State Sen. Chuck Graham, D-Columbia, who sponsored the bill giving voting rights to a student on the Board of Curators, made clear Wednesday that he was irked — but not surprised — by Gov. Matt Blunt’s decision to veto the measure.

A majority of the curators, meanwhile, issued statements via Blunt’s office in support of the governor’s action.

Here’s all the comments, plus that of Graham’s predecessor, former state Sen. Ken Jacob, D-Columbia.

First, Graham:

 ”Gov. Matt Blunt’s disrespect of Missouri college students will be one of his longest-lasting legacies after his veto of a bill allowing the MU student curator to have a vote,” Graham said.

  “Students and their families have to pay a higher and higher rate of tuition every single year, and yet they have no say in the matter.

  “With the passage of Senate Bill 873, there was finally a chance that students would get one vote out of nine on the University of Missouri Board of Curators.

“But now Gov. Blunt has deprived students of even that small amount of representation.  Because of his action, he will forever be remembered as the Governor that believes student opinion is worthless, and that the student curator is too stupid to have a meaningful vote.”

Graham also took note of the timing of the governor’s action.

“It’s ironic that the Governor chose to squash the rights of students just five days after the Fourth of July,” Graham said.  “It was taxation without representation that led the American colonists to rise against the British.  Now, Gov. Blunt has used the week after Independence Day to continue the practice of student tuition increases without student representation.”

Graham also asserted that the veto was tied to Blunt’s relationship with Curator Doug Russell, who also is the chairman of the Missouri Republican Party.

“Curator Russell has obsessively opposed this legislation for years,” Graham said.  “It’s sad that the Governor listened to a political crony rather than doing what is right for Missouri students.  This veto is just another example of why it’s a bad idea to politicize the Board of Curators by putting the chairman of the Missouri Republican Party on the board.”

Graham also noted that universities in other states allow their student representatives to vote.  He said he will ask the Senate to override the veto in September, and re-file the legislation in January if the override attempt is unsuccessful.

“Hopefully the next Governor will be more open to the needs of Missouri students and less concerned about political cronyism,” Sen. Graham said.

Next, Jacob:

“This veto is a product of curators being chosen based on political contributions, not on the ability to govern the University of Missouri,” Jacob said.

“…It should be a reminder to all voters that making a mistake on who we elect as Governor can have an effect on higher education for years to come.” Jacob continued, “Blunt has virtually destroyed the agency that provided student loans and he has made it more difficult for low-income students to attend college by directing education funding towards more expensive colleges.”

Jacob noted that his first bill that he got through the Legislature, “championed the cause of a student curator by establishing the position in 1983…”

Now, the curators and other Blunt allies:

   “As a past member of the Board of Curators I enjoyed working with university students to ensure that their needs were addressed by the board. I know that Governor Blunt made the correct decision to veto this flawed legislation which would create a built-in-bias on the Board. This bill is unfair to the student member. Having a shorter term than other curators puts the student under pressure that could negatively impact his or her valuable contribution to the board and the overall decision making process.”

Former curator Thomas Atkins

“I have two particular problems with this legislation. First, I believe this legislation to be very unhealthy for the university to establish the precedent of creating stakeholder representatives with voting authority on the Board of Curators. A central strength of the current governing structure comes from the fact that none of the nine curators represent any one, specific group of university stakeholders. This legislation would change that, creating a stakeholder voting representative of one university stakeholder group. I believe that is a bad precedent.”

  “Second, because the purpose of having such a voting student curator, as proposed in the legislation, is to have an actual student who is enrolled as a student in the university system during their term as a curator, it would be very difficult to always match such a student curator’s term on the Board of Curators, with that student’s status as an enrolled student, making this legislation awkward and unworkable.”<

“I want to thank Governor Blunt for his continued support for higher education and for vetoing this legislation that would have created a stakeholder voting member of the Board of Curators.”

Curator Warren Erdman

“I commend Governor Blunt for his willingness to veto Senate Bill 873 which is the legislation that creates a voting position on the board of curators of the University of Missouri for a student, should Missouri lose a congressional seat in 2010.  There are a number of concerns with Senate Bill 873 that need to be addressed.  This veto will provide ample time to study all alternatives and determine the best course for the University of Missouri if we lose the congressional seat in 2010.”

Curator Bo Fraser

  “Governor Blunt has been a champion for education. I am pleased that he vetoed this legislation that would have created a new stakeholder voting position on the Board of Curators.”

Curator Judith Haggard

“The University Board of Curators is designed to be made up of lay members appointed by the governor. This legislation would have created a special class by designating one of those members from one of the University’s constituencies, resulting in two different classes of curators and creating a biased constituent seat. Governor Blunt made the correct decision by vetoing this legislation.”

Curator Doug Russell

“The students who serve on the University Board of Curators are meant to give its voting members guidance and offer a different perspective on issues. It is wrong to give student curators the right to vote and I appreciate that Gov. Blunt vetoed this flawed idea.”

Columbia businessman Billy Sapp

“I’d like to personally thank and applaud Governor Blunt for his actions today.  Governor Blunt has consistently demonstrated his support for Higher Education in Missouri and for the University of Missouri in particular.”

“How redistricting should impact the University of Missouri should not be decided in advance of exploring, developing and studying all options that may be available in the event our state loses a Congressional seat in 2010.  Governor Blunt’s actions demonstrate his continued understanding and appreciation of the role of the University of Missouri in our great State and that alterations to the make up of the voting membership of the Board should not be decided in a vacuum.”

Curator chairwoman Cheryl Walker

“I have had the pleasure of working with three different student curators and I believe the basic philosophy for the student curator on the Board is to give input to the Board regarding student affairs and their concerns. The governance of the University should remain in the hands of lay board which has no specific agenda for any one constituency. I commend Governor Blunt for his careful and thoughtful veto of this legislation ensuring the integrity of the Board.”

Curator Don Walsworth

“Although the current student representative’s input has been invaluable to the Board, this legislation is premature in that a congressional district has not yet been eliminated, and other alternatives have not been adequately explored if Missouri loses a congressional district.”

Curator David Wassinger