Noce runs unopposed in MSA presidential race
The slate would like to increase communication between MSA and MU.
Published Oct. 16, 2009
For the first time in the recent history of the Missouri Students Association, the presidential race is uncontested.
MSA Student Communications Director Tim Noce and Chief of Staff Danielle Bellis are running for the positions unopposed and will become MSA president and vice president after the November elections.
Bellis said they make a good team because of the things they agree on, as well as the different perspectives they bring to the table regarding key issues.
"I think that something that would be healthy debate is that Tim is Greek and I'm non-Greek," Bellis said. "He can well represent the one in four students that are Greek and I identify with the 75 percent that are not affiliated with the Greek system. We're definitely in agreement for finding compromises with tailgating and we would like to do everything possible to lower student fees."
Running unopposed has presented Noce with the chance to change his campaigning into a more investigative learning period.
"It puts a new angle on it," Noce said. "To be honest I'm still trying to figure out how to go about something like this. I think that the best thing that it does is take some stress out of campaigning which opens up to me a new opportunity to really find out what students want. Without having to run a campaign we can actually figure out what people need."
MSA President Jordan Paul said running uncontested would provide Noce with advantages presidential candidates in years past have not had.
"In MSA elections there are certain organizations that you would naturally spend more time in," Paul said. "Since he does not have to do that, he can campaign to everyone that he will be working with next year. If he were running opposed he might not be able to do so. This whole concept is specific to him as a candidate. There are some people that would find out they were running unopposed and be complacent, thinking they don't have to reach out, that the battle is over."
Because of the danger of complacency, Paul said uncontested elections should not become the norm, but because Noce is using his campaigning time to go out and talk with more people and groups he would otherwise not be engaged with, this can be viewed as a positive.
Noce and Bellis have spoken about several projects they would like to work on during their term in MSA, and according to their news release, built their campaign upon the idea of improving communication lines between MSA and MU.
Another area they feel this can be applied to is in the area of technology.
"There's a huge carryover of the IT fee that some of the extra resources could go towards taking care of WiFi dead spots," Noce said. "There are a lot of things that could be improved upon instead of starting new projects. There's always room for renovation but I think what's important is setting a solid foundation for the stuff we do have."
Additionally, Noce would like to improve relations between Greek Life and MSA. Noce, who is a member of Lambda Chi Alpha, served as the liaison between and Interfraternity Council and MSA for a short term.
"Improving relations between Greek Life and MSA is something I've always been interested in," Noce said.
