More than 125 students erupted in outrage when MSU Trustee Joel Ferguson answered his cell phone Friday while a student was expressing concern to the board about Michigan's newly passed affirmative action ban.

"(Answering the phone) just shows the lack of respect that the administration shows toward their students," said Claudia Gonzalez, an interdisciplinary studies in social science and community relations senior.

Students with black cloth covering their mouths protested at the MSU Board of Trustees meeting, holding signs that read "Listen to the Students!" and "Simon Says ... NOTHING", in regard to Proposal 2.

On Tuesday, Michigan voters passed the proposal, which bans the use of race and gender preferences in admissions and government hiring and contracting.

Students were allotted 15 minutes for discussion with the trustees.

As the meeting was wrapping up, Gonzalez demanded university officials listen to the students.

"We just felt very silenced and disempowered," Gonzalez said. "It just doesn't seem that important to (the board)."

Some board members said they did not agree with the approach students took in getting the board's attention.

Proposal 2 is a final decision and the students won't see much of a change, Trustee Donald Nugent said.

"We have an opportunity for not-germane items to be presented, and the fact that they decided to not follow the rules wasn't a positive way to make an impression," Nugent said.

For more on this story, please see Monday's edition of The State News.