ASUM outlines legislative agenda

The organization wants to reform Access Missouri and add a voting student curator.

By Hayley Solarz

Published Feb. 26, 2010

Although Gov. Jay Nixon's proposed tuition freeze is working its way through the Missouri House of Representatives, it needs help to pass. For students, that help comes in the form of the Associated Students of the University of Missouri.

ASUM is the student-run lobbying organization that pushes for student interests in the state legislature. It lobbies state representatives to garner support for a variety of bills that benefit the university and make the UM system's four campuses more accessible and affordable for its students.

Legislative Director Joe Karl oversees lobbying activities that go on at the capitol for ASUM. He said the group supports the tuition freeze proposed by Nixon because it is a tough financial year.

"We don't want to see (the budget fall) below the 5.2 percent," Karl said. "We don't want to see student's tuition rise more than it has to."

Under the proposed freeze, higher education funding would drop no more than 5 percent, if schools don't raise tuition rates for in-state students. The plan has to be approved by the Missouri House of Representatives.

In addition to its support for Nixon's spending freeze, ASUM places priority on several key pieces of legislation for 2010:

Access Missouri

Access Missouri is a need-based grant provided by the state. The grant supplies between $2,000 and $4,600 per year for those who attend private universities, and those who attend public universities are eligible for $1,000 to $2,150 per year.

ASUM is pushing legislation in hopes of equalizing the amount to $2,850 per year for students, regardless of whether they attend a public or private institution. Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, introduced the bill.

The changes in the funding for Access Missouri would not take place until the current freshman class graduates.

"Those currently in private school wouldn't be worse off," Karl said.

In 2009, Rep. Mary Still, D-Columbia, also co-sponsored legislation similar to Schaefer's bill, which passed out of the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday.

"ASUM represents the students excellently," she said. "They are down here lobbying a lot, they are professional, and I always appreciate their information."

Student Curator

The UM system Board of Curators is made up of nine members, one for each of Missouri's congressional districts. There is also a student representative on the board, but she does not have a vote. The curators decide, among other things, how the university system spends its money. Karl wants the student to have voting power.

"Students live on campus and work on campus," he said. "They are very close to the pulse of the university. They know the ins and outs of the university because they experience it everyday."

Rep. Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur, has introduced a bill to appoint a student as a voting member of the university's Board of Curators. In the face of the Board's open resistance to this measure, Karl argues for ASUM's push for student representation.

"Students pay for over half of all the operating funds of the university system," he said. "So we think that students should definitely have a say when it comes to making decisions for the university."

University Construction Bonds

Another major piece of legislation at the heart of ASUM's agenda is the bill Rep. Chris Kelly, D-Columbia, created to issue $700 million of bond money to fund university construction projects. Among those projects is the renovation of Lafferre Hall at MU.

Still said she supports her fellow Columbia Democrat's legislation.

"It would be financially irresponsible not to do this," she said. "Interest rates are the lowest in my lifetime, and the Obama administration gives us a 30 percent discount on these construction projects. This is the time to do it."

Working Together

Karl said Columbia's legislators have the best interests of the students in mind.

"We don't know what we'd do without them," he said.

Rep. Stephen Webber, D-Columbia, said throughout the year, he, along with other legislators, work with ASUM on several issues.

"At the beginning of the year, we go over all their priorities," he said. "We talk throughout the year, and I try to help them when I can in committee. I generally support every one of their priorities."

ASUM also works with Missouri Students Association, which originally created the organization.

"We have a great working relationship," MSA President Tim Noce said. "If they need a little push, MSA will most of the time work with them."