Missouri Students Association committees have improved their records for sending liaisons to meet with campus organizations.

Efforts to meet the bylaw requirements began during the 2010-11 school year, according to a previous [Maneater article](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2010/9/24/msa-committees-work-meet-liasion-bylaw-requirement/).

Eric Woods, who ended his term as MSA president last semester, said liaison requirements were being met.

“I did check in with a lot of the committees, and they did have liaisons,” he said.

Each senate committee is required to meet certain liaison appointments, according to the MSA bylaws. The committees are expected to meet with campus organizations specific to their jurisdiction.

“The liaisons are important because they allow us to see what the different groups on campus need from us and how we can assist them,” Woods said.

The Academic Affairs Committee is not fulfilling its liaison requirements.

“One of the things that Academic Affairs has not been doing is meeting with individual student councils,” MSA Senate Speaker Jake Sloan said.

According to chapter 2.64 section C of the MSA bylaws, the Academic Affairs Committee must appoint members of the committee to liaison with six different areas of the university including the Vice-Provost of undergraduate studies, Faculty Council, the Committee on Undergraduate Education and academic student councils.

Although the committee is not fulfilling the bylaws requirements, Academic Affairs chairman Ben Levin said it is improving.

“I’ve been attending Faculty Council meetings this entire school year,” Levin said.

Academic Affairs is expected to meet with the Faculty Council, Staff Council, the Provost’s office and the various academic student councils.

Sloan said he does not believe all of the requirements are being met.

“One of the things that Academic Affairs has not been doing is meeting with individual student councils,” he said.

Levin said though the bylaws state that his committee is expected to meet with many academic organizations, they also leave room for interpretation.

“The way that I interpret the bylaws is it’s not necessary for me to go to those meetings more than I see necessary,” Levin said. “The purpose of the liaison is to offer support to various organizations and vice-versa. If we need the help of Faculty Council and Staff Council or the student councils, I don’t think we would have any trouble there.”

According to chapter 2.64 section 2a of the bylaws, the members appointed to liaise are required to attend only meetings that are appropriate to the schedule of the councils and necessary to accomplish the charge of the appointment.

Levin has been the main liaison for Academic Affairs this school year, but said he plans to appoint a new liaison very soon.

According to chapter 2.64 section C of the bylaws, the Academic Affairs Committee needs at least seven appointed liaisons.

Sloan said appointing the amount of liaisons the bylaws call for is not always possible.

“It depends on which situation it is,” he said.

Sloan also said Academic Affairs does not have enough members to meet the specific delegate requirements for liaisons.

Academic Affairs has about six active members, Levin said.

Sloan said having liaisons is important.

“We’re not the only organization on campus that represent students,” he said. “It’s important that we collaborate with those other organizations.”