_Regan Huston is a freshman journalism major at MU. She is an opinion columnist that writes about student politics for The Maneater._
Earlier this month, the Missouri Students Association announced its passage of order 56-10, which supports the Affordable College Textbook Act. This act, if passed in Washington, D.C., will provide students with more financially reasonable resources, such as cheaper textbooks. But what about allowing students the opportunity to utilize these resources, maybe in a 24-hour library?
Things such as 56-10 are what we all expect of our student government. We expect them, as leaders and representatives, to support initiatives that enhance our education and ease any financial burdens we may face. So what else is MSA doing to try to help its students’ educations?
What MSA needs to do is extend its support to the student body over something that has been a widely voiced concern this whole semester: the hours of Ellis Library.
In an earlier column, I said that students felt that the vote to implement a permanent 24-hour policy to Ellis Library needed to be addressed again because of last year’s uncertainty. A petition was created and the cause gained speed, with students questioning MSA about the dilemma through social media and demanding answers.
I was optimistic, hoping MSA would let students partake in a vote one more time since the association was aware of student frustration. But in a recap of a recent Senate meeting, MSA Senate Speaker Mark McDaniel revealed that MSA has deemed reopening the vote to be “unwise.”
It’s disappointing that he offered no explanation as to why MSA does not think that considering the vote would be a good discussion to have again. MSA is constantly reaching out to the student body, coaxing them to partake in surveys and come out to senate meetings, but when a genuine concern is made and action is taken to fortify the sincerity of complaints, MSA decides it’s a matter that does not need to be discussed.
The specifics of keeping the library open 24 hours, such as university finances, may be out of MSA’s hands, which is understandable. However, without offering an explanation, reopening the vote was simply brushed off as an “unwise” action, and the student body cannot voice its say.
It is irresponsible of MSA to undermine the demands of the student body, especially about something that a lot of students have been passionate about this school year. All we want is a clear explanation and a conversation that allows for us to understand why we can’t vote again.
