SGA petitions to oust assistant attorney general Andrew Shirvell over U-M controversy
The Student Government Association has voiced strong support for its fellows at the University of Michigan.
The Central Michigan University SGA Senate unanimously approved a resolution Monday advocating for the immediate removal of state Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shirvell from office because of his actions against Chris Armstrong, the Student Body President at the University of Michigan.
Shirvell created an online blog called the “Chris Armstrong Watch” targeting Armstrong for many reasons, including the fact he is openly gay.
He has made several statements against Armstrong through the blog, including accusing him of having a radical homosexual agenda and posting doctored pictures of him with a Nazi swastika. Shirvell has also camped outside of the student’s home with a video camera and protested outside of social events.
“It’s basically an online blog used as a cyber campaign against Armstrong in order to defame his character, expose his personal life and create rumors,” said Colleen McNeely, legislative affairs committee chairwoman for SGA. “Andrew Shirvell is a cyber bully and a bigot.”
The Brighton sophomore said along with the resolution of support for Armstrong, SGA will educate students about the issue and encourage them to sign a petition to remove Shirvell from office.
The petition, which is run online through www.change.org, is hoping to receive 5,000 signatures and can be signed by anyone. McNeely said the SGA hopes to contribute at least a couple hundred signatures to the overall goal by spreading information about the situation to students.
“He’s been using the blog to harass Armstrong for being openly gay,” McNeely said. “I think it’s important students know that these are the actions of a government official and for future public servants to know there will be public outcry for discriminatory actions like this.”
Brittany Mouzourakis, president of SGA, said the SGA House of Representatives will vote to approve a resolution next week. If it is approved, the Garden City senior said she will sign it and send a written statement to the Student Association of Michigan along with student body presidents from other universities.
Mouzourakis said these statements will hopefully be sent out in a bundled media release by the end of the month.
She hopes the resolution and support for Armstrong will make students of the LGBT community at CMU feel welcome and accepted.
“We are a community of students that promotes the tolerance of others,” Mouzourakis said. “I think it’s important for all public universities to show that we do not accept intolerance.”
South Lyon freshman Catey Traylor said she is happy the SGA is taking a stand on the issue and supporting Armstrong. Traylor said she would definitely sign the petition.
“I feel like what Shirvell is doing is wrong,” Traylor said. “As long as Armstrong is getting the job done then his sexual orientation shouldn’t matter.”
