Four UA students, including a former student body president and an ASUA senator, have been named finalists for the student regent position.
Student lobbyists selected the finalists, and now Gov. Janet Napolitano will choose one of the four candidates for the two-year term as regent. The winner will represent more than 100,000 students throughout the state, and will have a vote on the Arizona Board of Regents in the second year.
The candidates are: Chris Dang, a political science sophomore; Joseph Fu, a molecular and cellular biology freshman; Ben Graff, a law student and 2000 - 2001 student body president; and Jacob Reuben, a pre-business sophomore and ASUA senator.
Only one candidate who submitted an application was eliminated, said student body President J.P. Benedict.
Typically, lobbyists only choose three finalists, but they decided to forward four names to the governor because three of the candidates presented comparable qualifications, Benedict said.
He added that one candidate clearly stood above the others, but wouldn't say which person it was.
"We had a very tough time, a very slim margin with the last three candidates," Benedict said. "Any one of the four could represent the students of Arizona well."
When the lobbyists sent the list to Napolitano, they ranked the candidates in order of preference, though Benedict wouldn't disclose the rankings.
Once Napolitano chooses her nominee, possibly within the next few weeks, he must be confirmed by the state Senate.
Graff said he was excited to be closer to the opportunity he has been preparing six years for.
"I have always been dedicated to Arizona politics, public service and to higher education issues," he said.
He also said next year's student regent will play an important role, and should have a passion for the concerns of students in all three universities.
"I will bring the position to its fullest potential," he said.
Dang, who worked with the last UA student regent, Matt Meaker, also said he was excited to be one of the four finalists.
"I came on not knowing where I'd end up," he said.
He said he wanted the position after hearing concerns from students in all three universities and taking them to heart.
He said the fact that four finalists were selected showed that all applicants were tremendously qualified.
Reuben said he was honored to be selected as a finalist, and hopes to get selected so he can lobby for students from all three universities.
"I am proud to be one of the finalists," he said.
He said he would make all the universities his priority, but focus on the Tucson community.
"I'll remember where my roots are from," he said.
Fu, who is also a senatorial candidate, said he was told it was a good idea to do both because it would make him more aware of the issues, and he could apply what he learned as a senator toward the regent position.
But he said if the schedules conflict, he would have to choose between the two positions. He said he hasn't given any thought to which one he would choose.
"I'm just happy, excited, and surprised to be selected," he said. "I didn't expect them to pick a freshman."
He said the fact that only five students applied for the position is reminiscent of what happened with the senate race.
"It shows an issue that needs to be addressed," he said. "Involvement and awareness needs to be increased."
Current Student Regent Danelle Kelling's term ends on June 30. Kelling is an ASU law student. When her term expires, Wes McCalley, an NAU student now serving as the non-voting student regent, will take her place as the voting student.
Whichever UA student Napolitano chooses will spend his first year without a vote on the 12-member board, and then assume a voting role the following year.
Former law student Matthew Meaker was the last UA student to serve on the board. His term expired last summer.