Since joining the Missouri Students Association his freshman year, junior Xavier Billingsley has served as a senator, a Board of Elections Commissioner and as Chief of Staff to former MSA President Tim Noce.
But earlier this week, Billingsley announced his plans to take on yet another MSA position. Billingsley will run for MSA president alongside his vice presidential candidate, junior Helena Kooi.
“I’ve always said since I was a freshman that I did not want to run for MSA president,” Billingsley said. “I had an amazing summer, and it was there, and it was time for me to do it.”
Billingsley and Kooi took the stage at Jesse Wrench Auditorium in Memorial Union to present their platform to an intimate gathering of students and friends Sunday. The MSA hopefuls also introduced their campaign motto, “Elevate your experience.”
“We really want students to expect more out of their college experience,” Billingsley said. “We want you to elevate your experience whether it’s through your academics, whether it’s through your social life, whether it is through organizations, just elevate your experience so that you have the best time here at MU.”
Billingsley and Kooi worked together as Summer Welcome leaders this year and also have ties to Greek Life. Billingsley was an Executive Officer of the Delta Chi fraternity and Kooi is a member of the Kappa Delta sorority.
“I was absolutely thrilled when (Billingsley) asked me,” Kooi said. “I have been very intimately involved since my freshman year, and I feel like I’ve been very closely involved with the university’s recruitment efforts. This just seemed like the next natural step for me, for someone who is very passionate about the student experience here.”
In their campaign announcement, Billingsley and Kooi discussed the core values of their campaign platform, efficiency, unity and accessibility.
Among the campaign topics discussed, Billingsley said he wants to pay special attention to student overflow in dining halls and the One Mizzou campaign. Billingsley and Kooi will meet with the Campus Dining Services later this month to discuss whether the increase in enrollment at MU necessitates the addition of another dinning hall for students.
“Starting off with One Mizzou campaign is just one step but I think it is kind of a step in a larger direction towards unity,” Kooi said. “We do have a pretty good relationship with Campus Dining Services, and I know that they are interested in working with us more in the future.”
As vice president, Kooi said that she intends to stop student fees from carrying over year to year.
“The year that a student pays those fees is the year those fees should be used,” Kooi said.
During their campaign announcement, Billingsley and Kooi made it clear that Kooi’s lack of MSA experience will benefit both their platform and their campaign in the long run.
“I think that MSA is one of the most impactful organizations on this campus, whether students realize that or not,” Kooi said. “Pretty much everything they see and all the organizations that really touch their lives, whether it is STRIPES or concerts, that’s what MSA does and that’s what I want to be a part of.”
To be included on the MSA presidential ballot, Billingsley and Kooi must collect 500 signatures by Wednesday.
MSA Director of Student Services Greg Loeffler has confirmed his presidential candidacy with running mate and MSA senator Lauren Damico. Loeffler said he and Damico are in the process of obtaining the 500 signatures required by the BEC to secure a spot for their slate on the ballot.
