TW: This column mentions sexual assault.
The Missouri Students Association may seem like it has power, but we as a student body need to recognize the difference between our wildest dreams and those that may come to fruition. While the “Maximize Mizzou” and “Show Me Mizzou” election campaigns have relevant goals, how can student voters trust either slate to fulfill their promises?
In their pillars, both campaigns present nearly the same surface values — mainly communication with administrators, student resources and safety measures. These three terms are vague, and do not provide a clear definition of said issues for voters.
After all, it is unclear exactly how the teams might execute such general ideas. Neither platform presents concrete goals for success, and their resources as student politicians are limited.
“Maximize Mizzou” centers their idea of student safety around a mask mandate, open communication with police, managing MUPD alerts and working with student organizations to provide education about assault on marginalized groups.
Although well-intentioned, how would a mask mandate protect students who live off campus and commute every day? Fraternities will still host maskless parties, and students will frequently gather in apartments where germs are rampant.
Open communication with police is important, but where is the plan? Alerts and education are examples of nebulous attempts to relate to the student body. While the campaigns are understandably still finalizing their steps, students shouldn’t be expected to vote for such a distant and unforeseeable future.
However, “Show Me Mizzou” is not much different. Although they listed student resources as a pillar of their campaign, there are still too many questions unanswered. Working with the state government might sound like a plan to expand mental health services, but it is also too ambitious when most of us don’t know what expanding would entail.
Where much of the slates’ plans align, there are still a few areas where they provide unique perspectives — regardless, again, of whether or not it makes sense. Even the more specific ideas for both teams are still painfully vague.
Look no further than “Maximize Mizzou”’s stance on Greek Life integration with the larger student body. On the surface level, reforming isn’t a bad idea, and it’s logical to include non-Greek students in large-scale events like Homecoming. However, this is likely not feasible without major changes. Hazing and sexual assault are nearly synonymous with many of these organizations, and most people who are not involved in their activities would have little motivation to join on top of other extracurriculars, jobs and schoolwork.
In addition, there is a level of accountability required for taking leadership in a school with almost 31,000 students. Diverse identities require someone who can guide everyone, taking their wants and needs into account.
“Show Me Mizzou” told The Maneater it plans to stay apolitical, but how is this possible when our entire world is run by politics? Josiah Mendoza, its presidential candidate, has previously been the president of Mizzou College Republicans. While everyone has their political opinions, it is not likely that anyone involved so publicly on one side of the spectrum can make their campaign apolitical.
While these words have been harsh, they are in no way trying to demean either party’s effort at improving our school. Regardless of pressure, both groups are standing up at a time when everything is politically charged.
Perhaps some of my criticism stems from the fact that, as college students, we sometimes have relatively little power in the world. Reforming an institution as large as MU takes more than just ideas, and the level of planning to carry out some of these campaign promises will be great.
If either party can form a plan, stick to it and reach their goals, they would deserve immense praise.
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Edited by Sarah Rubinstein | srubinstein@themaneater.com