ASUM board is back in action after talks
Feb. 27, 2007
The Associated Students of the University of Missouri held a summit this past weekend to reconcile the board of directors' role in the organization. Curt Coonrod, UM-St. Louis vice provost for student affairs, called the summit.
Members of the Intercampus Student Council (ISC), which includes student body presidents as well as the student representative to the UM system Board of Curators, were also present, though some questioned the effectiveness of their participation.
"None of the students thought the meeting was going anywhere," said ASUM chairwoman Ashley Warren.
Warren said after ISC left, the board members were finally able to cooperate.
ASUM's Legislative Director Megan Block said the summit was called to examine the implications of the changing role of the board of directors.
"As the organization evolves it needs to consider what its role is or how best to serve the students," Block said. "With that evolution, any ineffectiveness or inefficiency comes to light. The summit was really to evaluate how the board could be more effective or efficient."
As the legislative director, Block works with the intern team in Jefferson City.
Warren explained the role of the board with regard to lobbying.
"The board is the link between the students and the intern team," she said. "Without the board there wouldn't be that link."
Warren said last semester was spent collecting student input and this semester the team is putting that into action by lobbying.
"The intern team really has made tremendous progress," Warren said.
The legislative team is working on a bill that would give a vote to the student representative to the Board of Curators.
Warren said though the legislation has faced opposition in previous years, she is confident that it will eventually pass.
Former board member Ben DeClue said there has been confusion about the board's role.
He said after Mary Anne McCollum, who was executive director of ASUM for roughly 20 years, stepped down, things began to change in the organization.
Budget cuts have forced the UM system to eliminate the executive director position. DeClue said McCollum provided a lot of direction for the organization.
DeClue said there was no push to hire a new executive director but rather, "the push is to wake up from the coma."
"They can't even think about hiring anybody," he said.
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