After four public comments, back-and-forth discussion and two voting processes, ASMSU’s General Assembly passed a bill advocating for all charges to be dropped against Eli Folts in a final roll-call vote.
Bill 62-30 specifically aims to continue pushing for First Amendment rights in response to the charges against Folts. Now that the bill has been passed, ASMSU plans to advocate for more communication from President Kevin Guskiewicz on how students can peacefully protest in a way that won’t end with disciplinary action. They also plan to bring the bill to faculty for further attention.
College of Social Science Representative Selena Salinas seconded the bill. "I feel as though students shouldn’t be facing retaliation against sticking up for what they believe is right, especially as we see the current times that we’re facing," Salinas said.
The bill passed more narrowly than others, with 23 votes in favor, 2 votes against and 3 abstentions.
ASMSU passed four other bills, including one for the allocation of $700 to first responders on Halloween for food and snacks, one advocating for the establishment of a Sparty’s at the College of Communication Arts and Sciences and the College of Education, one supporting the expansion of open educational resources, and the last to waive certain code of operations regarding ASMSU Office of the President review board for smoother operation.
The placement of a new recruitment and engagement coordinator was approved as well.
Three presentations were given in addition to the bills: one from University Health and Wellbeing, discussing their mission to support the health of students and faculty, a presentation about Interim policy on protection from retaliation and one from Prevention Outreach and Education on navigating policy, reporting and supporting training ASMSU members on mandatory reporting.
Vice President of Student Allocations Tanya Rayapeddi and President Kathryn Harding explained to the General Assembly that, in response to the MSU anti-discrimination policy, they have drafted new criteria for the Activities Board, which was previously composed solely of CORES&CAMS groups.
A new email was sent letting ASMSU know that it now requires "all RSOs to certify compliance with the MSU Anti-Discrimination Policy as part of their registration," according to Harding.
In response to the funding cuts affecting CORES&CAMS groups, Chief DEI Officer Rehana Mirza discussed five potential funding models that could potentially be used to reallocate the money originally reserved for CORES and CAMS. These funding models will be presented to faculty and legal staff to receive approval in the coming weeks.
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