*This story is part of our 2010-11 Mizzou in Review series.*
At his elementary school, only fifth graders could participate in student government. The fact that Josh Travis was a third grader didn’t stop him from joining. From the beginning, Travis, now a junior, was looking to make a difference in the lives of others, and he found the perfect avenue for that goal within the Missouri Students Association.
Travis joined MSA as a freshman with little knowledge of the organization after counselors suggested the idea to him. After joining MSA, the organization became more than just an organization for Travis.
“I identified with MSA,” Travis said.
Controversy aside, during his campaign for the MSA presidency in fall 2010, Travis made expanding student government’s visibility his No. 1 goal. And, although the number of voters fell well short of the 10,000-vote goal Travis and his running mate, Michelle Horan, had set, the slate brought a flock of highly-passionate voters to the election. Travis also set the bar for future platforms and online presence, crafting a detailed agenda and well-made website.
During his sophomore year at MU, well before running unsuccessfully for the MSA presidency, Travis placed his efforts into an idea that was to cause controversy during his election campaign in fall 2010: creating the Office of the Inspector General.
“The IG Office was designed to address how student government was working,” Travis said.
Although Travis concedes the office created some unnecessary conflict, the creation of the IG Office was his way of contributing change to better the organization.
“The Office gave MSA quality feedback and a lot of valuable information about the organization,” Travis said.
Not only was Travis looking toward change within an organization that he identifies with, he was looking towards change and improvement of campus safety, which resulted in Tiger Watch.
Tiger Watch was a program created by Travis that intended to place volunteer campus patrollers on the ground during certain hours of the night on weekends. After an unsuccessful semester long trial run, the program fell off of the radar and lost funding from MSA.
The project has drawn criticism but it stems from Travis’ deep concern for campus safety.
“Every time I get a clery release I can’t help but think I’ve failed,” Travis said. “I can’t help but think there was something I could have done.”
Travis acknowledges the project’s flaws.
“We’re doing our research and re-planning,” Travis said. “We’re looking to see how our sister programs at the University of Arkansas and Washington University in St. Louis work.”
Travis is taking the initiative to explore different avenues with the Tiger Watch program and hopes to bring it back on campus next year.
Not only does Travis exude his concern for safety on campus, he extends his passion for safety to the Columbia community through a volunteer firefighter position with the Boone County Fire Protection District.
“I was talked into the position by (firefighter and student) Andrew Worrall,” Travis said. “He said, ‘Hey do this. You’d enjoy it.’”
After training in a three-month academy program, receiving certification to meet state and national standards, and going through EMT training, Travis said Worrall’s prediction was right on.
“Josh is the kind of guy who genuinely cares about every human being,” Worrall said in an email. “His heart is big, and his passion to help is bigger. He isn’t one to hesitate to help a friend or stranger alike. Sometimes you get a gut feeling that something is right, and I got that feeling when we talked about firefighting.”
Through his volunteer firefighter position, Travis is constantly giving back to the community. Travis participates in a public education information team with Worrall teaching different safety topics to fourth graders.
“Firefighter Travis is a guy willing to help however he can,” Worrall said. “We’re not assigned to the same station, but he won’t hesitate to discuss any part of firefighting with new recruit firefighters, and I’ve had the privilege to work with him in a program called Survival Kids at Rockbridge Elementary School, teaching fourth graders about safety.”
Although Travis is still interested in his volunteer firefighter position, as a soon-to-be MU senior he has also taken steps toward his post-graduate life.
“What I’m really looking forward to is working with highway patrol,” Travis said. “I’ve been waiting to apply for highway patrol since my junior year of high school.”
Travis, a recent highway patrol applicant, is one step closer to his goal.
“I’m just excited to be in the application process,” he said
If all course work and the application process are completed, Travis’ future of advocating change and safety in a highway patrol position will be upon him April 2, 2012.
“I just want to be involved,” Travis said. “The rest is history.”