The Missouri Students Association passed a bill on Oct. 7 calling for measures to ensure student safety in downtown Columbia, as well as addressing some of the statements a majority of senators deemed harmful in an email sent out by UM System President Mun Choi on Sept. 28.
The bill, Senate Bill 65-05, passed with 16 yes votes, two no votes and two abstentions following an impassioned session of deliberation where more senators suggested amendments and alterations than with any other resolution considered by the legislative body that night.
The content of the resolution includes a statement mourning the “loss experienced by the Stephens College community due to the passing of Aiyanna Williams.” MSA is developing a Campus Safety Initiative aimed at making tangible changes to address safety downtown. The objectives of this initiative include: ensuring student representation in local policy surrounding safety, ensuring access to the Uber STRIPES Safe Ride Program, self-defense training, addressing systemic issues related to gun violence through educational resources and reintroducing the Safe Mizzou Coalition.
This bill also responds directly to the email sent out by Choi, requesting inclusion of “student perspectives,” measures that promote “equity and fairness to all” and clarity regarding statements made in the email, such as “Elimination of policies and practices that attract criminals to the region.” Much deliberation went into perfecting the language of the bill, as senators attempted to strike a balance between a principled critique of what they viewed as harmful statements and a more pragmatic approach.
Speaker of the Senate and sponsor of the bill, Maggie Funston, expanded on the claim of harmful rhetoric, asking that the University of Missouri not dehumanize individuals that are a part of the community and instead focus on creating a safe downtown community.
Edited by Maggie Lebeau | [email protected]
Copy edited by Drew Johnson and Emma Harper | [email protected]
Edited by Chase Pray | [email protected]
