Dr. Laura Rugless of the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) presented OCR’s initiative to improve MSU’s civil rights policy by unifying and replacing existing policies. Their plan is to unite the Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct/ Title IX Policy along with the Anti-Discrimination Policy to create a renewed Civil Rights Conduct and Responsibilities Policy. By adding ‘Responsibilities’ in this specific policy, OCR emphasizes that every person plays a role in upholding civil rights on campus. 

In the midst of these changes, OCR’s commitment, compliance and processes for support, reporting, advisors and appeals remain unchanged. However, for clarity and consistency, some definitions and policy shifts were deemed necessary; these include the definitions of misconduct, investigation and resolution processes. 

Additionally, OCR is proposing revising the mandatory reporting policy to give civil rights responsibility to supervising and managing staff. The proposal would combine mandatory reporting for relationship violence and sexual misconduct and additional supervisor responsibilities to create the Civil Rights Reporting and Response Policy.

If approved, the policies will be implemented for the academic year of 2026. 

Vice President and Chief Inclusion Officer Dr. Jabbar Bennett came on behalf of MSU 2030, letting ASMSU Representatives know of the first-ever Spartan Community Survey happening in March 2026. This survey seeks to help establish a culture of safety, satisfaction and trust for all at MSU.

The Spartan Community Survey's objectives are to identify the root causes of challenges that impact MSU personnel, develop recommendations and actions to support Spartan success and to hold institutional leadership accountable for efforts aimed at nurturing overall health for everyone. 

“If (ASMSU) talks about the survey, others will follow,” Bennett said. 

Department of Police and Public Safety Chief of Police Mike Yankowski and Jim Hintz, Vice President of Student Affairs, came and gave their updates to the student body regarding their departments' recent activities. 

“I’m here, visiting with ASMSU, supporting shared governance and the student voice in the process,” Hintz said. “It’s an opportunity for me to check in, see how things are going, and answer questions from the General Assembly.” 

Following the presentations were 21 bills that passed Thursday Night, including 62-83, which creates a committee to make progress towards electing the ASMSU president through popular election.

One of the 21 bills, Bill 62-92, proposes a referendum on the Spring 2026 election ballot to amend Article II, Section 2 of the ASMSU Constitution. The amendment would change how the Council of Racial and Ethnic Students (CORES) and the Council of Advocacy and Marginalized Students (CAMS) are described, removing the language that refers to them as “racial, ethnic, and marginalized student groups.”

This follows pressure from the federal government stemming from a new interpretation of civil rights law, which university administrators and Student Affairs cited as a compliance concern. ASMSU officials emphasized that the structure and voting procedures of CORES and CAMS will remain unchanged.

Three financial allocation bills passed for NARCAN, the César Chávez and Dolores Huerta Conference, and Studio E electricity updates. In addition, bills were passed to bring awareness to ‘neurodivergent week,' student gambling, student parking, opposition to the construction of Data Centers in East Lansing and a new leasing ordinance in the City of East Lansing.