The University of Missouri Board of Curators has decided to name the NextGen Precision Health Institute after US Congressman Roy Blunt. Senator Blunt is an active senator and has no affiliation with the University of Missouri outside the fact that he represents the state it's in. He did not attend any of the universities in the UM System, and has done nothing to warrant the naming of a center so integral to the vision of the Univeristy of Missouri's future after him besides generalized education funding. In contrast, 17 years ago the Life Sciences Center was named for Senator Kit Bond. Bond was intergral to the establishment of this interdisiplinary research center. He interviewed faculty, advocated for, and specially earmarked government funds to provide for the establishment of the LSC. Senator Blunt has done none of these things.

In addition, Blunt has multiple times denied the contributions of humans to climate change, an issue which is affecting human health everywhere. In addition to the problems associated with displacing humans and events like hurricanes destroying their livelihood and decreasing their access to healthcare, rising temperatures increase the prevalence of disease vectors like ticks and mosquitos. Tick-borne illness has been on the rise for several years in Missouri. For Blunt to deny climate reform is him perpetuating and worsening health conditions for the citizens of our state.

Blunt is also opposed to issues in women's health. In 2008 and 2012, Blunt in favor of amendments to legislations that would allow health insurance providers to deny coverage of birth control and contraceptives on a basis of moral and religious objections. Thankfully, both of these amendments failed, but had they passed, they would have had detrimental effects on Missouri populations, including students at Mizzou who have may not be financially stable enough to afford birth control out-of-pocket. In 2006, Blunt voted in favor of a bill that would have banned same-sex marriage nationwide, and in 2013 voted against a bill that would have banned employment discrimination based on sexual or gender identity. This is a man who is not for the people. He has a history of preventing accessibility and fairness for minorities. He should not be associated with the NextGen Precision Health Center, a center that is researching cutting edge health for all Missourians.