Student regent bill opposed by ASUW, UW lobbyists

UW students and administrators have united against a bill that would allow the length of the student regent's term to be determined by the Board of Regents.

Senate Bill 5022 would allow the student regent's term, which has traditionally been one year, to be anywhere from one day to two years.

"I am opposed to the student regent bill because the current language gives a lot of power of the appointment of the student regent to the Board of Regents and it is not vested in the state Legislature," said ASUW President Kelsey Knowles. "It has no stipulation when the regents can decide how the student regents term would end. It could end after 60 days or two years."

Knowles will express her opposition to the proposed measure today when she gives testimony to the Senate's education committee.

UW lobbyist Randy Hodgins said the University agrees with Knowles.

"We want to give as many students as possible the experience of serving on the board and we haven't seen any evidence that two years would be better than one," Hodgins said. "The current system is working fine and we don't see any need to change it."

The bill is co-sponsored by Sen. Ken Jacobsen, D-Seattle, who said the legislation would better accommodate student needs.

"Past student regents have said they didn't feel one year was enough to master all the complexities of the University," said Jacobsen, who is also a UW alumnus. "A couple more years of experience would be more effective on behalf of the students."

While current student regent Alex Bolton said a longer term would give future student regents a chance to gain a better understanding of the UW, he also expressed concern the bill would limit the "talent pool" available. If undergraduates wanted to take on the task, they would have to be prepared to apply as sophomores.

"I have a hard time seeing a sophomore being able to take it on and tackle it," said Bolton. "I am in a two-year graduate program so I would have had to apply before I even began my program."

Jacobsen affirmed that the bill gives regents the option to have the student regent's term be less than two years, allowing students unable to serve for more than one year because of graduation or other time restrictions to opt out of a second year, if offered.

"I assume some students are only going to be there for one year if they aren't appointed until their second year of graduate school," said Jacobsen. "But then everyone would understand it would be a one-year term."

ASUW lobbyist Jamie Corning said he opposes the bill because it could potentially allow regents to keep a student in the position even if they not accurately representing their student constituents.

"If we get a student regent that is not representing student interests the one year term is the only check we have on that regent's power," said Corning. "Three years ago we had a student regent that actually voted in favor of raising tuition."

Jacobsen expressed apprehension about student opposition of the bill, saying he hoped it would be an initial step and that the student lobbyists would change it to fit their needs.

"My only concern is that it sounded like the ASUW is taking a position against the bill and instead of that they should come in and offer amendments on it," he said. "I am extremely flexible ... amendments are a perfecting process, not every bill is right on the first cut."

Corning said that adding amendments would only be considered if the bill continues to more forward despite its initial opposition.