Chancellor leaves, breakfast goes on
Deaton had to leave student meeting early.
April 13, 2007
At an event scheduled to give MU Chancellor Brady Deaton an opportunity to listen to student leaders discuss their goals and efforts to improve the campus, the chancellor quickly departed after speaking.
The annual Associated Students of the University of Missouri Breakfast with the Chancellor gave students and Deaton the opportunity to share ideas and experiences from their respective organizations and the administration.
Due to a previously unscheduled obligation, Deaton had to leave the meeting early.
"That is unfortunate," Mark Buhrmester, ASUM programming and communications director. "But the chancellor is a busy man."
Buhrmester said he is going to try to make an effort to submit to the chancellor any comments from students at the breakfast.
Buhrmester said communication between student leaders and the administration could always improve, and that the chancellor having to leave early was one example of a possible lack of communication.
"We're trying to mitigate the effects of that," he said.
One reason Deaton was unable to stay and listen to students was the fact that he spoke first and ran a bit over schedule.
"He spoke a little bit longer than I was hoping he would," Buhrmester said. "But he brought up a lot of good discussion and had a chance to field questions from students."
Despite the absence of the chancellor in the second half of the meeting, students had time to share ideas and goals.
"As a whole, the breakfast was a success," Buhrmester said.
Deaton opened the meeting with discussion about his administration and the job of students.
"I value what you're doing very much and the opportunities you have taken to make the university more accessible," Deaton said to the student leaders.
Deaton spoke about the push to lower tuition and make higher education more available to students.
"You have placed an emphasis on higher education and reducing cost," he said. "We have created an environment of learning and our commitment is to lower this cost."
Deaton said ASUM has played a critical role in pushing toward a support system to make higher education more accessible.
Despite leaving early, Deaton expressed excitement about interacting with students.
"You're going that extra mile that contributes to what we're all doing in higher education," he said.
Deaton then spoke about certain accomplishments of MU, including Association of American Universities rankings and the National Science Foundation naming MU in the top 10 universities in the nation for integrating research into its undergraduate program.
After fielding questions about diversity and research funding, Deaton left and the student leaders began their discussion.
ASUM Executive Board Member Damon Ferlazzo discussed ASUM efforts to register students to vote and hold candidate forums to inform students about elections.
The organization also has planned lunches with local legislators, including Rep. Ed Robb, R-Columbia, and House Minority Leader Jeff Harris, D-Columbia.
Missouri Students Association president Rachel Anderson said MSA is attempting to increase communication between students and administratiors.
She also discussed the tuition task force and reducing textbook prices.
Other student leaders, including Residence Halls Association President Greg Davis and Graduate Professional Council President Mark Beard spoke.
"This is why your voice is so important to us," Deaton said. "We want to be the best university, and you can definitely help us do that."
ASUM has experienced budget problems and problems within its board of directors this year, but leaders were pleased they could still conduct the event.
"I'm really grateful we're still able to put this on even with the recent budget cuts ASUM has experienced," Buhrmester said.
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