TRIGGER WARNING: Mentions of sexual assault
As the fall semester begins, The Maneater reflects on five highlights from its previous year of coverage. To read the original articles, reference the links attached to each headline below.
Students protest in wake of MU communication of sexual assault and predatory drugs in Columbia
Following a surge of drugging-related crimes in the community last September, MU alert notifications were sent to students concerning several instances of sexual assault perpetrated by criminals using a drug commonly referred to as “roofies” to subdue their victims. MU student organization Stronger Together Against Relationship and Sexual Violence coordinated a protest in response to these druggings in late September.
While a main objective of the protest was to express support for individuals who were drugged, protestors expressed anger at MU’s response to the crimes and the language used in its communication, which they said minimized the gravity of the crimes and shifted blame to the victims.
Following freshman alcohol poisoning hospitalization, MU halts all fraternity events and withdraws recognition of FIJI
On the morning of Oct. 20, 2021, freshman Daniel Santulli was taken to University Hospital. Staff rushed to resuscitate Santulli, who was not breathing and was in cardiac arrest.
His blood-alcohol content was 0.486 — well into the most severe level of intoxication and over five times the legal limit. According to MU Health Care, a BAC of 0.45 or above is often fatal due to heart and respiratory failure.
Santulli was a pledge at the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, also known as FIJI, and had participated in a “Pledge Dad Reveal” at the house on the night of Oct. 19.
In response to the hazing crime, MU withdrew recognition of Chi Mu, Phi Gamma Delta’s former MU chapter. MU wrote in a news release that the MU Police Department and Office of Student Accountability & Support launched multiple investigations following the incident.
Santulli’s case is not an isolated incident. The Columbia Missourian reported Chi Mu shut down after violating MU’s hazing policy in 2008 and received another hazing violation in April 2021, just before Santulli entered MU.
NextGen building opening “represents hope”
On Oct. 19 the Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health Building officially opened. The building, named after U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., was built as a health research and innovation hub.
NextGen plans to achieve its goals of personalized medicine, eliminating health care disparities, and transforming community health by partnering with government agencies and uniting the University of Missouri System’s four public research universities.
Coinciding with the grand opening, The Coalition of Graduate Workers organized a demonstration across from the NextGen building. The group of over two dozen MU graduate workers protested against the mask mandate removal on campus.
During the NextGen’s opening celebration, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe emphasized in his speech how the building will enrich the lives of Missourians.
“The real return on investment [in this building] is not the money — it’s about Missourians,” Kehoe said. “It’s about what this facility will offer that they never ever have had access to. It’s not only urban health, it’s rural health. It’s people that need access to help.”
Josiah Mendoza and Molly Miller of ‘Show Me Mizzou’ win election for MSA president and vice president
Josiah Mendoza and Molly Miller, current president and vice president of the Missouri Students Association, were elected by MU students last March. The duo won 69% of the vote against their competitors, Samantha Hole and Daniel Daughtery.
Additionally, 76.7% of students approved a permanent $0.48 student fee to fund Associated Students of the University of Missouri.
Mendoza and Miller’s campaign centered on increasing communication and strengthening the relationship between MU administration and the student body. The duo also plans to expand mental health, diversity, equality and inclusion resources for students.
Community members hold protest at Boone County Courthouse following Roe v. Wade leak
In response to the leaked Supreme Court majority opinion on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in May, abortion-rights protestors turned out at the Boone County Courthouse.
The rally was one of the many nationwide “Bans Off Our Bodies” protests organized.
Several political candidates attended, including Chimene Schwach, a longtime abortion rights organizer running for the 47th District seat in the Missouri House of Representatives. Schwach said overturning the Roe v. Wade decision would set a precedent for removing further civil rights protections, including same-sex marriage.
“It is all intersectional,” Schwach said. “Our civil rights are human rights, and when they come for one of us, they’re going to come for all of us.”
Missouri legislation prompts rally in support of transgender rights
On April 26th, a crowd of about 50 students amassed at Speakers Circle in support of transgender rights. Oasis and the Mizzou Young Democratic Socialists of America, two MU student organizations, planned the demonstration to protest Senate Bill 843 and House Bill 2649, also known as the Missouri Save Adolescents from Experimentation, or SAFE, Act.
“These bills affect the trans youth of Columbia and the state of Missouri, and we can’t stand to watch the rights of our trans peers be torn away by these bills,” said Oasis and the Mizzou Young Democratic Socialists of America.
The bills both prohibit health care providers from performing gender-affirming care to transgender minors. Furthermore, Senate Bill 843 would limit minor’s access to health insurance for transition procedures and House Bill 2649 would restrict health insurance coverage regardless of age.
Protest organizers urged attendees to contact Missouri government officials. Organizers distributed handouts with names and contacts of the officials.
“Don’t go invisible after this,” May Hall, the incoming president of Oasis and speaker at the protest, said. “We’re continuing to be visible on campus. We refuse to back down.”
Edited by Piper Mollins | pmollins@themaneater.com
Copy Chief — Jacob Richey | jrichey@themaneater.com