Tuesday evening, Central Student Government hosted their first meeting of the school year under new administration, with LSA senior Anushka Sarkar as president. Despite the brief interruption of a fire alarm in the Michigan Union, the meeting continued, focusing on welcoming members back to campus.
A major focal point of the meeting involved the Trump administration’s announcement this morning of the dissolution of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Under the new policy, those who have a status that will expire in the next six months can have their permits renewed. During these six months, Congress has the responsibility to decide whether these policies will move forward and if those protected under DACA will officially lose their status.
Community member Kate Stenvig, member of the University’s chapter of By All Means Necessary, addressed her concerns to CSG following a rally in the Diag and march around campus earlier in the afternoon. She stated that she hopes, in the coming weeks, to bring forward a resolution in support of DACA.
“This is a real overreach of Trump to try to do this,” she said. “It’s also a really desperate act because basically all that he has promised is a lot of deportation.”
Sarkar also voiced the importance of CSG taking a stand against this act from the Trump administration. Earlier in the day, CSG posted a status on Facebook informing those currently reliant on the program of their options to secure permit renewal.
“CSG has for the last couple of years and will continue to this year stand by DACAmented and undocumented students,” she said. “DACAmented students are an important part of our community.”
Sarkar also discussed the recent racist writing found on the Rock and detailed CSG’s goal of responding to these sorts of incidents in meaningful ways. She emphasized talking about the issue early in the semester and opening a dialogue for the future.
Following community concerns and updates from committees, Medical School student Whit Froehlich presented the Resolution to Reorganize and Revise the Election Code. Some of the biggest changes include introducing the role of the Special Prosecutor to oversee elections and bringing forth complaints and other cases, adjusting demerits and consolidating several rules.
Specifically, the resolution looks to address rules regarding campaigns and how campaign materials are distributed or posted.
“I served on the University Elections Commission last year, and we had fewer cases than in past years, but still found some things that could be improved,” he said. “Previously the (campaign) rules were written to assume that they were written and posted somewhere, and that’s obviously not the only way we campaign, so that’s a little clearer.”
CSG members look toward next week’s meeting, where several new matters will be brought forward, including the newly-interviewed applicants for executive committee.