To the editor,
Mizzou deserves better. Students deserve better. We deserve better. The Missouri Students Association failed last week. They failed to uphold ethical standards, they failed to build on the failures of a disheveled administration and failed to put the focus squarely on the students. First, let me say this: the way in which Haden Gomez and Chris Hanner were put on public trial makes us no better than them. Our job as student leaders ought be to rise above sensationalism and focus on improving the Mizzou experience. Don’t get me wrong, I stand by the notion I’ve made in the past that I have never met two men with such a lack of moral character. That does not mean I would suspend the rules to attack them on a livestream in Senate chambers. That was not productive. That is not leadership. That is not in keeping with respect, responsibility, discovery or excellence. For that, I am disappointed in how the removal of the Gomez administration took place. I am glad it has happened, nevertheless, because now we can move on.
Now we must focus on the students. In this special election, in the year to come, we cannot afford to have someone run simply to “focus on internal affairs.” That blind ambition, that behavior that leads many to think we take ourselves too seriously, is how we got to this point in the first place. Some of us forgot why we devote our time to MSA. The greatest kryptonite to government is apathy. The next president, speaker and vice president need to lead the charge in a culture change. MSA is badly wounded, in perception and operation. It won’t be enough to simply slide into office and take an idealistic approach. It won’t be enough to have meetings or simply talk to people. The next leaders of MSA need to physically be in the room with NPHC, PHA, IFC, RHA, LBC, MISC, Four Front, GPC taking action and empowering; they need to be downstairs in the Student Center sitting at a booth, even if it’s just doing homework for the off chance a student walking by might voice a concern—we need to do everything to make this happen. The next student leaders need to know that one changes and makes more efficient the internal operations of the association by getting back to our core purpose: going out and serving students. We, as an organization, need to focus on accessibility, social and financial inequity and bridging the fathom deep gaps on campus in understanding race relations and in addressing sexual assault and rape culture. We need to be focused on the National Green Dot Day that Mizzou is leading the charge in next semester. We need to be empowering groups like CS1950 and programs/events like Active Minds, Stitch and Bitch and TurboVote, and those pushing for a Diversity Course Requirement and a more inclusive campus.
The events of the past four months are not indicative of who we are. Here, now, we are the captains of our own ship in rough waters. We can stay the course and capsize or turn right towards the menacing waves ahead to find calmer waters. That which was done in darkness has since come to light. Now it is time to wield that light and fight for students and focus on the issues important to all of our fellow Tigers and actually move Mizzou forward. It’s time for a culture change. So, now, as Stephen Colbert says, “one more thing.” While I might not have Jon Baptiste and Stay Human, I do have this to say: back in October I shared on Facebook why I was running for President. Today I find myself with a similar sentiment to remind my peers and the student body that: “We, I, fight for those because of the experiences we’ve lived through. And we’ve got a long way to go.” Mizzou deserves better.
Sincerely,
Jordan McFarland
jampf9@mail.missouri.edu