Candidates debate diversity
Published Nov. 9, 2007
From the slates' opening statements, it was clear that the third and final Missouri Students Association election debate would concentrate on holding candidates accountable for their campaign promises.
The debate was sponsored by Four Front and The Maneater and focused on diversity and minority inclusion. Candidates were first given an opportunity to discuss their slate's platform and stances on key issues. Four Front Co-chairpersons Bria Scudder and Charlie Calvin and Maneater News Editor Jewels Phraner moderated the debate.
MSA Presidential candidate Dustin Barker and MSA Vice Presidential candidate Jessica Ekhoff outlined their plans for enhancing communication between MSA and the student body, their ideas for a Professor's Assessment Council and their diversity and minority recruitment initiatives.
MSA Presidential candidate Jim Kelley and MSA vice presidential candidate Chelsea Johnson used their opening statement time to discuss what they felt were flaws in the opposing slate's positions.
"I'm going to take a different approach," Kelley said. "Many of you have already heard me speak and are going to get the opportunity to hear about our platform tonight. I genuinely like both of these candidates as people — they're very nice — but we have some real problems with their ideas, starting with the Professor Assessment Council."
Kelley and Johnson cited a Senate bill that supported passing the MoCAT Early Feedback program as a key component of their disagreement with the creation of a Professor Assessment Council. Ekhoff and Barker said they felt their proposal of a Professor Assessment Council suited different student needs than the bill.
When asked about experiences that have enhanced their abilities to improve minority recruitment and retention, Barker and Ekhoff cited their extensive diversity training with Summer Welcome.
Kelley and Johnson attended last year's diversity summit, a workshop sponsored by the Chancellor's Diversity Initiative, and made visits to campus minority groups, including Four Front. Kelley and Johnson were also co-authors of the diversity bill, which created the diversity fee that allocates student funds to campus minority organizations.
The panel also asked the slates how they would address racism at Greek parties.
Barker and Ekhoff said increased diversity awareness across campus would combat the problem. They said they felt diversity speakers and events would increase unity on campus and decrease problems such as racism at Greek parties.
Kelley and Johnson said they felt New Greek Education meetings provided the opportunity to target racism.
Members of Triangle Coalition, one of the organizations represented by Four Front, asked questions about what measures the slates would take to ensure the comfort and safety of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students on campus.
Before the debate, neither slate had stated their plans to assist the LGBT community.
The Legion of Black Collegians Executive Board member Jennifer Claxton also asserted that either slate had not contacted LBC'S executive board, Both slates apologized for their lack of correspondence.
The panel also asked Kelley and Johnson about their plan to expedite the installation of security cameras in all residence halls.
The slate acknowledged the "extremely ambitious" project would cost about $500,000. The funding could come from increased room rates, the slate said.
The candidates said they hope to promote and advertise the campaign to garner financial support.
"As student leaders, we have to lead a campaign and emphasize the importance of this issue for safety and security," Kelley said.
Kelley said the more affordable residence halls should benefit from the same security measures as the newer, more expensive residence halls.
"As they're revamping these dorms, then we're going to make sure that we work with Residential Life, that it needs to be a priority that we put them in all residence halls," he said.
The panel asked the candidates where MSA should stand in comparison to LBC and the Residence Halls Association. Both slates agreed that there should be no hierarchy between the three student governments.
Barker said he thinks many people view MSA as the flagship student government. "People probably see it as predominant, and I don't think they should," he said.
Barker and Ekhoff said they hope to hold joint meetings of MSA, LBC and RHA.
Kelley and Johnson also acknowledged the hierarchy between MSA, LBC and RHA.
"To deny that there is a hierarchy would be absolutely ridiculous," Kelley said. "It's certainly a reality, and it sucks. It's up to us as student leaders to get on the same page."
Like the other candidates, Kelley and Johnson plan to hold joint meetings of the three groups. Kelley said MSA should, if necessary, pass resolutions to make the joint meetings a reality.
