Since Campus Dining Services unveiled The Tiger Plan this year, it has become clear that the plan [rips off students who buy it](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2016/9/14/tiger-plan-deceives-students/). However, no changes have been made to the Tiger Plan, partially because the Missouri Students Association has not pushed CDS to make any.
MSA has dropped the ball on The Tiger Plan since the plan’s conception. Before it was presented to students, it was brought to MSA. Members expressed some concerns, but the association didn’t try to stop the plan. MSA should have recognized that the plan was a bad deal for students from the start.
Especially after students started to question the plan, MSA should have stepped in and said something to CDS to help make changes to the Tiger Plan. If MSA didn’t take it to CDS, MSA should have at least tried to educate students on what the plan’s cost actually entailed. Instead, it’s been practically radio silence from both CDS and MSA.
As the group that is supposed to advocate for students, MSA standing by and hoping all the excitement would dissipate is not only unacceptable, but shameful. It is MSA’s job to stand up for students, and this has been a concrete example of them not doing their job.
It is time for MSA to step up to the plate and tell CDS that changes need to be made to the Tiger Plan. MSA doesn’t have to have all of the solutions, but the association needs to make it clear to CDS that MSA won’t roll over when its constituents are being scammed.
A good place to start is with changing Tiger Plan advertising to be less deceptive — at least an attempt is a step in the right direction. So many students have already lost money with the plan that MSA should at least try to prevent more damage from being done by adjusting the way the plan is presented.
MSA’s current course of action this semester is basically just to sit around and wait until CDS tells them the results of their consumer survey before MSA will take action. The association shouldn’t be hiding behind a survey to avoid making a move. MSA should be taking action on their own accord, and it should be taking action now.
MSA is supposed to be the group that picks fights with the big dogs on campus to stick up for students. If representatives from our student government aren’t doing that, they aren’t doing their job.