State, campus issues discussed at forum

November 20, 2006 —

The second President's forum of the semester was sparsely attended, as a few students, some administrative deputies, and President Gilbertson gathered to discuss some of the goings-on about campus.

The discussion moved back and forth between local and broader issues, with some attention paid to the midterm elections that recently saw the Democrats take the federal House and Senate. Gilbertson eventually commented on how SVSU plans to react to the recent passage of Michigan's Proposal 2-06, which bans public institutions from using affirmative action programs in hiring and admissions.

"We don't think this affects, in any way, the things that SVSU does," he said. "We intend to keep doing the things we are doing."

Gilbertson's comments suggested that the University's hiring and admissions policies would not be seriously affected by the state-mandated moratorium on affirmative action programs.

"I don't think it outlaws all the forms of outreach that we're doing," he added. "No constitutional amendment stops all of us from reaching out and developing relationships."

Preceding the discussion on affirmative action was a brief exchange wherein Gilbertson mentioned that the changes in the state legislature following the elections would not seriously affect University policy, remarking, "We have a lot of friends down there."

A number of other issues were briefly discussed, including an announcement by senior and sociology major Nick Tereck, president of the University Residence Association at SVSU.

"SVSU is officially hosting the regional conference for residence halls," he said.

The conference is that of the Great Lakes Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls, an organization whose members include residence associations of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ontario. According to a University press release, more than 500 representatives attended the association's 2006 conference, from 49 colleges and universities.

Another issue discussed was the "Friends of SVSU" Political Action Committee (PAC), which until earlier this year allowed faculty and staff members to automatically deduct a certain amount from payroll checks in order to support political candidates.

Gilbertson mentioned that the automatic deductions from payroll were recently deemed illegal, as a misuse of public funds. Instead, faculty and staff who still wish to contribute to the "Friends of SVSU" will have to do so personally.

The Michigan Chamber of Commerce filed the complaint against SVSU this February, charging that the automatic deductions violated Section 57 of the Michigan Campaign Finance Act. This has since been remedied.

According to a report from the Michigan Department of State dated Oct. 25, the Friends of SVSU PAC raised $6,842.91 for various political candidates in the 2006 calendar year.