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Student Government Association Blog

Your Student Body. Your Student Voice. SGA.

2025 Elections Season Information

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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

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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! 

Dear Missouri State

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It feels like yesterday I was driving from Independence to Springfield with my mom, sister and a car full of my belongings.

I didn’t know what I was getting myself into.

A family achievement

When I was young and living in Saudi Arabia and Syria, going to college was a dream. A dream that many kids in countries like the ones I lived in have, but do not achieve.

Going to college was a big deal for my family and me. As I was moving into Wells House, it was the start of truly seeing my mom’s sacrifice being paid off. She fled her home country, Somalia, because of a war, and settled in Saudi Arabia to start a family.

She later moved to Syria for better opportunities. After several years, she wanted her kids to have the best opportunity possible and migrated to America. All of this took a lot of sacrifice from her so that I could be in the position that I am today.

‘Being a Bear is a privilege and an honor’

Missouri State gave me everything and more. I remember my freshman year Welcome Weekend and how fun everything was. I was meeting new people and slowly feeling more comfortable. As each year went on, more opportunities started to come. I continued to accept every opportunity that came up because if not now, then when?

College is supposed to be a time to challenge yourself, get out of your comfort zone, and to have fun. Missouri State challenged me in ways that I didn’t think it would.

No matter what I was going through, there were many resources available for me. There were faculty and staff members who were there to assist me and an advisor that I could email any of my questions to. The beauty of going through struggles is the opportunity to grow and learn. Missouri State helped me do just that.

Being a Bear may mean loving the fountain, knowing the fight song, being able to explain the public affairs mission, supporting our athletics or loving Clif Smart so much that you probably thought about inviting him to your wedding one day. To me, being a Bear is a privilege and an honor. It means that you have pride in yourself and confidence that you can achieve anything you set your mind to.

‘To the Class of 2020: You did it’

As this chapter closes, I will always cherish the past four years. I was scared when I first came to Missouri State, but quickly, Missouri State made me feel comfortable and took me in with open arms.

Although these past four years cannot be celebrated with a traditional graduation ceremony in May, it still does not take away all of the sacrifices many of those graduating this spring made. To the Class of 2020: You did it. You all have made many people proud. We will always be Bears.

Missouri State, thank you for teaching me valuable skills that will help me for the rest of my life. Thank you for teaching me how to be a servant leader and helping others as much as possible. Thank you for teaching me that no dream is too big. No matter where life takes me, I will always cherish the moments I had here.

Missouri State, thank you for making my dream come true.

Spring Elections

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It is time for you to voice your opinion in the 2020-2021 student body election. There are many things on this year’s ballot and they are all important. The ballot contains the candidates running for Student Body President, Vice President, and Senior Class President, as well as, a new mental health student fee, a Wyrick project, and a senior class gift.

Mental Health Fee

The proposed new student fee of $8 per semester would support hiring more counselors and expand mental health resources to the Counseling Center. Missouri State has experienced a rapid increase in student demands for counseling over the past several years. During the past two academic years, there has been a waiting list, and in fall 2019, it reached 203 students. I encourage you to vote yes to support hiring more counselors and mental health resources for the counseling center.

Wyrick Project

This year’s Wyrick project is to combine the Multicultural Resource Center and the Annex and move it to the, now, Office of Student Engagement space. This would then move the Office of Student Engagement to the level one game center. Currently, the MRC and the Annex are separated. Combining both locations into one and locating it in the PSU right across Starbucks will increase cultural engagement. This project will provide students a place to have a central location among other campus resources, more efficient space utilization within the PSU, and more space with the opportunity for visibility. I encourage you all to vote yes for this project that will enhance the student experience at Missouri State!

Senior Class Gift

Lastly, On this ballot is the Senior Class Gift vote and only Juniors and Seniors can vote for this issue. This year, we are doing a painted bear statue with Campus Recreation. The Bear Statues are the vision of President Smart, and the FRC is one of the most prominent buildings on campus. The Bear will feature a design (being finished now) that encapsulates the perseverance of our class, especially through these current times. I hope you vote in favor, and help leave the Class of 2020 legacy at Missouri State!

Student Body Candidates:

Cole Howerton, President and Chelsey Small, Vice President

First up, we have Cole Howerton running for Student Body President and Chelsey Small running for Vice President! Renee Sinclair is serving as their Campaign Manager. Cole Howerton is a sophomore studying History. He is the current Director of Public Affairs for SGA. Cole wants to make campus inclusive for all students and help improve everyone’s individual campus experience. Chelsey Small is a junior studying Exercise and Movement Science. After being a SOAR Leader and serving as Director of Health and Wellness for SGA, she has learned how to use her voice to make a change in the community. Chelsey wants to help students at MSU feel the power of their voice too.

Together, they will combine their experiences to impact Mental Health, Inclusivity, and Communication at MSU. They want all students to feel confident in their resources and their chances for success. Most importantly, they want to hear your voice and improve Missouri State by your choice. Text 417-319-1257 to anonymously send them your ideas for improving MSU! Follow their social media to learn more about their platform:

Instagram: @yourvoiceyourchoicemsu

Facebook: Your Voice Your Choice Missouri State

Watch their campaign video here: https://youtu.be/ExwS2p8WvL0

Tara Orr, President and Blake Haynes, Vice President

Next up, we have Tara Orr running for Student Body President and Blake Haynes running for Vice President! Apryl Myers is serving as their Campaign Manager. Tara Orr is from Blue Springs, Missouri and is involved in with Student Government Association as the Chief of Staff, Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, and other leadership programs. Tara’s involvement throughout the years has motivated her to put her skills to the test and run for student body president. Blake is also from Blue Springs, Missouri. Over time, he created a meaningful relationship with his running partner. He discovered that both of them were first-generation students with the ambition to make an impact during their college experience. Blake has been a part of the Student Government Association since 2017, an active member in Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity, a University Ambassador, and on the Greek Week Committee. As his roles became more eminent and his drive flourished, Blake decided the time was right to pour into the campus community like those who have poured into him.

Tara and Blake want to use their past experiences and innovate Missouri State! They want to focus on the importance of Student Success, Diversity and Inclusion, and Student Wellness if elected. Through these main points, they would like to increase opportunities for students to be the best prepared for post-college. They want to better diversity and inclusion efforts and make sure student wellness is at the forefront to better Missouri State.

If you would like further information about Tara Orr and Blake Haynes platform ideas, you can follow them on Instagram: @Innovatemostate, Facebook: Innovate MO State, and Twitter: @innovate_mo

Allison Garrett, Senior Class President

Lastly, Allison Garrett is running for 2020-21 Senior Class President of Missouri State University. She is a junior studying Political Science and Communications and currently serves as Speaker Pro Tempore on Student Government Association. Her previous leadership experience includes Chief Elections Commissioner on SGA, Vice President of Membership Development on the Panhellenic Executive Board, and various positions in her sorority. She also currently works in the Office of Student Affairs as a Student Assistant to Dr. Dee Siscoe. These experiences have instilled in her a love of university traditions and campus unity, which is what Allison wants to bring to the role of Senior Class President.

Her campaign theme is “What’s your Legacy?” The concept of a legacy is central in a student’s last year of undergrad, and Allison wanted to inspire that in the Class of 2021 during her campaign. You can connect with Allison on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @allison4mostate!

I hope all of this was informative for you. You can participate in the election by going to elections.missouristate.edu. Make your voice be heard and be a part of the change that is happening at Missouri State. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me at Abdillahi1997@live.missouristate.edu!

Happy March!

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Hello, Bears! Happy March and I hope your midterms have gone well for you. I am excited for the weather to start warming up and I am looking forward to Spring Break next week!

Student Government Association had a great month of February and is excited to continue to impact Missouri State in various ways. SGA invited Dear World to campus on Wednesday, February 26th to help students, faculty, and staff share and celebrate their stories. Dear World is a storytelling project that connects people through their meaningful stories. They have photographed over 125,000 individuals and we are so proud to have them come to Missouri State! Check the pictures that they took here: https://drwrld.com/MissouriStateGallery2020

Last month, we had our Missouri State University Day at the Capitol where students went to Jefferson City and visited the State Capitol. Students spoke with legislators and talked to them about their experience at Missouri State University. Students spoke about why legislators must increase funding for higher educations. Students also advocated on mental health issues and why it is important to provide more resources on college campuses.

Speaking of mental health issues, SGA is looking to put on the Spring ballot a vote that will ask students if they would like to create a new $8 student fee that would go to the counseling center and provide more counselors that students will be able to use. In the fall semester, the Counseling Center faced a long wait time and was forced to create a waiting list that students had to get on to see a counselor. The voting will take place from April 1st to Wednesday, April 8th.

SGA has continued to better diversity and inclusion efforts on campus all year. We have decided to partner with the University and help move the Multicultural Resource Center to the PSU 1st floor where the Office of Student Engagement is located and move the OSE to the level one game center. This move will give the Multicultural Resource Center more space and ways to reach out to students of underrepresented groups right away when they start their collegiate career at Missouri State. We also see this space being a place for all students going into and learning about different cultures, ethnicities, and becoming more of a culturally competent person. Students will be asked to vote on this project as well in the Spring ballot.

Lastly, Allison Heimsath who is a Senior, Hospitality major created a project that is going to impact elementary students in Kansas City, Mo. The project is to get yearbooks for Whittier Elementary School, where every student is on either free or reduced lunch. The school also has City Year employees in the classroom to help with the students, who speak over 13 different languages. Allison believes that Yearbooks means a lot to students and I agree with her. I still have mine! There is a GoFundMe that people can advertise or donate. Each yearbook costs $15 and the goal of the project is $7,500. Here is the link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/zcehv-school-supply-drive?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link-tip&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at Abdillahi1997@live.missouristate.edu!

Go Bears!