[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 144 (Thursday, November 3, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2271]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 3, 2005

  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Associated 
Students of the University of Missouri (ASUM) on their 30th 
anniversary. Throughout their 30 years, this group of dedicated 
students has been the primary advocates for fellow undergraduates in 
the State of Missouri. Known as the student voice in the Missouri State 
government, the organization has been essential to craft and advance 
legislation that has benefited higher education in Missouri. In 
addition, ASUM has been the training ground for students interested in 
entering public service, the political arena, and is responsible for 
producing some of today's top government employees serving the State of 
Missouri.
  ASUM encourages students to become educated about the political 
process, and by doing so increases awareness, concern, and 
participation of young adults in democracy. ASUM's political action 
began on the campus of University of Missouri-Colombia in 1975. After 
successful participation by the students at the campus in Colombia, the 
student leaders expanded the organization to the other campuses within 
the University of Missouri System: Kansas City, St. Louis, and Rolla, 
where participation among the students exceeded expectations.
  Serving as the student voice in the federal government, state 
government, and on the various campuses of the University of Missouri, 
ASUM is responsible for the creating a student representative position 
on the University of Missouri Board of Curators. The student 
representative affords the opportunity for the Board of Curators to 
truly hear and value the students' perspective on issues affecting the 
University System. Keeping the student views in the forefront of 
Universities' agenda, the Board of Curators passed a policy allowing 
the ASUM student representative to attend closed board meetings. The 
over-arching impact of the policy addition was to remind the Board of 
Curators that every institutional change had to be in the best interest 
of the students.
  As the primary advocate of students in Missouri, the ASUM established 
though legislation the Bright Flight Scholarship, the most important 
source of financial aid for scholars from the State of Missouri. The 
annual $2,000 scholarship was created to encourage top ranked high 
school seniors to attend approved Missouri postsecondary schools. The 
program is geared to the top 3 percent of all Missouri high school 
students who have a minimum ACT score of 30 or a minimum SAT score of 
780 math and 780 verbal. By requiring the student to maintain 
satisfactory academic progress and full time employment, this 
scholarship program helps the student to learn how to effectively 
manage their time and balance priorities. In addition to the Bright 
Flight Scholarship Program, the ASUM created Missouri State law to 
exempt sales taxes on textbooks, which has saved students in Missouri 
$6 million dollars every year since its enactment in 1999. Finally, the 
student political activists created a loan forgivingness program for 
teachers, medical doctors, and veterinarians who serve in high need 
areas of Missouri.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in expressing our heartfelt gratitude for 
the dedication of the Associated Students of the University of Missouri 
and their relentless efforts in extending their voices to represent all 
of the students of Missouri. It is essential for the members of the 
ASUM and other student organizations to be celebrated for their good 
works, for the students of today are truly our leaders of tomorrow.

                          ____________________