The University of Michigan Central Student Government met over Zoom Tuesday evening to swear in new members, introduce nine new resolutions and pass seven resolutions.
Social Work student Reyhaneh Najafi Koupaei, Rackham student Angelica Previero, LSA students Tiya Berry, Demi Jardine, Shawn Kelly, Meghan Dodaballapur, Faizaan Aziz and Jessica Rehberg were sworn in as representatives to fill vacant seats in their respective colleges after numerous recalls due to excess absences. LSA representative Demi Jardine was voted in as Ethics Chair.
CSG then proceeded to present resolutions for discussion and subsequent voting. Resolution AR 14-008, which proposes allowing interested first-year students to shadow CSG officials in the executive, legislative and judiciary branches to understand the work of student representatives, passed unanimously.
Resolution AR 14-010, which proposes that electronic benefit transaction cash and SNAP benefits be accepted at all Blue Markets on campus, passed unanimously.
CSG introduced AR 14-011, titled The Thank-You Jim Act, which was proposed to commemorate Jim Hoppes, the former program manager of CSG. Hoppes stepped down from the position July 30, 2024. This resolution passed unanimously. Rackham representative Curtiss Engstrom, one of the bill’s sponsors, said he felt Jim has had a great impact on CSG over the years.
“He’s been someone we’ve turned to for support in times of crisis, in times of fun, to have fun chats with him and pass time, and he’s just there to help us all out,” Engstrom said. “So what this resolution does, essentially, is just to say thank you to someone that has done so much for not only me, but I presume a lot of people here and a lot of people before us.”
CSG introduced AR 14-012, titled the Establishment of Financial Aid Liaisons Across University of Michigan Colleges Act, which proposes liaisons to improve communication on financial assistance for each college on each campus. This resolution passed unanimously.
The Guaranteed Housing Act, AR 14-013, proposed guaranteeing second-year housing to undergraduate students. This resolution passed unanimously. DEI coordinator Julia Odhiambo, the bill’s sponsor, said access to housing is important to student well-being.
“I think housing is very important, because having that stress factor of having to pay for food and then like other needs as well, on top of that, it just creates an environment where I feel like sophomore year, you shouldn’t be having to think of those things,” Odhiambo said.
CSG also introduced and unanimously passed AR 14-014, commonly referred to as Ruth Ellis Safe Space Act, proposing a new lounge on campus as a safe space for students who identify as LGBTQ+. Odhiambo discussed the historical context and importance of this resolution.
“She’s a powerful activist from Detroit,” Odhiambo said. “She basically advocated for LGBTQ+ rights, and she did a lot of good movement … having a lounge named after her and having other historic, historical and influential figures as well in this lounge, just having like LGBTQ+ identities, having a lounge where they can feel empowered and safe.”
Resolution AR 14-016 proposed to reduce police presence around poll lines during CSG elections. Odhiambo said she believes it is important for everyone to feel comfortable while voting.
“Just advocating so that people don’t feel under pressure when they’re voting, or feel like they have to watch the watch over their shoulders while they’re voting while waiting in line,” Odhiambo said.
CSG introduced AR 14-017, titled Fall/Winterfest DEI Form Act, which proposes a Google Form be available for students to give feedback on CSG’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The resolution passed unanimously. Odhiambo said she believes it is important to receive feedback.
“This is just to, like, see our performance and just make sure that we are being the best representatives that we are to our diverse student body,” Odhiambo said.
Odhiambo also introduced AR 14-018 to urge DPSS to adopt medical amnesty, or exemptions from disciplinary actions in response to violating the University’s drug and alcohol use and possession policies.
LSA representative Margaret Peterman introduced AR 14-022, titled Improving Emergency Rideshare Access and Awareness Act, which proposed the University more extensively advertise the Emergency Ride to provide more access to safe rides home for the student body. This resolution passed unanimously. Peterman said the student body needed to be more informed about the service.
“I was doing some digging, and I didn’t realize the amount of services that are available to students,” Peterman said. “You can get six free rides a semester, no questions asked, nothing like that. And I think that it’s just a shame that no one really knows about this program. So this is just calling upon the University to advertise it better.”
AR 14-021, titled the Evaluation of CSG Airbus Act, proposed gathering data on the effectiveness of the CSG Airbus to determine if the funds could be allocated elsewhere. The resolution was referred to the Rules and Finance Committee after a debate. Taubman representative Danah Owaida, one of the bill’s sponsors, said there have been multiple complaints about the effectiveness of this program.
“Very contrasting opinions, like, ‘I actually tried to use it for this purpose, but I couldn’t because so and so,’” Owaida said. “Or ‘it wasn’t practical,’ or ‘it wasn’t offering service at the time that I needed it to whereas the Flyer offers more hours more service’, and the only time that one person wanted to use their bus was I believe it was because the Flyer was full.”
On the Student Organization Funding Committee website, a pop-up message explains that student organization funding has been suspended. Vice President Elias Atkinson said the message was biased and should be reworked.
“I just also wanted to bring up my concerns about the pop-up,” Atkinson said. “Yes, everything on there is factually true, but I think that it’s disingenuous to claim that it’s a fair and neutral message … I would love to maybe get together and work with whoever put that message up. We don’t have to write a manifesto there … the form and the message was just written in bad faith.”
Speaker Mario Thaqi disagreed with Atkinson and said he believes the message is true and that it is important for students to be able to reach out to request support for funding their organizations.
“I do believe it is important to link resources for student organizations to hear about when funding will resume. I also think it’s important to provide our link to community concerns so they could speak to us.”
Summer News Editor Edra Timmerman can be reached at edrakmt@umich.edu.
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