MY UNIVERSITY PROJECT

To Get it Done

ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

FIFTY-FOURTH SESSION

BILL NO. 54-51

INTRODUCED BY: KELLEY                                        SECONDED BY: COLPOYS

A BILL TO: Enact the “MSU American and Spartan Flags Bill” Project

THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ENACT:

WHEREAS, Michigan State University currently has 50,019 students

admitted, with 38,996 undergraduate students1 over 15,000 of whom

reside within residence halls on campus, throughout five separate campus

neighborhoods where the residence halls are located2, but no American or Spartan flags mounted on flagpoles exist in the neighborhoods. An American or Spartan flag, or combination thereof, is in close proximity to a residence neighborhood in only three instances (refer to Appendix, Section 1a); and,

WHEREAS,  There are American, Spartan, and Michigan flags on campus in areas other than the neighborhoods, though many of these are not mounted on flagpoles and are often found in places with low foot traffic or hard-to-find routes (refer to Appendix Section 1b); and,  

WHEREAS,  The American flag is a beacon of positivity, as demonstrated in the MSU American Flags Bill Survey 1: American Flag Perception (refer to Appendix, Section 2). The American Flag is a banner of unification. It represents the liberties and rights found in the Constitution, Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, and Federalist Papers (refer to Appendix, Section 3); and,

WHEREAS,  Our campus itself is a product of this country’s representative

democracy, rights, and liberties, as the beginning of this University was bound by the 1850 Michigan Constitution’s charter,3 and the first Congressional Morrill Act of 1862, signed by President Lincoln, extended the premise of the college as a land-grant university4. The Acts also expanded academic provisions5 (refer to Appendix, Section 4); and,

WHEREAS,  There was extensive outreach done across various students, entities and

leaders of this community, all showing either verbal, written or financial support (refer to a Appendix, Section 5a-d). The addition of American and Spartan flags is supported by the American Flags Bill Survey 1: American Flag Perception, the MSU American Flags Bill Survey 2: Additional American Flags and ASMSU’s Project Time survey (refer to Appendix, Section 2).

WHEREAS, The complete “The “MSU American and Spartan Flags Bill” project would

install five flagpoles, one in each residential neighborhood, structured as follows; an American flag on top and Spartan flag below would be flown from each flagpole, which that would be illuminated, with a solar light equipped with a battery pack and will be maintained by Residence Education and Housing Services (refer to Appendix, Section 6-9); and,

WHEREAS, The total cost of the “MSU American and Spartan Flags Bill” project is

$10,000.00, as quoted by Infrastructure Planning and Facilities. $960.00 of the total $10,000.00 has been pledged by five Hall Governments, the Inter-Fraternity Council, and Speaker of the Michigan House Tom Leonard; therefore, be it,

RESOLVED, The Associated Students of Michigan State University allocates $9,040.00

$12,040.00 to the “MSU American and Spartan Flags Bill” project, as a partner with potentially other University entities, to be completed through a Service Request to Infrastructure Planning and Facilities. Any unused monies allocated by the Associated Students of Michigan State University will be returned back to the Associated Students of Michigan State University.