Column: How MSA changed my life

By Gwen Daniels
Nov. 10, 2008

Last year, the Missouri Students Association presidential election shaped my life.

I know it sounds melodramatic. A student government election can wield that much influence over an innocent freshman? Yes.

As a Maneater reporter, I was responsible for covering one slate. During the campaign, I prepared a brief issues story, outlining the slate's stance on safety, or textbook prices, for example, for each edition of the paper. I also reported on the presidential debates and the drama that surrounded the election.

My best friend Erica became my best friend during the election. She was covering the other slate, and we would meet at Starbucks for coffee - a double-shot on ice for Erica, an iced non-fat white chocolate mocha with a pump of pumpkin spice and an extra shot of espresso for me - to prepare for writing the news. (My coffee order is no longer that pretentious and obnoxious, thank you.)

I also made the most embarrassing style gaffe of my life, worse even than the time I wore navy pantyhose as a headband.

I wore a pair of flannel pajama pants, which were magenta with white stars, to the second MSA presidential debate. And, afterward, my editor sent me a reprimanding e-mail.

"I'm really sorry to have to write this, and I promise I really don't care, but some concerns were brought up to me about the way you were dressed at the debates," she wrote. "I'm all for casual, trust me...But if you could wear something other than pajama pants, that would be great."

I immediately reaffirmed my vow to never wear sweat pants in public. And, for weeks, I dressed up - almost always in a skirt and heels - to go into the newsroom.

But the MSA presidential election gave me even more than an eventual maid of honor status and a newfound appreciation for business casual.

As I covered the election, I fell in like with MSA. When my slate shared their plans with me, I felt encouraged and inspired by the innovative and creative ways they solved campus-wide problems. I was so excited by their energy, passion and willingness to seek help from student, faculty and staff leaders across campus and to explore multiple options and solutions.

And so I joined MSA.

As an MSA senator and committee chairwoman, I am continually energized by the tenacity and creativity of the MSA Senate. Last week, for example, the Senate passed 10 bills to promote fiscal responsibility by sharing tuition and fee information online and via e-mail, creating endowments for MSA auxiliaries and encouraging the MU administration to hire a sustainability coordinator, among other measures. (The senate also passed an 11th bill, this one to support the installation of security cameras in residence halls.)

Now, as this year's MSA presidential election is in full swing, I encourage you to get informed. Research the platforms of the three slates: Joe Fessehaye and Lindsey Abell; Jordan Paul and Colleen Hoffmann; and Phyllis Williams and Jonathan Snipes. The slates have developed novel responses to address problems they've identified at MU, all with the guidance of students.

In their platform, Fessehaye and Abell stress convenience, including myZou improvements and communication between MSA and the student body through KCOU/88.1 FM and MUTV/Channel 23.

Paul and Hoffman emphasize safety, sustainability and efficiency through initiatives such as increasing STRIPES funding, emergency phones in Greektown and tray-less dining.

Williams and Snipes have created an open, no-platform platform, promising not to necessitate policy initiatives but to instead advocate for and voice direct student concerns to the administration.

Be inspired by the candidates' innovation, energy, passion and willingness to seek help and to explore multiple angles.

And go vote!

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Column: How MSA changed my life

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