KCOU tower funding vote fails

Many senators cited a lack of information on the issue.

By Amber Wade

Published Oct. 15, 2008

The Missouri Students Association Senate rejected a bill to allocate funds for a new KCOU/88.1 FM tower Wednesday night. The bill needed a three-fifths majority to pass, but the body voted 13-13 with two senators abstaining.

MSA Senator Josh Travis presented the bill to the Senate with the intention of holding it for a future session, but the bill was called to a vote.

During the meeting, many senators expressed a desire to have more time to learn about the topic before bringing it up to vote.

The bill presented in the Senate meeting was a revision of the original bill. New amendments include a requirement that KCOU leaders report every other week to MSA and a reduction of 5 percent of the station’s budget next year if it fails to follow through on the yearly business plan.

The bill also acknowledged KCOU’s fundraising last week by deducting the amount earned from the cost of the $30,000 tower. KCOU earned $187.76 during a rally at Speaker’s Circle last week.

Many members of the Senate were more concerned about the station’s move to the new student center, which was initially estimated at $168,000, rather than the cost of the tower. MSA Senator Phyllis Williams said that number is incorrect and misleading.

Travis said he might resubmit the bill, but he wasn’t sure if the language would change before then.