Opinion

Add a regent, add a voice

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Related stories:

• It takes two (November 14, 2005)
• Add another student regent (March 3, 2005)
• 1 if by Madison, 2 if by elsewhere (March 4, 2005)
• One for you, one for me (March 11, 2004)
• Student regent Tommie Jones (March 4, 2002)

Also by Daniel Donoghue:

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The Associated Students of Madison’s Legislative Affairs Committee is currently working on the issue of adding another student regent to the UW System Board of Regents. Adding a regent to the board would give students an increased voice in the UW System, allowing for the greater representation of student ideas and interests.

The Board of Regents is the controlling force in the UW System: they direct the UW system, its mission and its policy goals. For example, the tuition increases we all experienced this semester (and will again next semester) are the result of the budget passed by the Board of Regents. Due to the huge amount of power the Board of Regents exercises in university affairs, increased representation is an obvious and salient student concern.

As the system currently stands, the Board is composed of 17 regents. Only one of these regents is a student responsible for representing the interests of students: Tommie L. Jones Jr., from the UW-Whitewater campus. The governor, who is not required to listen to student recommendations when making his appointment, chooses this student regent. This student, while representing less than 6 percent of the board, is bound to protect student interests during his term. Obviously, this is a difficult task when faced with an overwhelming majority of members who are professional administrators rather than enrolled students.

In recent years, the board has neglected the will of the students, and has been easily able to out-vote the student regent when their opinions clashed. While this administration is relatively detached from day-to-day UW affairs, its decisions and policies are a critical student issue. Without a doubt, students need, desire and deserve greater representation and control over the direction their education takes.

Recently, a modification of the current system has been proposed. Assembly Bill 371/Senate Bill 175 proposes the addition of another student regent to represent the views of nontraditional students. This student would be appointed by the governor, and would be required to be at least 24 years of age and an undergraduate student. They would be responsible for representing the views of nontraditional students, such as students who work or have children, as well as other students. This bill would also require that the governor pick at least one regent based on student recommendations.

This bill would double student representation on the board, giving students a greater say in the organization and administration of our schools, and heightening the prominence of student concerns on the Board of Regent’s agenda. Furthermore, by requiring the governor to appoint a regent based on student endorsement, students would be given a direct voice in the regent appointment process.

ASM Legislative Affairs will have a press conference in the near future to update students and citizens as to the status of this crucial legislation. I urge all students to make their voice heard by lobbying current Congress members and gubernatorial candidates.

How can this be done? There are several effective ways for making your opinions clear to state representatives and senators. Write a letter. Send an e-mail. Make a phone call. Go to a scheduled appearance and speak with the individual in person. Tell your representatives that, as a constituent, you support AB371 and SB175.

To get the information needed to do any of these things, simply go to http://www.legis.state.wi.us/ and click on “Who are my Legislators?” to get the information on who represents you, and how to contact them.

This bill gives students a ripe opportunity for making their voices heard. This is an issue that affects us, as students, personally. It will affect the way our university is administered, the way faculty are hired and retained, the way classes are organized and countless other aspects of student life. We have both the responsibility and the right to exercise our power to control our education. Use it.

In tandem with ASM, UW students can make clear their support for this bill, as well as their desire for increased representation of student interests in statewide government. Legislative Affairs has made this issue one of its chief concerns, and plans on playing an active role in the issue of adding both adding a regent and increasing overall student representation in UW’s administration.