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Boomer Bot Update

April 24, 2025 by Callie S. Baker

Hey Bears! As you may know the university has recently launched an AI-powered text messaging system. Through this new program you can get quick answers about Missouri State, and campus resources. The Boomer Bot has been a success so far! Below you can find some exciting statistics about the program, as of April 2025.

The Stats:

  • 94% of students have opted in to receive texts from Boomer
  • 41% of students have engaged with the Boomer Bot
  • 2,046 student questions have been answered by the AI-powered system

If needed, your responses may be provided to university officials to help respond to your needs. Keeping this in mind, know it is possible for your response to go to a university administrator if there are mentions of harmful behaviors within your responses. If you are experiencing a crisis, and would like help, please contact campus safety or the Dean of Students Office.  

Dean of Students Office: 

  • Phone number- 417-836-5527 
  • Email- DeanofStudentsOffice@missouristate.edu  

Campus Safety: 

  • Phone number- 417-836-8870
  • Email-CampusSafety@MissouriState.edu 

Filed Under: Blogs, MSU Community

Green Days Ahead: Earth Week Events for 2025

April 15, 2025 by Callie S. Baker

Happy Earth Month, Bears! My name is Izzy Lambert, and I am currently serving as the Chief Sustainability Commissioner (CSC) in SGA. As the current CSC, I oversee the Sustainability Commission and Sustainability Fund, ensuring both are running smoothly. The Sustainability Fund acts as a resource for students to utilize in creating a more sustainable campus & community here at Missouri State. Every semester, campus officials, including the president, match the fund amount produced by two dollars from each student’s fees. Any student can write a sustainability proposal, and the Sustainability Commission serves as a body that reviews these proposals, offering feedback and encouraging increased sustainable efforts on campus. A lighter aspect of the Sustainability Commission’s work is hosting a variety of Earth Week events. Below, I will explain each of the events and what you can expect to see from them. Both the Sustainability Commission and I would love to see you there! 

 

April features Earth Day, which we will be celebrating with our Plastic Bag Swap on Tuesday, April 22nd,  from 9 am to 5 pm in the PSU Atrium. This annual event allows you to get rid of all those plastic grocery bags you’ve been keeping for your trash but haven’t gotten around to using yet! At this event, every 10 plastic bags you bring will be 1 entry into a raffle for 1 of our 3 gift card prizes (Mama Jean’s, The Coffee Ethic, & Aldi). If you are a huge plastic bag collector, we will have tote bags for every 20 plastic bags you bring (limit of 1 per person).  

 

On Wednesday, April 23rd, we look forward to seeing you at our Earth Week Bingo. At this event, SGA & SAC will host bingo in the PSU Theater from 8 to 9:30 pm. Enjoying dirt & worm cups, along with blueberry lemonade with your friends, you will be able to win a variety of prizes. Including 2 electric scooters, Bear Wear, gift cards to sustainable stores, and items from Patagonia & Fjallraven, you won’t want to miss out! This event will also include information about sustainability in the world and on campus, serving as a great opportunity to celebrate Earth Day. 

 

Thursday, April 24th, the Sustainability Commission will be partnering with Chartwells in the Blair-Shannon dining hall from 11 am until 2 pm. Love Food Not Waste is an event that allows students to view the food waste accumulated at the dining halls firsthand. During this time, Chartwells & the Sustainability Commission will work to scrape food waste into bins, creating a transparent view into the waste we contribute to in college, and over our lifespans.  

 

Wrapping up SGA’s Earth Week events is our Street Clean hosted on Saturday, April 26th taking place at 11 am. This event will start at the Kum & Go on Kimbrough Street, ending at the east end of Elm Street. SGA will provide plastic bags, bags, and music. Come out and contribute to the sustainability of our Earth with us! 

 

The Sustainability Commission looks forward to hosting these events that offer opportunities for students to contribute directly to furthering sustainability. While our focus was on environmentally sustainable efforts, it is important to note that sustainability is so much more than using less plastic and keeping our streets free of trash. Per the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, furthering sustainability goals looks like creating more efficient, long-term successful economies, reducing inequalities, and establishing inclusive institutions. Being a sustainable citizen is vital to the future of our campus, institution, country, and world. If you are interested in getting involved with the Sustainability Commission, collaborating on a project, or submitting a proposal, reach out to me (Chief Sustainability Commissioner Lambert) via my email (ijl73s@missouristate.edu). Happy Earth Month!!! 

Filed Under: Commissions, MSU Community, Sustainability Commission

2025 Student Body Election Results

April 14, 2025 by Callie S. Baker

Pictured from left to right: Student Body President Collin Chastain, Vice President Sam Wang, and Senior Class President Bekah Gunter 

 

The student body elections have officially wrapped up, with voting closing on April 11. 

Congratulations to our newly elected leaders: 

  • Student Body President: Collin Chastain
  • Student Body Vice President: Sam Wang
  • Senior Class President: Bekah Gunter

 

These leaders will be officially sworn in at the Student Government Association’s End-of-Year Banquet on April 28. 

As they begin their term, they are looking for passionate students who align with their platform values to join the Student Government Association Cabinet. Cabinet applications are now open and will close on April 18 at 5 pm. You can access the link here.  

Cabinet members receive a $2,000 scholarship, gain valuable leadership experience, and can work directly with university administrators, building meaningful connections across campus. Each member serves in a unique role and leads initiatives that help create positive change while amplifying the voices of Missouri State students. 

For more information or to get involved, visit @VoteCollinSam on Instagram or contact them directly at Mcr6s@MissouriState.edu.

Filed Under: Blogs, Campus Information, Elections Commission, MSU Community, Press Release, SGA News, Student Body President

Moving Forward Together: Celebrating Women Who Educate and Inspire

April 7, 2025 by Callie S. Baker

Hello! I’m Christabel Ghansah, and it’s a privilege to serve as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion on this year’s Student Government Association (SGA) cabinet. As we step out of Women’s History Month, we must come together to honor the extraordinary achievements of women throughout history those who have transformed lives, shattered barriers, and ignited movements. Their stories remind us that resilience, courage, and innovation are the cornerstones of progress. 

Since last month was Women’s History Month, under the theme “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating and Inspiring Generations,” I would like to take a moment to celebrate the remarkable women of our SGA cabinet. These dynamic leaders and advocates are champions of change, tirelessly working to create a more inclusive and empowering campus environment. Their dedication uplifts our community, proving that when women lift each other up, the possibilities are limitless. Together, we can forge a future where every voice resonates, and every dream is within reach. 

Educating to Empower: Women Who Opened Doors 

Education has long been a battleground for women, and yet, against all odds, they have risen to become the architects of knowledge. Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani activist for girls’ education, took a stand against the Taliban’s oppression of women in education and nearly lost her life for it. Yet, even in the face of violence, she emerged stronger, inspiring millions of young girls to demand their right to learn. 

Going back in time, Savitribai Phule of India broke societal norms in the 19th century by opening the first school for girls in her country, defying caste and gender-based discrimination. Her fight laid the foundation for generations of women to step into educational spaces that were once barred to them. 

And then there’s Mary McLeod Bethune, a Black educator and civil rights leader in the United States, who founded a school for Black girls in 1904, paving the way for future generations of African American students to access education in a deeply segregated society. 

These women, and so many others, understood that education is the most powerful tool for breaking cycles of oppression. Their legacies remind us that knowledge is not just power it is liberation.

Inspiring Change: Women Who Led Movements 

History is marked by the footprints of women who, despite resistance, marched forward and demanded change. Sojourner Truth, born into slavery, became one of the most powerful voices for abolition and women’s rights, delivering the historic “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech that still echoes through time. 

Across the ocean, Emmeline Pankhurst spearheaded the suffragette movement in the United Kingdom, relentlessly fighting for women’s right to vote. Her activism shook the foundations of British politics, proving that women’s voices could no longer be ignored. 

In Latin America, Rigoberta Menchú, an Indigenous K’iche’ Maya woman from Guatemala, has spent her life advocating for the rights of Indigenous women and communities, fighting against systemic violence and oppression. Her work earned her a Nobel Peace Prize, but more importantly, it has amplified the voices of countless marginalized women. 

These women remind us that progress is not given it is demanded. Their courage fuels today’s activists, ensuring that the fight for justice continues. 

Moving Forward Together: A Global Sisterhood 

As we honor the past, we must also recognize the women who continue to shape the present and future. In Africa, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the first woman and first African to lead the World Trade Organization, is breaking barriers in global economics. In the Middle East, Tawakkol Karman, known as the “Mother of the Revolution,” fights for democracy and human rights in Yemen. In STEM, Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, a leading scientist behind the COVID-19 vaccine, is revolutionizing healthcare and inspiring a new generation of women in science. 

Women’s progress has never been a solitary journey. It is a collective movement one that transcends borders, cultures, and generations. When we educate one woman, we educate a community. When we uplift one voice, we amplify a movement. When we move forward together, we ensure that no woman is left behind. 

This Women’s History Month let’s celebrate the trailblazers who paved the way, honor those who continue to fight for equality, and commit ourselves to empowering the next generation. The future is ours to build together. 

 

Filed Under: Blogs, Diversity & Public Affairs, MSU Community

How to Follow Campus Elections

March 24, 2025 by Callie S. Baker

Hey Bears!  

This blog will outline three pieces of advice for you all to follow the upcoming spring SGA Election and prepare to vote. If you have questions about the election, please reach out to SGA Chief Elections Commissioner Emily Chandler ec6364s@MissouriState.edu. Chief Chandler oversees all details related to the Spring election including the candidates, elections code, and polling stations. Additionally, you can expect updates about the election on our Instagram, which is @mostatesga.  

  1. Understand the lingo. Campus elections involve terminology that you may or may not be familiar with. Below you can find definitions to key terms that are important to know.
General Terms
    • Ticket – A team of three individuals who have agreed to run a campaign together, and work alongside one another for the subsequent year. For Student Body includes a Student Body President Candidates, Student Body Vice President Candidate, and Campaign Manager. For Senior Class tickets, this includes a Senior Class Candidate, and Campaign Manager. The Campaign Manager for a Student Body ticket traditionally is appointed Chief of Staff if elected, but this is not required.
    • Platform – A list of projects, and initiatives a ticket hopes to complete, if elected.
    • Elections Code – An SGA document outlining all rules for the SGA Election. This document is open to the public and can be found on the SGA website. 
    • SGA Leadership – This often refers to the Student Body President, Student Body Vice President, Senior Class President, and Chief of Staff. This team is not required by the SGA Constitution, but often works together to make decisions for SGA, and the broader student body. 
Voting Terms
    • Abstain – Declining to vote on one question/issue on a ballot.
    • Vote No Confidence – A vote that expresses a lack of support for a candidate or issue on the ballot. 
  1. Follow campaign accounts and review each tickets platform. Campaign accounts are where you can learn more about Candidates.  Platforms are your way to know what you are voting for, and what Candidates hope to accomplish if elected. 
    • Student Body President/Vice President Campaign (on instagram) – @votecollinsam
    • Senior Class President Campaign (on instagram) – @Bekah4seniors
  2. Ask the candidates questions. Asking questions is a great way to better understand the Candidates. The perfect time to ask questions would be a Candidate Open Forum.  
    • Candidate open forums will be on March 25th, 2025, at 7pm in PSU 313.

Filed Under: Campus Information, Elections Commission, Student Body President

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