MSA Censures Curtin, P&J

by Ryan G. McClarren
On Oct. 5, after a two-week probe by a special Michigan Student Assembly (MSA) investigative committee, Rackham Rep. Jessica Marley Curtin and her Peace and Justice Commission (P&J) were formally censured for violating the Compiled Code of the MSA. This was the brutal climax of months of questionable actions taken by Curtin and the P&J.

To address these matters, the MSA formed an investigative committee to report to the Assembly, headed by Rep. Josh Trapani. After two weeks of searching for evidence of misdeeds and discussing their findings, a report was compiled and submitted to the Assembly. The committee’s report to the MSA found Curtin and the P&J in violation of the Compiled Code on three non-consecutive instances. First, the committee ruled that the article in P&J’s Activist Newsletter, co-authored by Curtin, was in direct violation of MSA election rules. Moreover, the committee found that the P&J illegally convened over the summer months, in transgression of MSA rules forbidding such meetings. Finally, the panel decided that a flyer distributed by the P&J that supported the Defend Affirmative Action Party clearly violated MSA rules against using MSA funds to support a campaign.

To redress the improprieties of Curtin and her commission, the investigative commission offered three recommendations. The first involved mandating that all P&J printed material be submitted to the MSA for approval before mass printing. Furthermore, the committee ruled that both Curtin and the P&J should be censured for violating the Compiled Code of the MSA (specifically section 4.15).

In the face of such grave consequences, Curtin and her cohorts offered a melange of apologies, explanations, loopholes, and excuses. Non-student Luke Massie, speaking on Curtin’s and the P&J’s behalf, “categorically denied” any violation of the ban on summer meetings. He then stated that “[the charges] were political through and through.” And as a part of his apology to the MSA, Massie declared that the P&J would be open to any discussion in order to prevent future rule breaking. Then Curtin told the Assembly that any censuring of her actions “has moral implications.” Later, referring to her actions, Curtin said, “It was not a sneaky thing done behind the scenes.” The only other person speaking against the findings of the committee was Rep. Jasmine Abdel-Khalik, addressing mainly the wording of the findings and the Compiled Code. She began her speech by saying, “I am all up on this language.” Abdel-Khalik went on to claim that the wording of the Compiled Code exonerated the P&J from violating the rules against summer meeting.

These explanations were too bitter a pill to swallow for the members of the MSA and, in an overwhelming majority of 20 to 6, they passed all of the committee’s recommendations. After the meeting, MSA President Bram Elias was pleased with the committee’s finding and asserted that, “this is how the Assembly runs when people do their homework.”

However, Rep. Rory Diamond was not assuaged by the outcome of the investigation. He thought that two-time election rules violator Curtin should have been punished more severely. “Curtin once again was throwing rules and regulations to the wind,” Diamond told the Review.

Nike-clad P&J Chairother Curtin dodged questions with a single statement despite previous promises to foster open communication. “I will not talk to [the Review] because I do not believe you are a legitimate news outlet,” Curtin snarled.

The investigative committee was formed two weeks ago in a bipartisan movement by the MSA. The motion to form this committee was greeted with much ballyhoo, constituents from both sides of the issue coming in droves to say their piece. Those who spoke in favor of the motion were quick to point out that this incident certainly was not isolated, and that this is just another chapter in the book of Curtin’s exploits. One speaker mentioned that this motion was not part of a personal vendetta against Curtin, BAMN, or the DAAP, but a necessary step in uncovering what really happened with the many Curtin scandals. The rejoinder of those constituents opposed to investigating the circumstances of the issue was less eloquent. These speakers forsook traditional legislative courtesy and in the opinion of one witness, “resorted to profaning their opinion and themselves.” During the speeches of the constituents in favor of an investigation, those members of Curtin’s entourage present mocked the stances of the different thinking speakers and laughed aloud. Then in their own tirades, Curtin’s cronies crossed another level of decency. Jody Mosley, a student in the law school, spouted expletives at President Elias and the assembly in general in her speech against the resolution. Then one unidentified Rackham student resorted to calling the opposition names such as “homophobes” and “bigots.”

The assembly was not cozened by this passionate ruse offered to derail the passing of this motion. The MSA did approve this motion and an investigative committee was formed comprised of random members of the assembly. When reached for comment about the need for an investigation, President Elias stated, “That was clearly the way the Assembly felt.”

Although this series of misconducts by Curtin and the P&J is now over, if the past is any indicator, this will certainly not be the end. Diamond made this clear when speaking about the persistence of Curtin’s waggish behavior, prophesying, “This will happen again very soon.” Unfortunately, he is probably right. MR