MSA Election: Platform Overview

By Jenna Youngs

Published Dec. 3, 2004

Ben Coen/Craig Kleine

Coen and Kleine have four main components to their platform for the Missouri Students Association's highest offices. Among the other goals, the two hope to create a file-sharing program for students to use without fear of being prosecuted for illegally sharing files" increasing the hours of operation at Ellis Library" continuing President Brian Laoruangroch's work to add "Diversity" to the Statement of Values and also adding a sixth value, "Tradition," as part of their "six values for six columns" idea and adding emergency telephones in Greektown. In addition to expanding the library's hours, the duo also would like to work with building managers to post when buildings are available for students to use as study space.

Coen and Kleine said they understand adding "Diversity" isn't enough to address the greater issue, so they plan to create and expand programming to support campus diversity.

"We would like to work with Summer Welcome and the (MSA Senate) Multicultural Affairs Committee in order to put together diversity training for incoming freshmen," they stated on their campaign Web site.

They said with so many campus traditions, students already assume it's a value.

"Why not add it and make it official?" they stated on the Web site. "Plus, if we added two more values, we would have a column representing every value."

Tony Luetkeymer/Cheryl Tomes

Luetkemeyer and Tomes' T.I.G.E.R. platform includes issues relating to transportation, identification cards, improving student government, adding more emergency telephones on campus and helping increase the number of volunteers for STRIPES.

Their parking and transportation plan has three parts: the construction of a new parking garage, working with the Columbia Public Transit System to increase buses to popular local attractions and a policy to allocate parking pass based on seniority.

Luetkemeyer and Tomes said all of their ideas have been reviewed and endorsed by Jim Joy, the director of Parking and Transportation.

The pair also wants to improve the workings of MSA. They said they will foster communication between MSA's three branches to ensure the government does not lock itself up.

"We will work with senators to identify and correct potential obstacles before they arise," they state on their Web site. "We will attempt to shift MSA's focus away from internal politics and more towards (sic) services it provides for students."

Luetkemeyer said he plans to use his experience as associate chief justice of the Student Court to help increase the number of volunteers for STRIPES. He and Tomes plan to work with the Student Court to enact a policy for students found to be in violation of the Student Code of Conduct to work community service hours for STRIPES.

"Not only does this allow students to learn a valuable lesson by giving back to the university, it also provides STRIPES with a driver bank when the need arises," they state on their Web site.