What happened?
The Board of Trustees, with the assistance of the MSU Office of the General Counsel, Student Life and Engagement, Infrastructure Planning and Facilities, and the Department of Police and Public Safety, approved updates to several university ordinances as part of its ongoing governance work. This marked the first comprehensive review of all the university’s ordinances in nearly three decades.
Why is the board updating ordinances?
Some ordinances were outdated and needed alignment with state and federal laws. Others required clarification or better articulation of their scope and application. These updates also include general cleanup and modernization of language.
What areas do these ordinance updates cover?
The updates address a variety of areas, including safety at tailgating events, regulations for mobility devices, requirements for campus gatherings, and fire safety.
How do these updates strengthen the university?
The changes enhance safety, traffic management and legal compliance, creating a more secure and regulated campus environment. Specifically:
- Improved safety
- Ordinance 21.00 provides for the sale of alcohol at certain athletic facilities under controlled circumstances and was voted on during a special meeting Aug. 16, 2023.
- Ordinance 18.00, updated in September 2023, restricts firearms on campus.
- Improved traffic management
- Ordinance 33.00 addresses the rise of electric scooters and skateboards and updates mobility device ordinances with clear usage guidelines.
- Enhanced tailgating regulations
- Ordinance 19.00 emphasizes fire safety during tailgating events. Fires are only permitted in approved containers during home football games and must be attended by an adult, kept at safe distances from combustible materials and equipped with nearby fire extinguishers.
- Strengthened legal standards
- The revisions ensure university ordinances align with both state and federal regulations, including the removal of ordinances that were redundant due to federal or state law. By modernizing its ordinances, the university can better address evolving issues related to safety and legal compliance.
What’s next?
The Board of Trustees remains committed to fostering a safer, more inclusive campus. This includes regularly reviewing and updating ordinances to address emerging trends and meet the evolving needs of the university community.
For more information on specific ordinance details, visit trustees.msu.edu.