Columbia Senator Troubled By MU Silence Over SMS Name Change Proposal

A State Senator is disappointed that senior University of Missouri officials have stayed on the sidelines when it comes to a namechange issue. When proponents of changing the name of Southwest Missouri State University to Missouri State made their case to Senators on the Education Committee this week, Columbia Senator Chuck Graham was the most vocal opponent. Graham contends the name Missouri State belongs to the school in Columbia. After the hearing, The Senator seemed exasperated by the fact that no senior University of Missouri officials have taken up the cause, despite Graham asking them to get out in front of the issue. Graham says this issue could come up in any future appointments of curators, but he promises a person’s support or opposition to the SMS name change would not be a litmus test for confirmation. Neither MU President Elson Floyd nor Chancellor Brady Deaton would comment to the Missourinet for this story.