MSA Debates Begin

By Erica Zucco and Gwen Daniels

Published Oct. 23, 2007

On Monday, Residence Halls Association representatives gathered in Mark Twain Ballroom as the candidates for Missouri Students Association president and vice president presented their platforms and fielded questions.

Both slates discussed STRIPES, which provides free rides to MU students on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Presidential candidate Jim Kelley and vice presidential candidate Chelsea Johnson said they hope to expand the volunteer pool by working with honors marketing students to create a marketing campaign, Kelley said.

Johnson described the plan as a "win-win" solution. Marketing students can gain additional experience while STRIPES recruits from a larger volunteer base, she said.

Presidential candidate Dustin Barker and vice presidential candidate Jessica Ekhoff also plan to increase volunteerism, Barker said.

"We want to raise awareness," Barker said. "We need to make sure that people know that it's there, that they need volunteers and that it's a great program."

The slate said they hope to expand STRIPES to include the program Safe Ride/Safe Walk, which would allow students to request escorts to walk them home after dark.

Both slates also focused attention toward safety within residence halls.

"We understand that safety is an issue almost every MSA slate brings up," Barker said. "However, we feel that this is necessary, as campus safety relates to all MU students."

Barker and Ekhoff proposed a new system where entry into residence halls would require students to swipe an MU student identification card at all hours of the day. The current situation requires students to swipe their identification card after 11 p.m. and allows them entry into their residence hall only. Barker and Ekhoff's proposal would continue this system but would require students to have an identification card 24 hours a day.

Kelley and Johnson said this suggestion wouldn't help with safety.

"People can just follow other students in the door," Johnson said, citing an experience she had her freshman year when a person broke into her residence hall room.

Kelley and Johnson suggested implementing cameras in residence halls, specifically in common areas and laundry rooms. They said this would help to decrease theft and increase personal security.

The slates presented distinct ideas to promote diversity on campus. Kelley and Johnson said they will work with the future Missouri College Advising Corps, a program that sends MU students to recruit from urban and rural schools across the state.

Barker and Ekhoff will create a minority mentorship program and give older students the opportunity to share advice and experiences with underclassmen, Ekhoff said.

Kelley and Johnson also discussed plans for communication in times where the safety of students is in danger. The slate advocated the use of mass text messaging and e-mails to notify students and their parents of issues that arise.