Hunter Windholz, the MSA Campus and Community Relations Committee chairman, won the 49th MSA Senate speaker election during full Senate on Wednesday, beating out Operations Committee Chairman Joshua Tennison.
Windholz ran on a platform that emphasizes senator retention and participation. He said that student retention within MSA was a “big issue” this year and wants to improve it by reaching out to senators who stop attending meetings, implementing a new member caucus and softening the current policy of “purging” members from the body after two unexcused absences.
“We have far fewer members here than we did at the beginning of this session,” Windholz said.
Another of Windholz’s goals is to reduce the number of academic seats in Senate to increase competition. He also wants to survey students about MSA and improve communication with other joint session governments.
Windholz plans to request a Diversity Peer Educators facilitation, as well as Safe Space and Green Dot training for senators.
“I believe every senator should receive these certifications to accurately represent the diverse student body,” Windholz said. “This is fundamental to our duty as representatives of the student body to grasp a better understanding of the wide array of different experiences within the Missouri Students Association.”
CCRC member Dylan Cain and Social Justice Committee chairwoman Najeebah Hussain spoke on Windholz’s behalf.
“[Windholz] holds senators accountable,” Cain said. “He takes new members under his wing and shows them the ropes.”
Hussain spoke of Windholz’s organizational and leadership skills.
“He’s attentive, thorough and detail-oriented when it comes to anything having to do with his committee members,” Hussain said.
Windholz said the resignations of President-elect Haden Gomez and running mate Chris Hanner last year showed him the impact of MSA’s actions. Gomez and Hanner resigned the night of their scheduled inauguration after screenshots emerged that showed their campaign paid the app Pocket Points to endorse them, a violation of the Board of Elections Commissioners Handbook.
“I learned that what we do here goes far beyond these walls around us,” Windholz said at the meeting.
Like Windholz’s campaign, Tennison’s also included a “reserved” attendance policy more supportive of mental health. He also said there was a need to engage and “ask the questions that need to be asked” within the association.
“My biggest goal is not to advocate for students,” Tennison said in a speech to the body. “I’m not a direct advocate. I’m an advocate for the advocates.”
According to the MSA Senate Feb. 22 press release, Windholz will begin his term at the first Senate meeting in April after the passage of the 2017 MSA budget. He will preside over Senate meetings in March, and Speaker Mark McDaniel will continue to manage daily affairs of Senate until the third reading of the budget.
_Edited by Emily Gallion | egallion@themaneater.com_