On Campus — November 17, 2009
Gov. Nixon unveils plan to freeze tuition
Gov. Jay Nixon put forth a plan earlier today which would freeze tuition and fees for in-state students at Missouri's four-year public institutions across the state.
The proposed plan, which has to be approved by the General Assembly and institutions' governing bodies, would ensure 95 percent of higher education funding appropriated for the 2010-2011 year remains in place. In return, public, four-year institutions have agreed to not raise tuition or fees on in-state undergraduate students.
“As tuition skyrockets by double digits in other states, university leaders, faculty members and my administration have worked together to put Missouri students first and protect them from tuition spikes for the second year in a row," Nixon said in a news release from his office. "By helping keep higher education affordable, we are taking bold steps to prepare the workforce that will move Missouri forward.”
UM system President Gary Forsee said in the news release this was the best comprise given the situation.
“The governor’s action today strikes the best balance in a difficult and fiscally challenging time for our state,” Forsee said. “This agreement mitigates the magnitude of the cut that higher education would otherwise have received and enables us to hold undergraduate tuition flat for one more year."
This freeze is similar to one announced last year, but according to the Governor's Web site, last year's freeze applied to all students at Missouri's public four-year institutions.
Hillel celebrates Rosh Chodesh with a museum visit
For Rosh Chodesh, Hillel women visited the “The Sacred Feminine: Prehistory to Postmodernity” exhibition at the Museum of Art and Archaeology on Tuesday.
Rosh Chodesh is a Jewish holiday for women. It falls on the first day of each new month in the Hebrew calendar.
The exhibition, which runs until Dec. 24, features women in religious art from different cultures around the world, according to the MU Museum of Art and Archaeology Web site.
Students visited the exhibition at 3 p.m. and went out for coffee afterwards, Jewish Student Organization Co-Religious Chair Rachel Levin said in an e-mail.
IFC, PHA executive board announced
The Panhellenic Association and Interfraternity Council nominated their new executive board members.
PHA Programming Vice President Brittany Perrin said those elected to the PHA executive board include Caitlin Mundschenk as President, Michelle Parsons as Programming Vice President, Stephanie Zepelin as Risk Management Vice President, Kaitlyn Steis as Internal Recruitment Vice President, Allie Steiner as Education and Development Vice President, Michelle Hanko as Public Relations Vice President and Ashlen Snellen as Finance and Records Vice President.
IFC president Danny Jonas said those elected to the IFC executive board include Brandon Green as President, Ryan O'Connell as Recruitment Vice President, Kyle Tibbles as Risk Management Vice President, Jazz Rucker as Membership Development Vice President, Ben Loomstein as Finance and Records Vice President, Jeremy Johnson as Programming Vice President and Danny Ritz as Public Relations Vice President.
Student Life no longer requesting student fee increase
The Department of Student Life rescinded their request for a $0.33 increase in student fees.
The Missouri Students Association committee chairman Matt Sheppard said Student Life maintains they believe the funds would be put to good use, but that they no longer believe student fees should be raised at this point in time.
The proposed fee increase funds would have gone to finance a new Web site for student involvement and a staff to help students become more involved.
Proposed MSA bill would create a stipend for committee chairpeople
The Missouri Students Association Operations Committee discussed and passed a bill on Tuesday that would create a per-semester stipend of $650 for committee chairpeople.
If passed, the stipend would take effect in the fall semester of 2010 and effectively compensate not only committee chairpeople, but also the Senate Speaker and Senate Clerks.
The bill was written in order to recognize the work of committee chairpeople and their role in MSA. It also serves as an incentive to these individuals as a means to better MSA as a whole.
The full MSA Senate will vote on the bill on Wednesday.