Column:

Kelley-Johnson for more student rights

By Ryan Beck

Published Oct. 19, 2007

Like any college student, I get distracted easily. I don't know why the people at Microsoft decided to release Halo 3 in the middle of the semester, but it is not helping my grades. Just like you, I try to get through each week so I can hang out with my friends on the weekends.

For some of you, that meant tailgating before football games at "Frat Pit." MU officials took away the tailgate location in the middle of the football season without informing students. It was just all of a sudden off-limits. Clearly, something is wrong with this, but there is no accountability for MU officials.

We definitely need some kind of change around MU, and that is why I'm excited presidential candidate Jim Kelley and vice presidential candidate Chelsea Johnson announced their candidacy for the Missouri Students Association presidential election. These students are, in my opinion, the most qualified to be elected, especially considering their reaction to the "Frat Pit" crisis.

"The university has an obligation to either reopen the property for use to students on game days or work with a student committee composed of Greeks and other student leaders to find a mutually acceptable replacement site for students to responsibly socialize," the Kelley-Johnson campaign said.

Frankly, it is about time somebody held MU up to some kind of standard. Nobody should be able to take away from the student body without any warning.

Students' rights need to be protected and respected, and this is why I urge you to consider Kelley and Johnson to represent us.

I think a leader should be respectful and respected, and both of these candidates have these qualities. They are well spoken, and I know they will not only command the respect of MU officials, but also respect the student body and the position and our rights as students.

MU does many silly things, but for every silly thing, there are a few good ideas. Regardless, we need leaders who can hold the university accountable for its actions.

I was standing at Memorial Union, staring up blankly at the big clock when, as the clock struck — well, who cares what time it was. Basically, go look at the number four on the face and tell me that it is a Roman numeral, because it is not.

Unless they bought that clock at Wal-Mart, there is really no excuse for this mistake. The Roman numeral for four is IV, not IIII. I am sure MU will not fix this anytime soon, so in the meantime, the obsessive-compulsive side of me will try to concoct a scheme to climb up there and fix it myself.

That $1 billion For All We Call Mizzou sign is still up for some reason, but I would hate to ask them to break the piggy bank to fix something that is worth the money.

And why are piggy banks always broken? Couldn't piggy banks just be made so the curly tail screws off or something? All in all, it seems like a waste of porcelain to me. I don't even understand how the concept of a piggy bank started. Who was the guy who looked out onto his farm, turned to his wife and said, "You know what? I think that would make a great place to put my quarters."

To quote Michael Scott from The Office, "Money isn't everything. It's not the key to happiness. You know what is? Joy."

Well, around MU, money might not be the key to happiness, but a Kelley-Johnson administration would sure leave me joyful.

rjbwbc@mizzou.edu