Bill 62-14 urges MSU to preserve Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) as an integrated unit following staff layoffs tied to budget cuts. It calls the current psychiatric team essential for providing comprehensive mental health care and life-saving resources.

MSU recently moved to shift CAPS from University Health and Wellbeing to MSU Health Care, a change that included laying off psychiatric staff such as CAPS Director Dr. Swapna Hingwe. That decision has been paused amid backlash, leaving the final call to the new provost and vice president of student affairs.

Hingwe attended Thursday’s meeting to outline CAPS’ mission of reducing mental health stigma and providing accessible care.

The bill also highlighted a petition calling for the reinstatement of Hingwe and other staff. The petition collected more than 1,400 signatures within days, citing CAPS’ impact on student mental health.

The bill cited the 2024 University Health and Wellbeing Annual Report, which reported more than 2,800 CAPS psychiatric visits and over 600 unique patients in one year. It calls for Hingwe and her staff to remain in place and opposes moving services to a new clinic.

ASMSU’s president will present the resolution to the Board of Trustees, university president, provost, vice president of student affairs and other administrators while the pause is in effect.

The bill passed with a voice majority.

Expanding late-night dining options

Bill 62-12 calls for expanding late-night dining by keeping another hall open later. Currently, only Landon Hall serves dinner until 11 p.m. Most others close around 9 p.m.

The bill argues that the limited hours disadvantage freshmen without cars, especially those far from Landon. While students can use dining plans for grab-and-go meals at Sparty’s Markets, the 12 weekly Combo-X-Change limit leaves fewer options than a dining hall would.

Heritage Commons at Landon Hall offers a limited late-night menu, including chicken strips and fries, but high use shows the demand for such options, according to the bill. It argues that late-night dining supports student health and safety by reducing the need to leave campus for food.

The bill will be presented to the vice president of student affairs, MSU Culinary Services and other administrators. 

Culinary Services director met with ASMSU about the proposal and said such a change would be long-term, not completed this year, due to concerns about staff work hours. The director said they want student feedback for future planning.

According to the director, they are exploring options that would add more substantial Combo-X-Change meals to Sparty's Markets for now, and regular meetings between ASMSU and MSU Culinary Services discussing the issue will continue in the future.

The bill was passed with a voice majority.