Justice Horn signs 10 executive orders and proclamations on first day in office

 On Justice Horn’s first day as the new SGA president on May 1, he signed 10 new executive orders aiming to protect students and create a safe space for all on campus. 

  According to Horn, the new executive orders cover a broad range of topics, all with the goal of giving stronger support to every student that attends.

  Some of the large issues that Horn hopes to address right away are declaring UMKC as a refuge for the right to protest and free speech, committing to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and protecting against illegal ICE raids by making UMKC a sanctuary campus.

  Chancellor Mauli Agrawal closed UMKC’s DEI office in October of 2024, saying that they are moving towards a “decentralized model of inclusivity.”

“Those are the big issues that we are going to have to tackle: remaining firm and fighting where we have to, while also getting creative,” said Horn about the importance of making these large steps from the beginning of his term.

   Horn is trying to fight for the students on and off campus who have expressed their qualms about different things that they believe are a violation of their rights. 

“We’re students, we have to create rights to ensure that they’re not being infringed on,” said Horn. “When students are wrongfully being evicted from the dorms or a student worker is being underpaid and abused, those are issues.”

  He also plans to establish an attorney general’s office and a climate resiliency department, expand access to public transportation and make UMKC an LGBTQ+ sanctuary school.

  Horn and his executive board want to make sure that students’ voices are heard on campus, saying that, “It’s on us to meet students where they’re at.”

  Shewit Abai, SGA Director of Internal Affairs and senior studying chemistry said that she will “personally reach out to each student council to build stronger communication and collaborative relationships.”

  UMKC Students First has also proclaimed their full support for the renaming of Troost Ave. to Truth Ave. Troost currently borders both the Volker and the Health Sciences campuses. 

  According to KCUR, there have been community efforts for decades attempting to change the streets name away from the slave owner it was named after.

  Horn will also be making sure that the Late Night with the Greeks event continues as an active campus celebration of Greek life. Horn called the Greek community on campus “strong, united and impactful.”

  Horn said that he is trying to make change for the better at UMKC and will fight against anything that gets thrown at him from the upper administration or the UM System.

“I want to make that very clear. I am ready to fight this. If that gets me thrown out as president or something, I don’t frankly care,” said Horn.

oowzg2@umsystem.edu