The 2020-21 school year challenged students academically, physically, mentally, emotionally and politically. Despite elections, protests and remote learning, MU still strived to succeed and achieve some semblance of normalcy. However, COVID-19 and racism on campus showed students that the administration is not always willing to listen and abide by student concerns.
A summer of Black Lives Matter protests demanding an end to police brutality and justice for the murder of George Floyd led students straight into a school year already fraught with tension.
Several student groups formed to call out racism at MU and demand change. Perhaps the most prominent were #StillConcerned and Mizzou 600.
Activist group Mizzou 600 organized a protest on April 29 against the future implementation of the MU Department of Social Justice restructuring plan.
The demonstration started on the steps of Jesse Hall, where speakers began listing the ways the Department of Social Justice had aided them. Two unnamed MU staff members followed the demonstration, stating that their purpose was to ensure the protest was safe.
Following their beginning chants and opening statements on the steps of Jesse Hall, demonstrators walked inside to continue the protest. The demonstrators continued to chant and give statements regarding the restructuring. Staff observed the demonstration from the upper level of Jesse Hall.
By Joy Mazur
The Renew Mizzou slate won the Missouri Students Association Election, as announced by MSA Wednesday at approximately 6:30 p.m.
President-elect Landon Brickey and Vice President-elect Emily Smith defeated candidates Will Shafer and Key Avingston-Banks by a margin of 134 votes 1173 to 1039.
The Renew Mizzou main campaign platform include better mental health resources and education, support for faculty and students of color, COVID-19 health and well-being and sexual health education and assault prevention. Additionally, the platform is dedicated to improving parking and transportation, supporting the Counseling Center and striving towards a zero-waste campus.
Brickey said that he and Smith are excited to serve the student body.
The Missouri Students Association Board of Elections Commissioners announced in a March 2 decision that it is “concerned” by the Ready to Roar slate’s allegations that the BEC unconstitutionally allowed the Renew Mizzou slate to file their candidacy.
Ready to Roar presidential candidate Will Shafer and vice presidential candidate Key Avingston-Banks said the extension of the filing date was unconstitutional in a video originally posted Feb. 28 on Shafer’s personal Instagram account.
“Thirty minutes before the deadline, and after receiving our information, the BEC … decided to extend a week,” said Shafer.
Avingston-Banks added that they found this extension “whole-heartedly unconstitutional.”
Renew Mizzou and Ready to Roar, the two slates vying for Missouri Students Association president and vice president, met at 7 p.m. Sunday for a Zoom debate before the election starts Monday.
MU juniors Landon Brickey and Emily Smith are the presidential and vice presidential candidates for Renew Mizzou, and juniors Will Shafer and Key Avingston-Banks represent the Ready to Roar slate. Maneater Editor-In-Chief Caitlin Danborn and Student Politics Editor Joy Mazur hosted the debate, which began with opening statements from both slates before moving on to questions, summaries of each platform and closing statements.
Both slates introduced themselves and their goals, beginning with Renew Mizzou. Brickey and Smith both discussed their previous leadership roles. Brickey is the current director of Caring for Columbia, and he also served as the MSA Senate Operations Chair. Smith said she served as MU’s Delta Gamma chapter president and is on Tour Team. They said Renew Mizzou’s platfo