Blogs Archives - Page 2 of 17 - Student Government Association Blog

Student Government Association Blog

Your Student Body. Your Student Voice. SGA.

SGA Day at the Capitol Recap

by

Hello, my name is Robert-Thomas Gumersell, and I am the Director of University Affairs for SGA. On February 5th, I joined about 36 student leaders from Missouri State to attend our annual Day at The Capitol event. In addition to attending the event, I also helped plan the events of the day and carried out these plans alongside Executive Vice President Zora Mulligan and Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Siscoe.

We hit the ground running from start to finish, doing things ranging from being recognized by both the State House and Senate, to meeting several legislators, to receiving a free lunch, and finally, touring the state capitol. We also had the opportunity to speak to and hear from several Missouri State alumni, as well as former United States Senator Roy Blunt.

Overall, the event was a huge success and was filled with memorable moments. To anyone who has never attended this event before, I highly recommend that you do so next February. You can attend the event even if you’re not in the S.G.A., just as long as you sign up on time. 

Black History Month: A Legacy of Strength, A Future of Possibilities

by

February is more than just another month, it’s a time of reflection, recognition, and celebration. Black History Month honors the resilience, brilliance, and impact of Black individuals throughout history. This month is an important reminder of how far we’ve come, how much we’ve overcome, and how much work still lies ahead. 

At Missouri State University, diversity is not just a word, it’s a commitment. This month gives us a chance to not only acknowledge Black history but to actively engage with it, learn from it, and carry its lessons forward. 

More Than a Month, More Than a Moment 

Black history is often reduced to a handful of names and events, but its influence runs far deeper. That influence is found in the creativity of artists, innovation of scientists, the leadership of activists, and everyday excellence of Black individuals pushing boundaries in every field. 

From the civil rights movement to present-day advocacy, Black change-makers have continuously shaped history. And that history is not just something to study, it’s something to live. Right here at MSU, Black students, faculty, and staff are making history in real-time, breaking barriers, leading organizations, and driving change on campus and beyond. 

The Power of Acknowledgment and Action 

Representation matters, but representation alone isn’t enough. True progress happens when we move beyond acknowledgment and take real action. That means creating spaces where Black voices are heard, where Black achievements are celebrated, and where systemic barriers are actively dismantled. 

This month, challenge yourself to do more than just observe. Engage. Educate yourself. Support Black businesses. Attend campus events. Have real conversations about race, equity, and inclusion. Most importantly, carry that energy beyond February because Black history is being made every single day. 

Ways to Get Involved This Month (and Beyond) 

Show Up & Learn – Attend events that highlight Black culture, history, and contributions. Listen to speakers, join discussions, and engage with new perspectives. 

Support Black Creators & Businesses – Whether it’s a local Black-owned business, an independent artist, or a content creator, your support makes a difference. 

Educate Yourself – Read books by Black authors, watch documentaries, and explore history that often is not taught in textbooks. Knowledge is power. 

Speak Up – Advocate for inclusivity, challenge bias, and amplify Black voices in your everyday conversations and spaces. 

A Collective Responsibility 

Black History Month is not just about looking back—it’s about moving forward. It’s about recognizing the contributions of the past while actively shaping a future where equity, representation, and opportunity exist for everyone. 

At MSU, we have the power to foster an environment where diversity is celebrated not just in February but every single day. Let’s make that commitment together! 

– Christabel Ghansah, Director of Diversity and Inclusion, SGA 

Interpersonal Violence Prevention Events for Spring 2025

by

Welcome back to school, Bears! My name is J Torres, and I am the Chief Interpersonal Violence Prevention (IVP) Commissioner in SGA. The SGA IVP Commission is a group of students who work on projects to prevent and bring awareness to interpersonal crimes. As the spring semester begins, I want to take a moment to share some notable events in the upcoming months to educate the student body about preventing interpersonal violence incidents and provide resources for survivors to utilize. 

January is Stalking Awareness Month, and on Thursday, January 30th – 6:00 PM in (PSU 400 – Union Club), we are thrilled to have Criminology professor, Paula Rector, talk to students about the serious crime of stalking. Young adults from ages 18-24 experience the highest rates of stalking, yet it is not talked about enough on college campuses. With the rise of newer technology and the use of social media, it is crucial that we properly address the dangers of stalking and ensure resources are available. Ms. Rector is involved in the local community, serving on the Greene County Domestic Violence Task Force, and contributing her time to a domestic violence shelter. She has also played a key role in the development of a local family justice center, and she is instrumental in organizing the exceedingly popular Stop the Violence conference held on the Missouri State campus. 

In February, we hope you’ll participate in our events for Healthy Relationships Week. This takes place around Valentine’s Day in February and aims to promote healthy relationships and prevent domestic violence and sexual assault. On Wednesday, February 12th – 4:30 PM  join us for “Mocktails & Memories” where we’ll have mocktail drinks and card-making to promote healthy relationships among your peers, and on Thursday, February 13th – 4:30 pm, through a short film, students can learn how to identify warning signs of an unhealthy relationship, help a friend experiencing abuse, and promote healthy relationship behaviors. Locations for these events will be announced on the SGA Instagram (mostatesga) closer to their event date. 

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and to recognize this month, SGA’s IVP commission will be hosting three events to provide an opportunity to connect with resources available across campus. On Monday, April 7th – 6 pm (PSU 314), we will be collaborating with different organizations across campus to host a discussion on sexual assault awareness and how we can build a stronger community for students during their time at Missouri State University. On Tuesday, April 8th – 7 pm, meet us at the plaza in front of Magers Health & Wellness. We will be taking a walk on campus to unite students and raise awareness of sexual violence as a concern for public health, safety, and social justice. The Counseling Center will be joining this event to host a relaxing activity after and provide an opportunity for students to speak to counselors if needed. Lastly, we ask that you wear denim this month to support victims of sexual assault. On Wednesday, April 9, 4:30 pm, we will host Denim Day, which highlights misconceptions about sexual violence. A location for this event will also be announced closer to the event date.  

The IVP Commission hopes that by planning and hosting these events, we can build a safer campus for students. There are many resources available on and off campus if you or somebody you know is going through a challenging time. SGA is committed to maintaining an environment that is safe and free from sexual violence, sexual harassment, and sexual assault including domestic or dating violence, and stalking. Take care of yourselves and your peers this semester. Below you will find a link to Missouri State Title IX Office which you can look into for resources.  

https://www.missouristate.edu/TitleIX/default.htm

2025 Elections Season Information

by

The 2025 Student Body Election season is officially underway! Here’s everything you need to know to stay informed this semester. 

Each spring, we elect a new Student Body President and Vice President, who also serve as the President and Vice President of the Student Government Association (SGA). Additionally, we elect a Senior Class President, a key role in engaging and supporting the senior class throughout their final year at Missouri State University. Each ticket also includes a campaign manager to support their campaign process.  

Candidates for these positions will begin their campaigns soon, so keep an eye out for their announcements. To appear on the ballot, those running for Student Body President and Vice President must collect 500 signatures from MSU students. Senior Class President candidates must gather 200 signatures. You may be approached to sign a candidate’s petition—this simply allows their ticket to appear on the ballot for the election. 

Once the candidates qualify, campaigning will begin. There will be many opportunities to hear the candidates’ platforms and decide who you believe will best serve Missouri State. Candidates will launch their social media accounts, and a debate will take place on March 11th at 7:00 PM in Plaster Student Union Room 313. “Blitz Week,” starting on March 28th, will provide a dedicated time for candidates to actively promote their tickets across campus. During this week, they can engage with students, hang banners, chalk sidewalks, and more. 

Voting will take place from April 7th at 8:00 AM to April 11th at 5:00 PM via My.MissouriState.com. Along with casting your vote for candidates, you’ll also have the chance to approve updates to the SGA Constitution—the governing document for the organization. The ballot will also include Wyrick Proposals, which are construction projects aimed at improving our campus. 

Election results and the outcomes of the proposals will be announced on the evening of April 11th. 

Make your voice heard this election season and help shape the future of Missouri State University! 

Forward with Purpose to Brighter Horizons

by

Hey Bears! My name is Tamia Schiele, and I am the 2024-2025 Student Body President of Missouri State. In this role, I am President of the Student Government Association (SGA). Some of my daily tasks include meeting with campus Administrations, reviewing proposals, leading meetings, and meeting with students. I work alongside an amazing group of people we call the “SGA Leadership Team.” This team include Collin Chastain, Sam Wang and Emma Vytlacil.   

Collin Chastain is the 2024-2025 Student Body Vice President, and also serves as the SGA Vice President. In this role Collin is the head of SGA’s Legislative branch where he leads our weekly Senate meetings, which are held at 5:30pm in PSU 313. These meetings are open to any Missouri State Student, so feel free to stop by! Sam Wang is SGA’s Chief of Staff, and during the campaigning season served as Collin and I’s Campaign manager. Sam works to plan fun events for our members and ensure our Cabinet members are organized.  

Emma Vytlacil is the 2024-2025 Senior Class President. Emma ran her own campaign on the theme of Brighter Horizons in the Spring of 2024. The goal of this platform is to promote resources for seniors across campus and emphasize the importance of the Senior Class President by having a strong relationship with the senior class. This year she hopes to intentionally engage with the senior class through outreach tactics such as tabling, surveying, and newsletters. This way seniors can be involved in-person and digitally. Her day-to-day tasks consist of working with the Alumni Association to help execute her presidential initiatives while preparing the senior-class gift, Winter Grad Finale/Grad Bash, and other senior-class events. 

Forward with Purpose: Your Voice, Our Vision

Now we will be talking about the platform that Sam, Collin and I collaboratively created. The Forward with Purpose campaign has three central themes: Student Advocacy, Intentional Engagement and Internal Reform.  

Student Advocacy  

For student advocacy, we will ensure that our SGA is representative of student experiences and opinions here at MSU. We want students to feel that SGA is a viable way to have their concerns heard and met. Below are some ideas of how we will make this happen.  

  • Utilize student petitioning rights 
  • Create a form for students to report various issues 
  • Be transparent about Student Government spending 
  • Register with a national interpersonal violence prevention organization  
  • Give out free blue books and scantrons during midterm and finals week 
  • Give out monthly student vouchers for the Union Club 
  • Remind students about parking lot closures 

Intentional Engagement  

Under intentional engagement, we will be sure to stay connected to the students at Missouri State. We also want to maintain and develop our relationships with student organizations on campus. Here is how we plan to stay engaged with students.  

  • Educate students about the Student Initiative and Wyrick funds 
  • Hold consistent meetings with student organizations 
  • Redesign the Student Government Association website 
  • Increase collaboration with the Office of Student Engagement 
  • Incorporate culturally competent foods in the Bear Pantry  
  • Develop a student tuition breakdown 

Internal Reform 

Within internal reform we want improve how SGA works internally to make sure we are serving the student body as best as we can. Below are some ways we plan to enhance our internal practice.  

  • Register as an official student government 
  • Prioritize legislation over event planning 
  • Improve Parliamentary Procedure training  
  • Provide quarterly budget updates for the student body  
  • Utilize open forums to better explain projects 
  • Create a guide for the Elections Code 

 

Together Tamia, Emma, Collin and Sam want to take SGA and the MSU student body Forward with Purpose to Brighter Horizons! Thanks for reading along and feel free to reach out to me at StudentBodyPresident@missouristate.edu or feel free to drop by my office in PSU 313. Thank you and GO BEARS!