The Mizzou freshman hopes to give back to those serving the community. COLUMBIA - 18-year-old Christian Birtell wants to make a difference while he's studying at the University of Missouri-Columbia. "Being here at Mizzou, I want to make the place better than I found it," Birtell said. Like the buildingâs on the campusâ iconic Francis Quadrangle, you could say the MU freshman wants to build something, too. âYes, thereâs a metaphor with what Iâm trying to do,â he said looking around the quad. âThis is the first thing, the first like big project that Iâm doing...Iâm trying to build a legacy.â