Editorial:

MSA should hold referendum concerning KCOU

Published Oct. 17, 2008

KCOU/88.1 FM's work to ensure the station's survival isn't over yet. The Missouri Students Association voted down the KCOU funding bill in the Senate on Wednesday, meaning that at this point, the money needed to construct a new tower still isn't in the station's hands.

KCOU's best bet at this point is to prompt MSA to go ahead with a student referendum on the issue. A referendum would gauge student support for KCOU, determining whether the radio station serves an important purpose and if it should continue operating on campus.

However, it's important to note that the referendum wouldn't necessarily mandate anything. Just because students support the continuation of KCOU doesn't mean MSA has to approve the station's funding request. But if students showed overwhelming interest for the station, it's likely that senators would be inclined to allocate the funds. MSA is meant to advocate for students, to address their demands and to protect their interests. So if students care about KCOU, MSA should make its survival a priority.

And though the results of a referendum can't be predicted, the support shown by students via the Internet and a Speaker's Circle protest and fundraising rally demonstrates that many students do care. Chances are good for KCOU. The station's leaders should advocate for a referendum, and after doing so should concentrate its efforts on ensuring students actually vote.

And while MSA is at it, it should include all other student auxiliaries on the ballot as well. This includes the Craft Studio, the Student Design Center, the MSA/Graduate Professional Council Box Office and MUTV/Channel 23, among others.  It would be interesting to see how much support and interest students actually have for these organizations and services. It would not only give MSA insight for future funding and organizational decisions regarding the auxiliaries, but would put into perspective how significant KCOU's on-campus influence is in relation to other entities.

We've editorialized before on this issue, pledging our support for the student-run station and advocating for MSA to grant KCOU funding, and we continue our support. But we also feel there's still work to be done on KCOU's part to ensure the process goes smoothly. KCOU needs to work with the Department of Residential Life to find out if they'll even be able to safely install the tower when students are living in the hall. If not, a new timeline will have to be constructed for the entire process. This communication needs to happen sooner rather than later to avoid more obstacles.

Funding is still within reach as long as KCOU takes the necessary steps to continue the process and enough students voice their support. Students should advocate keeping KCOU alive, and if they do, MSA should take that support to heart and approve the station's funding request.