Editorial: Williams supported transparency, student advocacy

Williams tapped into the student body's opinions.

Published May 8, 2009

Senior Phyllis Williams does it all. She has participated in many organizations across campus, most notably as a senator and former academic affairs chairwoman for the Missouri Students Association.

When Williams ran for president last semester, she ran without a platform but instead on the idea that student leaders should be advocates for the students they represent. Williams said student leaders should help the student body's collective thoughts and ideas resonate at the highest levels of the administration.

Williams argued for issues that affect students such as gender inclusion, Faculty Council's reading day change and textbook transparency. If there has been a big issue on campus in the past couple of years, it's a safe bet Williams is connected in some manner, if only to voice her support.

Williams graduates this semester and has been selected as a corps member for Teach for America's 2009 class. She will be teaching middle school science in Kansas City.