" in the ASMSU groupchat. 

Last school year, Mandwee introduced a bill that did not make it to the General Assembly floor. In his comments, Mandwee reiterated statements he made last year regarding the bill.

“Fighting for justice in Palestine and fighting against colonialism, fighting against imperialism and apartheid, as well as challenging a racist and fascist ideology such as Zionism, is not and will never be the equivalent to anti-semitism,” Mandwee said. “I say this as a person who is semitic and has faced anti-semitism in the past.” 

Mandwee said that despite no longer being in ASMSU and never planning on being in the organization again, members continue to spread falsehoods about him. He said this has had a "profound and negative impact" on him and others, and the fact that this issue is still being brought up "is disgraceful." 

"Over the past year, I have faced a series of challenges due to these falsehoods, including dealing with a traumatic assault, police involvement and distribution of disparaging and damaging materials targeting me," Mandwee said. " … It’s dangerous moving forward where people have harassed me in the street, yelling and shouting the same rumors on multiple occasions."

Mandwee said the alleged falsehoods must end must end for his safety and the safety of people around him, adding that whoever continues spreading "falsehoods or does nothing to stop these lies must be held accountable," and "impeached or removed." 

"I stand firm in my commitment to fight for justice, equality, and the rights of all oppressed communities, and I implore all of ASMSU to do the same," Mandwee said. "It’s easy to stand with the crowd, but it takes courage to stand alone and do what’s right."

Mandwee then exited the general assembly.