MSA administration completed by department heads
Published Jan. 25, 2000
In addition to MSA President Susan Manuel and Vice President Bobby Shah, three Missouri Students Association executive department heads took oaths of office Sunday.
Karthik Krishnamurthy was named head of the Department of Publicity and Promotion, Johnathan Woodward was named head of the Department of Student Services and Anisha Morrell was named head of the Department of Student Activities. Jordan Stone was also named chief of staff.
The new directors, who embody a combination of experience and enthusiasm, said they hope to increase student participation in MSA.
Since its creation in 1998, the Department of Publicity and Promotion's goal has been to make students more aware of MSA and the work it does on campus. To do that, new director Krishnamurthy said he needs students to get involved in the DPP.
"I think the main project of DPP is to make students more aware of what MSA is and what it can do for them," Krishnamurthy said. "I don't think that students know exactly what MSA does and where their money is going, and our main goal as a department is to raise that awareness."
Krishnamurthy said one way to do that is by expanding the readership and publication of the MSA newsletter, which Stone started last year.
"It's really nice to see that the president and vice president are taking an active role with all the departments as opposed to doing their own thing," Stone said. "Bobby and Susan are in here all the time. The executive and legislative branches of MSA need to work together and talk to each other about joint projects to utilize all of our abilities. We're all really passionate about what we do here, and you won't find a bunch of harder-working students."
Stone said her involvement with MSA has helped her meet people and get to know MU's campus, administrators and faculty.
"A major reason I joined MSA is because it's not about a popularity contest," she said. "It's about devotion and wanting to better help the campus."
Woodward, a freshman, joined MSA last fall. Last week, he was chosen to direct the Department of Student Services.
"I have been involved with MSA since I started school and have had positions of leadership in different organizations before," he said. "I was the senior class president for my high school, and now I am ready to devote all my time to MSA.
"My first plan is to hire my subcommittee chairs and find out their goals for the year," Woodward said. "I am excited about our Electronic Communications Committee, the MSA Web site and the possibility of having some type of open forum where people can express their ideas, complaints and concerns."
Morrell, a senior, begins her term with a long list of already-booked performers and shows.
"We're in a rebuilding phase right now," she said. "We're looking to get out there and bring the best entertainment possible to MU students while restructuring our subcommittees and more effectively training our chairs to be on the phones and to go out there and get good shows."
In addition to the department directors, Morrell said MSA has a "linear tapestry" of volunteers who will improve students' time at MU.
"It's not about Student Activities or Publicity and Promotion, it's about MSA," Morrell said. "Karthik and I have known each other for some time, and Jonathan has just fit right in. We're even knocking down the cubicle walls to add a more cohesive atmosphere for all the departments. We want to be able to cut costs, maximize student dollars, while at the same time benefiting everybody."
