Column:

MU: then and now

By Erica Zucco

Published Sept. 25, 2009

I didn't go to MU in 1996. But in a way, I wish I would have.

I was bored this morning, so I went back and read the earliest editorials, columns and letters to the editor The Maneater had on its Web site. They were from fall 1996, and their subject matter was eerily familiar to what you'll see in the paper now.

Columns urging students to do all they can to prevent rape on campus. Letters defending the Greek community for a vitriolic column written the week before. The Maneater editorial board chastising the Missouri Students Association for not doing enough to represent students. Comments on a "KCOU controversy." Complaints about athletics ticketing.

Anything sound familiar? Students now care about a lot of the same issues students cared about 13 years ago. Safety, representation, student radio, football/basketball games. But if you judge history versus the present based on these pieces of writing, you'll see two key differences, one good and one bad.

The good news first: In these letters, printed only a little more than a decade ago, you'll see a lot of comments that probably wouldn't be given the dignity of print space at all today. There's a letter defending a fraternity against allegations of sexual assault happening in the house that uses the defense that the house members weren't "man enough" to do it. There are articles and letters that haven't been fact-checked and a story written about a student's death that was sensationalistic to say the least.

It's naïve to say over the years we've erased racism, sexism, hetero-normativity and rumor-mongering from campus, but I do think if you read the letters through from 1996 to now, you'll see a progression.

But here's the bad news. Whether it's because students, faculty and administrators are losing faith in The Maneater as a possible vehicle of change, because more upset parties are posting notes on Facebook or blog posts instead of sending in letters to the editor or because people just don't know they have the option, letters aren't nearly as common — and those that are written are often just PR-style pitches for events or groups. Students don't seem to care as much anymore. And even if they do, they aren't using a bulletin board that was meant to share their voices across campus.

There are a lot of organizations, activities and groups across campus that work to promote unity of all students on campus. And they're doing a good job. But part of having pride for our university is about working to make things even better.

Maybe things are perfect now and that's why there are fewer student letters and the editorials aren't as biting or watchdog-inspired. But The Maneater — the student voice of MU since 1955 — only has teeth if we use it to make a difference.

If you have a problem with the way things are being handled — on an administrative level or in MSA or in your Greek chapter or residence hall, you should definitely move for change, but you should also share your concerns with the student body and call for change. When you do that we create a culture of open discussion and of discourse rather than just closed meetings.

When you do that, people that look back 13 years from now can see how students cared and how they fixed things. When you do that, you're using a free resource — your student newspaper — to get the word out and make a difference.