KANSAS CITY, Mo. — University of Missouri - Kansas City students this week elected Justice Horn as their Student Government Association president.
"The generation that goes to UMKC is a generation that looks at someone's character and who they are, before who they love,” newly elected UMKC SGA President Horn said.
While he's not the first gay student president at the school, he's hoping his election serves as a reminder of the school's inclusivity.
"There is a place at the table for anyone, no matter your background, race, your ethnicity, and that college is a place for you,” Horn said.
But he's hoping his orientation doesn't get in the way of what he really wants to be known for.
"A library referendum I introduced is surprisingly getting student support," Horn said.
He wants to be known as a good leader who is focused on the needs of the student body and how the university works with the city.
"I want to make sure that the city and us are walking in lock-step and making sure that the city is working for us and we are working for them," Horn said.
"He seems like he is going to be a great student leader," University of Kansas SGA President Noah Ries said. "I am on my way out, but I am looking forward to seeing what he is up to."
This year, KU saw its first openly-gay SGA President.
"We control a budget of about $23 million that we set every fiscal year,” Ries said.
Ries says his board was focused on inclusion, but they also tried to tackle school affordability.
"We advocated on the state level and in DC," he said. "It was our first time in DC, and that was really cool.”
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story stated that Horn was UMKC’s first openly gay student body president. The details of that claim are unclear.
