Klassie Alcine

A Klassie-r UMKC

By: Elyssa Brogdon

Posted: 4/7/08

Klassie Alcine, junior political science and criminal justice major, has devoted her life to helping others. On campus she is involved with multiple organizations like College Democrats, College Republicans, Mock Trial and Phi Alpha Delta, a pre-law fraternity. She chairs multiple committees including the Steering committee, Chancellor's Advisory Committee and the Student Activity Fee Audit Committee.

But what Alcine is mostly known for is her presidency for the Arts and Sciences (A&S) Student Council.

"I choose to be very scheduled because I believe it is important to be involved," Alcine said. "And, if I don't do it, who else will?"

According to Alcine, the A&S Student Council was a very different organization before she came into the office.

"What I saw was contempt," Alcine said. "I believe the main purpose of leadership is to go out there and get people to join in with you. And the problem with the individuals who came before me was that wasn't happening. People came to A&S [Student Council] for money, for allocations and that was it."

Alcine, along with her board, made student participation their first initiative and quickly went to work trying to get students involved. Alcine proposed forums that discussed issues important to students and help students understand how the council works.

Alcine and her board weren't only thinking about students. They were taking faculty into consideration as well.

"The forums are a great way for professors to discuss current issues," Alcine said. "Usually professors are stuck in one subject. Then it gives students an opportunity to ask questions and think about what's currently happening. … And this is just a snap shot of what's happening in politics, what's happening in criminal justice, this is why philosophy is an important proponent of education. … At the end of the day students go home and they talk about it the next day or the week after, and that's really the goal of doing all this."

Alcine looked at funds as her second initiative. She said she has tried to allocate the $40,000 yearly budget fairly between organizations. She would like to give every organization more money for their activities, but explained her funding doesn't always allow that.

What Alcine likes to focus on from within the A&S Student Council, as well with the rest of her life, is a fight for causes. She admits her future career is sometimes unclear, but the desire to help others is always visible.

"I just want to live to push for causes," Alcine said. "I will get my law degree. And my hope is that I will get to lobby, practice some real estate law, entertainment law and eventually become a judge or run for office."

Alcine already fights for causes, not only on a campus level with the push to change the general education requirements, but also on a state level where she is a member of Missourians for United Heathcare.

"My goal for the future is really to do it all," Alcine said. "I want to be the person that when I walk in a room they say, 'Oh, that's Klassie Alcine.' And I'm going to go, 'Damn right, I'm Klassie Alcine. And damn right, I'm not here for you. I'm here for whoever I represent.'

"I think I will always be fighting for something. There are too many people who don't speak up, or they don't have a voice, and I will be that voice for them. … That's my purpose."

ebrogdon@unews.com