© 2024 University of Missouri - KBIA
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Missouri Senate votes to create review commission for university system

(Flickr Creative Commons User Adam Procter)

A review commission designed to implement changes to the University of Missouri System is one step closer to becoming a reality.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 66 would create an eight-member commission to recommend changes in the wake of last year's campus unrest. And refusal to implement any changes from the commission would result in future budget cuts.

It was sponsored by Republican Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, who is also running for state attorney general.

"You're always going to have protests on a college campus; that's just part of dealing with a college campus," he said during Senate floor debate. "What you can't do is panic and run away from something that may be tough to deal with.

Credit (Flickr Creative Commons User Adam Procter)

Schaefer continued: "If you have a group of students, whether they're African-American students or any group of students, that find enough grievance to protest, somebody at the campus who is in an administrative position has to deal with that, and they have to make a determination, 'is this real, is this not real, is this something that needs (to be changed), (or) does not.'"

The measure overwhelmingly, 28-2, on a bipartisan vote. But some Democrats argued the proposal threatens the quality of education at Mizzou and other university system campuses.

"What we're doing is threatening our students," said Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur. "What we're doing is saying to the students, 'we're going to make our point more important than your success at our universities,' regardless of which one it is."

Schupp continued: "Don't we want our budget to be reflective of the needs of our universities in order to provide our students with a quality education? And when we put language into this resolution that says 'you shall follow these recommendations…or you're going to be subject to punishment through our appropriations process,' I think that's wrong-headed."

She also objected to the provision that the eight member panel would be selected by the Speaker of the House and the President Pro-tem of the Senate, both Republicans. Democratic lawmakers would have no say on who would sit on the panel, as the proposal is currently written.

It now goes to the Missouri House.

Follow Marshall Griffin on Twitter:  @MarshallGReport

Copyright 2021 St. Louis Public Radio. To see more, visit St. Louis Public Radio.

Missouri Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a proud alumnus of the University of Mississippi (a.k.a., Ole Miss), and has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off the old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Mason, and their cat, Honey.
Marshall Griffin
St. Louis Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a native of Mississippi and proud alumnus of Ole Miss (welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!). He has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off an old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Liberty Belle, and their cat, Honey.