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Regents attack second student regent bill

Members of the Arizona Board of Regents Friday vocally denounced the state house of representatives bill that would place a second student regent on the board.

The board did not vote to oppose the bill in its meeting on Friday at the University of Arizona.

House Bill 2425 would place a second non-voting student regent on the board whose term would be staggered with the existing voting student regent's term.

"They (other regents) serve for eight years. All we're asking for is one more year," Cisco Aguilar, Associated Students president and a proponent of the bill, said after the meeting.

If passed, the board will have one active voting member still, with the second position acting as an apprentice.

The first year on the board for the student regent would be a learning year to become acquainted with the procedures of the board so that they will be able to better fulfill the position. The student regent would gain the power to vote the second year and become mentor to a new student regent.

"The whole idea is to allow the student to fully understand the way things work," Aguilar said.

Many regents attacked the language of the bill, stating that it leaves too much room for more changes to be made in the future.

"I don't like the way it came forth, and I don't like the language of the bill," said Hank Amos, ABOR president. "You can't predict the future, but you can predict chapters two, three and four."

Amos and others on the board said they think that in the future there will be pressure to make the second student regent a voting member even though the bill states the contrary.

"In the first year of the term the student member may exercise all rights and privileges of a board member, except the right to vote," the bill states.

UA President Peter Likins said he is in favor of giving student regents a learning year, but opposes the bill.

"It's unfortunate that the language of the resolution did not meet my expectations," Likins said.

Amos also criticized the students' means to create a second student position.

"They made no effort to come to us and went straight to the legislature; it breaks layers of trust," Amos said.

At January's meeting, members of Associated Students of Arizona spoke about the topic during the call to audience after lobbying the state legislature earlier in the day.

ASA also worked with Regent Jack Jewett in formulating the idea, Aguilar said.

"The concept made a great deal of sense to me," Jewett said.

However, Jewett said he also had problems with the bill.

"It gives me pause that it could lead to alterations to the board," Jewett said.

While some regents spoke against the language of the bill, some members said they understand the need for the new position.

"I find the job of the student regent to be the most difficult of all (the regents)," Regent Judy Gignac said.

Aguilar said that the assault on the bill was unnecessary.

"I'm really surprised they brought up those issues," Aguilar said. "It was uncalled for and out of line."