A resolution to ask the University Board of Regents to search for a president who supports affirmative action was voted down at last night"s Michigan Student Assembly meeting.

Another resolution that sought to condemn sexist attacks on women, specifically women in politics, was postponed until next week.

The resolution concerning the regents came down to one vote.

MSA President Matt Nolan decided to break a simple majority that would have caused the resolution to pass by voting against it, an action he does not usually take.

"The president of MSA, under our code, has the right to vote," Nolan said. "I try to stay away from voting because I think the president should try to be impartial unless he has to break a tie or feels very strongly about an issue."

Nolan said he voted against the resolution not because he opposes affirmative action, but because he opposes limiting MSA"s support of the regents if they were to consider a candidate who did not support affirmative action.

"These issues are important to students, so this resolution definitely falls under MSA"s responsibility. It is important to know the stance the future president takes on affirmative action," said Monique Luse, Minority Affairs Commission co-chair and a sponsor of the resolution.

Luse was disappointed that the resolution did not pass and said it was because the sponsors considered it "very legitimate and uncontroversial."

Earlier in the meeting, MSA representatives listened to women constituents voice their opinions on why MSA should pass a resolution condemning violence and hate speech against women.

"The effects of sexual assault on this campus are immense," said Law student Anna Phillips, who was speaking on behalf of the Ann Arbor and University coalitions against rape. "One thing MSA could do to eliminate sexual harassment and assault on campus is to pass this resolution."

The resolution was written in response to an increase in physical and verbal attacks against women on campus.

Rackham Rep. Jessica Curtin said she considered articles published by the Michigan Independent and comments chalked on the Diag to be sexist attacks, thus prompting her to draft the resolution with Rackham Rep. Suzanne Perkins-Hart.

The assembly agreed to postpone voting on the resolution to allow time for revisions. There was concern expressed by some representatives that the resolution emphasized the significance of the verbal attacks against Curtin over more recent physical attacks against women on campus, and did not specify any action.

"When I heard what happened to Jessica, I was disgusted," said Women"s Issues Commission Co-Chair Liz Higgins, "but I"m worried about how these rape victims are going to feel."