Students need adequate representation

Wednesday, February 25, 1998

Students need adequate representation

REGENT: Specialized board member necessary to address specific
needs, complaints, perspectives

When California voters amended the state constitution in 1974,
students scored a coup with the addition of one of their own to the
UC Board of Regents. Since the establishment of the seat, regents
and students have debated the actual role of the student regent.
Regents emphasized that the student regent must think foremost as a
trustee of the university, not as a student. But as student
concerns get lost and ignored, its crucial that the student regent
be attuned to all the things students want addressed.

The spectrum of issues the student regent can address is broad.
The student regent has full voting powers just like any other
regent. The Board of Regents has the role of establishing
university policy for issues such as affirmative action, student
fees, admission and financial aid. The board is also responsible
for overseeing the universitys finances and appointing the UC
president, each of the nine chancellors and the next student
regent. Students have limited involvement in the student regent
selection process, but the ultimate decision rests in the hands of
the regents. Considering that the interests of students are often
at odds with those of the regents, it is foolish that the sole
student voice on the board is dictated by the board itself. The UC
Students Association should have full authority over selection of
the student regent.

The regents are trustees of the university, and their oversight
functions provide the long-term views of the university. Yet, with
a limited breadth of power, students concerns often get blurred and
go without being addressed. So its crucial that the student regent
be the one to bring our concerns to the regent table.

The student regent needs to act on behalf of the students in the
university and address the things we students are concerned with.
As such, the student regent needs to address issues such as
maintaining diversity in the university, which can be achieved
through working on outreach programs, securing adequate financial
aid for students and ensuring access and opportunity to all current
and prospective students.

Among the top priorities for students is fees and financial aid.
The student regent needs to make sure fees stay low and financial
aid is available for those who need it. The power to effect such
changes lies squarely in the hands of the regents, and the student
regent needs to guarantee that the university maintains excellence
while being able to satisfy the needs and desires of the
students.

The student regent must act as a liaison throughout the various
UC campuses and keep in contact with students and student leaders
from each school, taking the concerns they have and addressing them
in regent sessions.

Currently, the student regent is one of our best means of
influencing university policy. We need to ensure that we have a
student regent who represents us and looks out for our best
interests.