On December 1st, the University of Michigan’s Central Student Government (CSG) unveiled the eagerly awaited results of the fall 2024 elections, which had concluded on November 21. This electoral season saw the competition for 17 seats within the CSG Student Assembly drawn from various schools and colleges, alongside a solitary seat on the U-M Police Department Oversight Committee. Notably, the ballot also included a series of constitutional amendments, namely CA 14-001, CA 14-002, and CA 14-003, all of which triumphantly passed.
CA 14-001, known as the Petition Review and Advisory Opinions Act, garnered substantial support with 3,437 votes in favor against a mere 769 dissenters. This pivotal resolution seeks to bolster the authority of the Central Student Judiciary, empowering it to review petitions as articulated in the All-Campus Constitution of 1986 prior to their presentation to the Assembly and to issue advisory opinions.
Following suit, CA 14-002, the Disability Ex-officio Act of 2024, surged ahead with an affirmation of 4,390 votes against just 461 opposition. This forward-thinking resolution proposes the establishment of an ex-officio disability representative within the CSG Assembly, whose mandate is to advocate for both physical and mental disability issues, thereby enhancing support for the disabled community on campus and within the broader Ann Arbor area.
In another win, CA 14-003, amending the Constitutional Veto Process, successfully passed with a vote count of 2,977 in favor versus 132 opposed. This amendment aims to streamline Assembly processes by cutting down the CSG president’s veto consideration period from either 10 class days or 22 calendar days to a more efficient five calendar days.
UMPD Oversight Committee Member: LSA junior Julia Ellis (KEEP IT RUNNING)
LSA representatives: sophomore Kira Solomon (Empower Michigan), junior Arnav Gupta (Empower Michigan), freshman Tyler Hart (Empower Michigan), freshman Isaac Gardner (KEEP IT RUNNING), sophomore Meyer Cusnir (Empower Michigan), freshman Ethan Levine (Empower Michigan), sophomore Shams Sami (SHUT IT DOWN), junior Wade Vellky (KEEP IT RUNNING), and junior Riley Kina (Empower Michigan).
In a vibrant interview with The Daily, Hart expressed a passion for amplifying campus sustainability initiatives and enhancing student support services through platforms like the Sustainable Living Experience and Disability & Accessibility Support Services. The SLE program not only educates students about sustainable practices but also galvanizes their engagement in environmental activism campus-wide. Meanwhile, DASS strives to empower students with disabilities, ensuring they receive necessary accommodations and equitable educational opportunities.
“I aim to propel the campus towards greater sustainability by creating more avenues for student involvement and engagement in the initiatives that the university offers,” Hart articulated. “Additionally, I seek to broaden the support services beyond DASS. Personally, my experience with DASS has been incredible, but there remains a plethora of students who deserve similar support. Implementing executive function workshops could be transformative, as these skills are essential for everyone.”
Simultaneously, Sami emphasized her intent to address pressing social issues, particularly taking a stand on the ongoing military campaign in Gaza, leveraging her CSG position as a dynamic platform for activism.
“My primary focus in the upcoming semester will be to spotlight the genocide occurring in Palestine,” Sami elaborated. “It’s profoundly heartbreaking that such a critical issue is being brushed aside. I am wholeheartedly committed to fostering awareness, facilitating meaningful dialogue, collaborating with organizations, and amplifying the voices that deserve acknowledgment.”
Furthermore, in another revealing interview, Vellky highlighted his goal to increase funding for student organizations and elevate wages for student workers, aiming to bolster financial stability among peers.
“One of our objectives is to remedy the current cap on student organization funding at $10,000, as I firmly believe the potential for higher funding exists,” Vellky stated. “Numerous organizations merit additional financial support. I also wish to enhance resources for student worker unions, ideally advocating for increased wages to ensure better living conditions for our student workforce.”
Rackham Graduate School representatives: Hiab Teshome (SHUT IT DOWN), Lisa Vaiman (KEEP IT RUNNING), Angelica Previero (Empower Michigan), and Devin Woodruff (Empower Michigan).
Ross School of Business representative: sophomore Elliot Saye (Empower Michigan).
School of Dentistry representative: Jonah Attia (KEEP IT RUNNING).
School of Social Work representative: Hana Kisswani.
