Rep. Gieleghem offered the following concurrent resolution:

            House Concurrent Resolution No. 52.

            A concurrent resolution calling on the Board of Regents of Eastern Michigan University to resign for misuse of funds.

            Whereas, Our institutions of higher education represent an enormous investment made by generations of Michigan residents and students and their families from all over the world.  It has been most frustrating, therefore, for citizens of this state to learn of recent decisions made by the university's leadership with regard to costs being paid for the president's housing.  Many aspects of this project are inconsistent with good public policy and violate the trust placed in the leadership by state taxpayers and EMU's students and staff; and

            Whereas, The Board of Regents and the President of Eastern Michigan University are spending $5.2 million—more than twice the original amount budgeted—for a 10,200-square foot home for the President.  In doing this, the university's leadership violated state law by failing to report that the university's funds were being spent on this project, which also failed to include the consideration of competitive bids; and

            Whereas, While spending public money inappropriately is always cause for concern, these elaborate expenditures are particularly frustrating at a time when the university clearly has more urgent needs to meet.  Eastern Michigan University faces the same financial situation shared throughout the state, which has occasioned double digit tuition rate percentage increases.  Improvements, repairs, and renovations of at least two classroom buildings and construction of a needed parking garage are all on hold during this period of financial difficulty.  With many dorms in disrepair, the excessive spending for the President's housing reflects priorities that are not at all in keeping with those of the taxpayers of our state or the rest of the university community; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That we call on the Board of Regents of Eastern Michigan University to resign for misuse of funds in connection with the construction of housing for the President of Eastern Michigan University; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Board of Regents and the President of Eastern Michigan University.