MSA Constitution referendum up for vote

By Jenna Youngs

Published April 23, 2004

The student body will choose whether to pass a revised Missouri Students Association Constitution on Monday.

Voting for the referendum will begin online at 6 p.m. Monday and close at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Students also can vote via paper ballot at polling stations around campus on Tuesday.

If passed, the new constitution would eliminate the student vote currently necessary for the MSA Senate to restructure. Instead, a three-fourths vote of all senators would be needed. Two full Senate meetings of discussion would be required before the vote.

The new constitution would clarify how much time the president has to veto a bill and who can be included as members of Senate.

The university's statement of values would be added, and it the phrase "sexual preference" would be replaced with "sexual orientation," Ferlazzo said.

"The constitution is going to clear up some workings of MSA, which ultimately comes down to how the students are represented by their senators," Board of Elections Commissioners Chairman Greg Chase said. "We need to make these revisions to the constitution."

Ferlazzo said he does not expect many students to vote during the election because it's not very publicized.

"It is not a major campaign," he said. "To some people it's a big deal, but there's not really any opposition to the constitution, and there haven't been debates. An e-mail will go out to all students about the vote, but this election is not as visible as the presidential election."

Chase said a couple thousand students are expected to cast votes during the election.

"The BEC is going to pass out handbills on Monday about the election," he said. "We're going to try and educate students and improve turnout."

Department of Student Communication Director Nick Trusty said he and President Brian Laoruangroch will address large lectures to inform them about the election.

"If we know turnout is going to be low, we need to try to make it higher," Chase said. "We can't just sit back and say, &#39Oh, well.'"