Expanded fishing opportunities

Catch and release fishing will be allowed along nearly all parts of the Red Cedar River, after the board approved changes to its wildlife ordinance.

Fishing is currently allowed on some parts of the river, although they often feature steep banks posing a safety risk for anglers. People navigating the river in canoes and kayaks have always had the legal right to fish from their watercraft, since the Red Cedar is a navigable water body governed by the state.

The agenda item implies that MSU hopes that expanding opportunities to fish on campus will also remove negative stereotypes about the Red Cedar being "dead and dingy" and instead draw attention to the more than 30 species of fish who call it home. The university also hopes allowing fishing will discourage littering and other forms of environmental degradation.

Allowing more fishing in the river is expected to have a minimal impact on the environment, the item stated.

Restriction on drones

The board closed a loophole in a policy regarding aircraft operations on MSU property, explicitly addressing unmanned aircraft systems, such as drones, which have become increasingly common in recent years.

The updated ordinance states that no aircraft — manned or unmanned — may land or depart from MSU property with proper authorization from the university.

Student disorderly conduct, president’s performance evaluation policies altered

The board rescinded a policy that prohibits students from engaging in disorderly conduct at or in connection with a riot. Various university policies and state laws already prohibit students from obstructing free movement around campus, obstructing normal use of university buildings and facilities, and provide a more comprehensive definition of "riot" and "disorderly conduct," the agenda item stated.

The rescinded policy contains a provision that it "shall not be interpreted to restrict or limit" any student’s First Amendment rights to freedom of speech or assembly. 

That provision is not necessary to ensure that students' First Amendment rights are protected, according to the agenda item, since federal law already protects students’ First Amendment rights.

The board also axed a single word from its recommended timeline for evaluating the university president’s performance, removing the recommendation for the board chair’s report on the evaluation to be shared in September. 

The September recommendation warrants removal because the board previously voted to replace its September meeting with a "stakeholder forum," the agenda item says. Removing the recommendation will allow for greater flexibility to accommodate other potential scheduling shifts, it claims.