ASUM, MSA meet with student curator
Published April 16, 2004
While members of the Associated Students of the University of Missouri and the Missouri Students Association feasted on pork loin and mashed potatoes, they discussed such meaty topics as tuition increases and excellence fees with the student representative to the UM system Board of Curators.
ASUM board of directors President Sarah Jackson said approximately 65 to 70 people attended the dinner and discussion with Shawn Gebhardt, a University of Missouri-Kansas City graduate student.
Jackson said ASUM has sponsored dinners with student representatives to the board in the past.
"The dinner went really well," she said. "The turnout speaks volumes about the quality of the event."
Although the event was open to the public, many attendees were members of the MSA Senate. Committee meetings were canceled so senators could attend the event, Senate Speaker Damon Ferlazzo said.
"Coming here and discussing the issues was time well spent," he said. "The dinner gave senators a clearer outlook to the future and a better understanding of the issues. I think senators got great information to bring back to their constituents."
Ferlazzo said it was important for senators to hear more about system-wide issues.
"Not every student cares about the internal issues we deal with at some Senate meetings, but every student cares if they have to pay more tuition," he said.
MSA Vice President Kara Heppermann said the main issue discussed at the event was tuition increases. She said the dinner was beneficial because it allowed senators to meet Gebhardt and understand how ASUM works.
"The best way for MSA to work on tuition issues would be to work with ASUM," she said.
Senators were challenged to discuss with their constituents the issues raised at the dinner. They also were told to encourage their constituents to contact state legislators about concerns over UM system issues.
"The most important thing that needs to be shared is that students are really important and can make a difference," Jackson said. "It was important to let senators know these are the issues they need to talk about and they need to mobilize their constituents. Students have power and can make a difference."
Heppermann said she supported the challenge to inform constituents about important system-wide issues.
"If all the senators contact their legislators, it wouldn't have the same effect if everyone they talked to did so as well," she said.
Senate Clerk Greg Chase said discussing issues with constituents can help MSA formulate ideas to share with ASUM.
"We are constantly brainstorming ideas to improve communication with our constituents," he said. "It's very important that we go back and inform our constituents about issues. The only way to get student input is to talk to the students about it."
Senate Clerk Ashley Warren said the dinner was the first event in which so many MSA senators were able to meet with ASUM.
Warren, who was elected Wednesday to serve on the ASUM board of directors, said the dinner was a first step to better communication between MSA and ASUM.
"Leaders from both organizations have seen the need for better communication," she said. "I hope to be a part of bringing the two together."