News
Briefly
Calendar of Events
Commentary
Opinions
Sports
Diversions
World News
Classifieds
Login
Letter Submission
Search
Archive
Publishing Policy
Mail Subscriptions
St. Cloud State University
College Publisher
Home
>
News
Mankato joins MSUSA debate
By Adam Hammer
Published:
Thursday, April 1, 2004
A series of events during the MSUSA Delegates Assembly over the weekend led 40 percent of student association representatives to walk out.
Student government representatives from SCSU and Minnesota State University-Mankato (MSUM) made the decision to leave the meetings Sunday after unprofessional actions of executive members went too far and a platform to mandate participation in MSUSA was presented, according to student government officials.
"There were still some changes that were not occurring," said MSUM student association president Rhys Gaffer. "My line in the sand was this past weekend. We saw repeatedly at the Delegates Assembly and at the board that they were not willing to work with us."
With a two-thirds attendance necessary to have quorum for the Delegates Assembly, the meeting was called to an end.
An open forum was on the agenda prior to the assembly meetings. Unknown to SCSU, a member of MSUSA invited members from the larger community to participate.
"Community members aren't paying money for MSUSA, so to have them come in and tell us what we are and we're not doing right is kind of offensive," Rachel Hughes, SCSU student government vice president, said. "To have that happen was kind of shocking."
Fifteen speakers were allowed to present for two minutes each.
Many of the participants in the forum declared their support for soon-to-be former MSUSA Executive Director Frank Viggiano and for the alleged accomplishments of the organization.
Eamonn O'Moore, chief justice of the Judicial Council for SCSU, was second to speak and gave a presentation in disagreement.
Despite his opposition, many applauded his efforts, O'Moore said.
Others in attendance and an MnSCU affiliate responded with unprofessional actions towards O'more and SCSU, Hughes said.
"He was just a student, he pays the fee, he's more than welcome to stand up and speak intelligently without being attacked," Hughes said.
After, SCSU student government president Cory Lawrence made an executive decision to leave the forum.
Saturday's MSUSA schedule went as planned with Lawrence in attendance for presidential meetings. That night a memo was drafted by student government and an alliance was formed with MSUM.
On Sunday morning, SCSU participants called a point of order stating that there would be zero SCSU delegates participating. Mankato followed suit.
"For everything to fit what their agenda is and nothing to fit what our agenda is, it doesn't work," Hughes said. "This was the last straw."
Funds from SCSU and Mankato together account for roughly half of MSUSA's total university contributions. Representatives from both universities stated that fair representation from that standpoint is hard to understand.
During the fall elections at SCSU, the student body voted in favor of opting out of MSUSA by a margin of 80 percent.
Forum:
No comments have been posted for this story.
Post a comment
Privacy Policy
Network Advertising
Article Syndication
