Kelley prepares for office

By Anna Koeppel

Published Jan. 25, 2008

Missouri Students Association President-elect Jim Kelley and Vice President-elect Chelsea Johnson will be sworn into their new offices next week, but they are already working on issues new and old.

The two conducted interviews today and Thursday to find heads for MSA's three executive departments, the Department of Student Communications, the Department of Student Activities and the Department of Student Services. They plan to make announcements regarding their selections Sunday, Kelley said.

Kelley and Johnson will continue work outgoing MSA President Rachel Anderson began in order to install a crosswalk across College Avenue at University Avenue and an indicator for crossing pedestrians.

"I'd like to get that done this semester, while Rachel's still here, so she can see that come to fruition," Kelley said.

Kelley said he will work to advance the movement to give the student representative to the board of curators a vote.

"That's a tough issue, and that's always going to be an issue for students," Kelley said.

Kelley said he supports a roll-call vote for the student representative.

Anderson invited Kelley and former MSA presidential candidate Dusty Barker to go with her to the University of Kansas to learn about the student legal services available there.

Upon Kelley's victory, he and Anderson began meeting, she said. Kelley said Anderson has helped him adjust to his new position.

"She was very frank with the places she didn't do so well and places she would have like to done better and gave me advice on how I might be able to do those things better too," Kelley said.

Anderson said the transfer of power requires a transition period.

"It's an ongoing process," Anderson said. "It doesn't end tomorrow, or in two weeks. If something he needs help with comes up, I'm here and I'm happy to help."

Anderson said she will continue to work on issues such as the formation of the Missouri Higher Education consortium, a collaboration of student leaders from Missouri's 13 public colleges and universities.