Student governments reschedule joint session for next semester
The organizations ran into scheduling conflicts.
Published May 4, 2010
Because of scheduling problems, the four major student governments will not hold a joint session this semester.
In fall 2007, the Legion of Black Collegians, Missouri Students Association and Residence Halls Association met in a joint session for the first time in their 39-year co-existence. Last year, the groups extended the meeting to the Graduate Professional Council and met both semesters.
The groups switch the responsibility of planning the event each semester; this semester, it was LBC's job. But after trying to reserve a room large enough for all members, scheduling became an issue.
"It's just the logistics of getting everything done and transitioning to new leaders," LBC President Lisa White said.
The Student Unions recently changed its room reservation process to an online form on a case-by-case basis, but that wasn't the case last semester. Then, student organizations couldn't reserve rooms for the following semester until finals week. But there are only a few rooms that can hold such a large group, and those often fill up quickly.
At these meetings, issues of interest to all the groups are typically discussed, such as renaming buildings or underage drinking. They can often serve as a symbolic way to show unified support for certain issues.
"It gives it that last little bit of momentum to get the ball rolling," MSA President Tim Noce said. "I also think the biggest benefit is that it gets everybody in the room so you can put a face to a name."
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Cathy Scroggs agreed joint resolutions can sometimes carry more weight.
"It's something we'll tend to and consider," she said. "That certainly lets you know the undergraduate and graduate and residence hall students all agree. It gives us a sense of how students feel."
Even though the meetings present benefits, some students believe they aren't being utilized as well as they could. Both White and RHA President Rachael Feuerborn said their organizations didn't have many pressing issues going into any meeting that would have occurred this semester.
"Within our organization, we haven't used joint sessions to their full capabilities," Feuerborn said. "Next year, I want to really focus on going in there with a purpose."
Noce said groups such as LBC and RHA, which don't represent all students, haven't had as much reason for the joint meetings.
"What I've realized is that for some organizations, especially if they're not doing anything campus-wide...unless there's really pertinent issues, they don't have as much initiative to have joint meetings," he said.
White said the joint session would be rescheduled for the fall semester, though she doesn't know whether it will still be LBC's responsibility to plan it or if it will be a joint venture. The student leaders all acknowledged, in separate interviews, that they want to plan ahead and communicate better.
"I'm going to have to take that initiative to work with their presidents," Noce said. "If meetings like this aren't happening, you can blame it on whoever you want, but the fact of the matter is that it's everybody's responsibility."