Josiah Mendoza and Molly Miller of the “Show Me Mizzou” campaign, one of the two slates running for Missouri Students Association president and vice president positions this month, sat down this weekend to discuss their ambitions to create a culture within and outside of MSA where all students feel respected and encouraged to interact with others regardless of their differences.
- Currently you are a member of Greek Life. How do you intend to represent both non-Greek and Greek students in your tenure?
Molly Miller: “We aren’t just focusing on that student-to-student connection between non-Greek students and Greek students … There are lots of students that aren’t going to be represented in either of us that we still want to make sure that we’re communicating with, supporting and representing.”
Josiah Mendoza: “Our platform points … are not centered around Greek Life. They are principled in that they can be applicable to all students, no matter their background or their status on campus or what they’re involved with.”
MM: “When we are choosing — if we should win — our executive cabinet, we really want to make sure that we’re pulling from a wide range of experiences on campus. If we only have Poli Sci [political science] majors or a certain demographic of students in … our cabinet, the Senate cabinet, the judiciary branch — it’s not really representing the students.”
- There have been multiple discussions surrounding Greek Life hazing culture after the near-fatal hazing of freshman Daniel Santulli in October. Do you believe Greek Life reform is necessary, given the circumstances? If not, why? If so, what specific reforms would you put in place as president and vice president of MSA?
JM: “There is … a committee on student conduct. Whenever an IFC [Interfraternity Council] chapter is put under sanction — or they are being accused of an alleged event, incident, occurrence, whatever it may be — they are allowed to reject or appeal, and then if they reject, they can testify before this committee. This is a good way for us to get more student input … on issues that are directly pertaining to the actions of Greek students. And it’s not so much that we have to reform what already exists, but instead, we need to make it known what already exists to prevent these things from happening in the first place.”
- Where does your slate think Greek and non-Greek students can find common ground during your proposed integration process? Service projects? Homecoming coordination?
JM: “We can find common ground with students by presenting and trying to solve issues that are simply naturally applicable to all students. But additionally, when it comes to the integration experience, … if we have that pride of being a Tiger, … it’s much easier to communicate with students.”
MM: “[We] recognize that this is a lofty goal and that it’s not a one-year process by any means. We understand that students don’t feel like MSA is necessarily a safe space, or they feel that they’ve been disrespected or not listened to. And so that’s something that’s really important to us because right now — there’s a lot of students on campus that don’t want to interact with us. I think that’s also something that hopefully, eventually, through generations of students, we can rebuild [MSA] as a space where there is that unification. But again, that’s probably not going to happen in one year.”
- How will you work with student populations that may be hesitant about student integration, particularly those with biases against Greek Life/other political/identity groups’ reputation? How will you combat any misconceptions and concerns out there?
JM: “I can speak from firsthand experience, having led an organization on campus [Mizzou College Republicans]. I will always work with people on the other side, and that’s a heartfelt thing for me, even before I had the intention of running with Molly [who is a legislative intern to Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo.]. So there’s an assurance on my behalf that no matter your political stance … there’ll be no discrepancy in terms of Molly’s and I’s ability to work with people.”
MM: “I also have found since I’ve been in D.C. … I can kind of see what happens when you attack people or you decide that you don’t want to associate because they’re different from you and … your political stances. You’re not going to get as much out of your experience.”
Analysis:
Mendoza and Miller recognize that unification is not a simple process, not only demonstrating the depth of the issue but the grounded, tangible nature of the campaign.
Mendoza and Miller hope to unify students by representing them all equally. For Mendoza and Miller, unification means that students are unafraid to engage in robust discussion with each other, even when they disagree.
Mendoza highlighted the slate’s commitment to nonpartisanship. Mendoza recently stepped down as president of Mizzou College Republicans, and Miller is currently working in Washington, D.C., as an intern for Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo. Their opposing political viewpoints, Mendoza said, demonstrate the slate’s willingness to work with and communicate with all students, regardless of background.
Miller optimistically shared her goals to set a precedent to “rebuild” MSA as a unified space, a goal that would outlast her term as vice president if elected. Miller, however, is also tuned into the issues students have with MSA currently and hopes to change student perception of MSA as vice president.
Mendoza highlighted the student body’s joint identity as Tigers. Mendoza and Miller’s hope to reunify the student body and MSA reinforces one of the core ideas pushing their campaign: that all students can work together, regardless of identity or ideology.
Use this link to submit questions for the candidates to answer at the debate: https://forms.gle/ot2inTXzRbb2aBFMA
Edited by Emmet Jamieson | ejamieson@themaneater.com
