Academic Governance to review ASMSU elections

A review of MSU’s student government election processes was ordered Thursday by the University Committee on Academic Governance, or UCAG, following concerns regarding last spring’s elections. But one group is questioning the committee’s authority to look into the matter.

Jacqueline Wright, MSU’s secretary for Academic Governance, said UCAG decided to conduct a review following a number of complaints relevant to the election processes of ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government, and the Council of Graduate Students, or COGS. The groups’ spring elections led her to propose a review of the groups’ bylaws and constitutions.

During those elections, some candidates felt upset by the outcomes and processes, although no formal complaints were ever filed, said Dillon Lappe, ASMSU’s Academic Assembly’s vice chairperson for external affairs. UCAG’s review will only encompass the election processes of Academic Assembly.

Wright said Academic Governance bylaws give her authority to review election processes in the event of a formal complaint.

One such bylaw includes stipulations for UCAG to “provide guidelines for elections to Academic Council and to the Executive Committee, review challenged elections and recommend appropriate action to Academic Council.” Another bylaw, she said, gives her the right to supervise the elections of the student groups.

Although no formal complaint for either election was filed, she said she felt the number of complaints and conflicts stemming from past elections warranted a review of the groups’ rules. She first introduced the idea in April at an Executive Committee of Academic Council, or ECAC, meeting.

“Instead of going back and reviewing the past elections, my bent was what happened in the past is done,” Wright said. “But I think this warrants a review of the election processes in both organizations.”

But officials at ASMSU’s Academic Assembly, which delegates representatives to take part in UCAG meetings, said they feel Wright is wrongfully interpreting her authority as mandated by the bylaws. Lappe said although the assembly is complying with the review, the lack of a formal complaint regarding the previous election negates Wright’s ability to review the election processes.

“It’s our belief that they have the ability to review our elections through the assembly and to various parts of Academic Governance,” Lappe said. “But there hasn’t been any formal complaint or accusation of wrongdoing in terms of our elections.”

Lappe said ASMSU understood the review is not intended to be an attack, but said the group disapproved of it in spirit.

“Ultimately, it’s (Wright’s) call,” he said. “We’re not in agreement with it.”

Wright said she and UCAG member Mary Noel, a professor in the Department of Family Medicine, will conduct a preliminary review of the student groups’ bylaws and constitutions and will then share her findings with the executive members of each group for further input. She said after that phase, recommendations and proposed changes will go to UCAG for consideration, then ECAC. Final recommendations will be presented to Academic Assembly.

She said she hopes to have the review completed by the end of the semester, in time for next spring’s elections.

Wright said she was not looking to start conflict and that the review is merely routine.

“There are student representatives of UCAG from both organizations and there are student representatives in ECAC, so they will have their voice,” Wright said.

Academic Assembly Chairperson Kristy Currier said ultimately, Academic Governance only has the power to make recommendations, but not enforce them. The right of enforcement, she said, is up to Academic Assembly.

“Basically, we feel that the secretary is overstepping her rights within the Academic Governance bylaws,” she said. “We’re wondering what the motivation behind it is.”