MSA inaugurates Noce, Bellis

Noce asked constituents to watch him as he 'does what's right.'

By Kaylen Ralph

Published Feb. 2, 2010

The Missouri Students Association inaugurated President Tim Noce and Vice President Danielle Bellis at a ceremony Friday in Reynolds Alumni Center.

The ceremony, which lasted approximately two hours, included addresses by the entire executive board, a dinner by Campus Dining Services and remarks by Chancellor Brady Deaton.

"I congratulate you on your victory and the qualities you have that led your student body to support you," Deaton said.

Deaton said Noce and the new board were custodians of what students see themselves as being and commended the contributions Noce has already made regarding the strategic planning process for MU.

New Chief of Staff Xavier Billingsley said planning the event was something he enjoyed. He said it wasn't that large of an undertaking thanks to pre-planning on behalf of the previous MSA executive administration.

"The administration before you pretty much plans for you, and you just add the finishing touches," Billingsley said. "I think it went great, and I like that helping to plan events is part of my job. Seeing Tim's parents there with him smiling and Danielle's parents too, that was nice."

The administration of Jordan Paul, former MSA president and columnist for The Maneater, reserved Reynolds Alumni Center last year in order to ensure the next administration would have a place to conduct the event. The event is accounted for in the MSA budget and was allotted $2,000. About 70 guests were in attendance out of the approximately 115 who were invited.

Noce and Bellis already reserved Memorial Union's Stotler Lounge for next year's ceremony, which Bellis said should amount to about half the cost.

Former Operations Chairman Josh Travis served as master of ceremonies for the event, and Supreme Court Chief Justice Eric Woods inaugurated Noce and Bellis, who had already been officially inaugurated at the full Senate meeting Jan. 27.

Upon inauguration, Bellis thanked Noce in her address to the crowd.

"Tim is the one that stands behind me and pushes me," Bellis said. "This is something I truly want to do, and I couldn't do it without him."

In his introduction of Noce, Travis described him as someone uniquely inspired by the call of service.

Noce focused his remarks around the idea of doing the “right thing.” He asked those in attendance to watch him as he conducted his duties to make sure he was always doing what is best.

"You have to be the person who does what's right and do what's right for the student body, even if it may not seem right at the time," Noce said. "In the next year as you guys watch me do what I do, please watch where I'm going and make sure I'm doing the right thing."

Noce also reflected on his time in MSA and his process of working his way up to the position of president.

"How did I get into this position?" Noce said. "Why am I here? And I realized because it's the right thing."