Vote Friedrichs, Garcia for MSA

To ensure the Michigan Student Assembly (MSA) is as effective as possible, we consider it of the utmost importance that the leaders of MSA concentrate on campus issues that directly affect and involve students. Hence, we feel that Ryan D. Friedrichs and Albert Garcia (Independent) are most deserving of your vote for the positions of MSA President and Vice President, respectively.

This is not to say that Friedrichs and Garcia represent a panacea to cure MSA's troubles. We strongly oppose their proposal to expand Leadership 2017 to include more student leaders and MSA committee chairs. Participation in a program that causes many to question the integrity of student leaders, and diminishes the importance of MSA in the eyes of its constituency, is madness. A proposal by Friedrichs and Garcia to create a Diversity Theme Semester is a one-way ticket to disaster; such a Theme Semester will undoubtedly turn into an anti-conservative propaganda outlet similar to the Martin Luther King Day "Symposium" earlier this year.

However, both Friedrichs and Garcia are accomplished student leaders who have proven they can accomplish very real and tangible projects. Friedrichs was the chief architect of MSA's on-line voting project, which has been an amazing success. Not only has it made voting easier for all, it has saved $3,000 of student money, vastly increased turnout, and been an incredible convienience for students. Friedrichs also worked on Advice On-Line, helped found Voice Your Vote, and worked to start a much-wanted sign language class. In LSA-SG, Garcia helped coordinate the Environmental Theme Semester and the Residence Hall Campus Safety summit, worked hard to increase student contact with administrators, and created the Student Academic Advising Feedback Process.

Both Friedrichs and Garcia have many intelligent and feasible ideas for the upcoming year, including putting a ride board on the MSA web page; establishing a phone line for complaints to MSA; integrating Advice On-Line into the new on-line course description system; and opening MSA front office machines to all student groups, among many others. We are confident that they will be able to get these things done. Friedrichs and Garcia, with their workable, and campus-focused programs, are the smart, rational choice for students.

A very close second to the Independents are Trent Thompson and Sarah Chopp (Students Party). Thompson has also accomplished a great deal. He has worked diligently on the student regent issue, and has been an important part of the Budget Priorities Committee. He also was the force behind the recent "fireside chats" with President Lee Bollinger. Chopp has worked diligently on the External Relations Committee (ERC). While both are very qualified representatives and suited for MSA's Executive, we have grave reservations about their stance on allowing students to vote on the affirmative action issue (no, due to "controversial wording") and their tacit acceptance of arguably frivolous resolutions. We also do not feel they are as committed as Friedrichs and Garcia will be to internal reform and increasing student group funding.

Additionally in the Students Party, we support the (re-)election of Olga Savic (Rackham), Matt Curin (Pharmacy), and Mark Sherer (LSA). Savic and Curin have shown their talent and dedication to the Assembly, and Sherer has a drive and intelligence that can be of good use.

In the Michigan Party, which is not running an Executive slate, we support the re-election of Mehul Madia (LSA). Madia has been an important force for students on a variety of issues, including the M-Card and working on the Campus Governance Committee.

In the New Frontier Party, we support the election of Douglas Friedmann (Business), Alok Agrawal (Engineering), and Martin Howrylak (LSA). All three of these candidates have one thing in common: common sense. Friedmann, who has previously resigned in disgust from MSA, is a proven voice of sanity on an often insane Assembly. All three are committed to fiscal prudence and keeping the focus on campus issues. The executive slate of Elizabeth Keslacy and Mike Enright is well founded but we are unsure of how effective they would be in office. We consider the Wolverine Party, while definently intriguing as another all-outsider party, unfortunately too unsure of concrete goals to merit an endorsement. We admire their resolve, but question how well their effectiveness would be if elected.

Finally, not even MSA at its worst hour deserves the Defend Affirmative Action Party. The party, led by BAMN/NWROC leader Jessica Curtin, is similar to Sinn Fein in that it is the political wing of a campus extremist group unwilling to compromise on anything. This group cares nothing for student input or opinion; God knows what would happen to student group financing if these radicals became elected. We urge all students even those under duress by a looming threat of rhythmic chants to avoid the DAAP like a suburbanite avoids Dutch Elm disease. MR

This article was published in the 11 March 1998 edition of The Michigan Review (Volume 16, Number 8).
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