Editorial:

Voting student curator would prove invaluable

Students can provide more than the state government seems to think.

Published March 5, 2009

The Missouri Senate voted overwhelmingly against an amendment that would allow for a voting student curator on the UM system Board of Curators this week. And once again, we're disappointed -- especially considering members of Associated Students of the University of Missouri who met with senators were told the amendment would pass. It's hard to see such a strong vote come out against the student curator when a year ago the only thing that stopped it was then-Gov. Matt Blunt's veto.

We want to see the House propose a amendment similar to the one in the Senate and to pass it -- like they did the bill less than a year ago.

And if a new bill for the student curator could gain some momentum, and dare we say perspective, we'd like the members of the Missouri General Assembly to spend less time listening to the lobbying of the Board of Curators and more time analyzing the benefits a student could bring to a board composed of out-of-touch, 30 years post-college, friends of the governor. The Board of Curators opposed the senate bill for a number of reasons, one of which being it would create a "biased constituent." But consider that a student would be a representative from the body that funds 48 percent of the UM system's operating budget. Not to mention a much different, and a much more vested interest in the issues that impact the student body every day -- that's not so much biased as necessary.

The curators also believe the learning curve is too steep for a student -- but considering a student understands the day to day life on a university and the issues that readily impact it their learning curve probably wouldn't be nearly as steep as the one the curators have yet to overcome.

It's time that the elected officials remember why the student curator bill almost passed last year and realize the opportunity the recent election allows for getting the bill past the governor's desk.

It's important, with the vote against a student curator in the Senate, that the Missouri House gets the momentum going behind this important issue. And we know momentum can be gained and it can be accomplished -- we saw that last year.