Academic Assembly is scheduled to meet at 6:30 p.m. today in Room 328 of Student Services, and Student Assembly will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in Room 328 of Student Services.

Budget concerns

One of the main concerns for members of Academic Assembly will include weighing in on pending Academic Governance issues, ASMSU Spokeswoman Portia McKenzie said.

In the fall, MSU Provost Kim Wilcox announced he would decide the fates of various graduate and undergraduate programs and specializations recommended for elimination by late spring. The recommendations are part of MSU’s effort to reduce its total operating budget by 15 percent to 20 percent during the next three years.

“For Academic Assembly, some of the cuts will create more tension with students,” McKenzie said.

Academic Assembly Chairperson Kristy Currier said ASMSU plans to help university officials devise creative ways to save money while conveying which ideas MSU students consider valuable.

“We know that there will be a tuition increase, but our goal is to see that students’ opinions are heard,” Currier said. “There is a lot of money (needed for the budget) and some of that could be made up of tuition to increase revenue.”

Currier said one of her main concerns is how students — particularly those in programs under consideration for discontinuance — perceive the value of their degrees.

Capitol influence

Eric Branoff , Student Assembly vice chairman for external affairs, said the group will renew its efforts to influence state senators as they consider a medical amnesty bill.

The bill, which passed almost unanimously through the Michigan House of Representatives in October, currently sits in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

If passed, the bill would provide amnesty from prosecution to minors who seek medical help for alcohol-related emergencies.

“It is unfortunate there even has to be legislation,” Branoff said.

“But there is a need to address that concern. There are a lot of problems that arise because of fear of what might happen (if students sought medical attention). (The bill) would save a lot people from being severely hurt or dying.”

Branoff said in addition to gathering letters from students in an effort to show senators how the bill affects MSU students, ASMSU intends to speak directly with committee members.