Letter to the Editor:
Fessehaye would be a positive force, not a conflict
Published Feb. 6, 2009
The Maneater editorial board (or the majority opinion thereof) doesn't seem to understand the structure of the Missouri Students Association, specifically, the executive branch. Apparently, the KCOU debacle of last fall has given them the impression that auxiliaries have some degree of autonomy. This isn't the case. Every last individual involved with an executive department (DSA, DSC, DSS), or ANY of the auxiliaries ultimately serves at the pleasure of the MSA President.
Between the MSA Constitution (and relevant bylaws) and the laws of the state of Missouri, I can terminate any of these individuals at any point, without cause. Notably, this is an extreme rarity. However, the point remains that, were Joe Fessehaye to suddenly forget his job description, he could be eliminated immediately. Additionally, The Maneater seems to think I would be utterly out of contact with the auxiliary heads if the "Second Chief of Staff" Act were to pass MSA Senate. That's simply not the case. For instance, I casually see the MUTV and STRIPES directors nearly every day. What's more, evidently I would not be able to recognize that Joe has nearly four year's worth of interest in KCOU, which may or may not come into play at some point during the course of my administration.
More to the point, The Maneater seems to have a problem with Joe Fessehaye. It's important to remember that Joe is no longer running for MSA president, which apparently continues to offend their sensibilities. He is interested in taking the knowledge he obtained while running for MSA President and transforming it into a positive force for improving communication and relations between MSA and its auxiliaries. Joe actively investigated MUTV during the problems with KCOU in an effort to better understand KCOU's sister auxiliary. Furthermore, Joe had several discussions with STRIPES leadership about how to increase its volunteer base and improve the overall functionality of the program. By no means has he limited himself to KCOU, and notably, these three (KCOU, MUTV, STRIPES -- the student managed auxiliaries) would be the focus of his energies.
Moreover, Joe is a great person. He is friendly and approachable. Auxiliaries that he may be unfamiliar with would be able to communicate with him at ease. Joe is never afraid to ask questions. If he doesn't understand something, or is simply unsure, he'll ask to make sure that he does his job right. Most importantly, however, Joe is passionate about ensuring that no auxiliary has to endure the painful experience that KCOU had to endure last fall. He won't let it happen again.
Personally, I don't think The Maneater gave Joe a fair assessment. Phyllis Williams informed me that a Maneater reporter contacted her to inquire about her opinion of Joe Fessehaye. However, after a "glowing" recommendation on the part of Williams, The Maneater conveniently decided not to incorporate her remarks into the pertinent article last issue, which may or may not be related to the ensuing editorial. Talk about a conflict of interest...
Jordan Paul
Missouri Students Association President
JordanPaul@mizzou.edu
