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Students, faculty concerned about Hull's task force

Arizona Daily Wildcat Photo by: AARON FARNSWORTH UA President Peter Likins speaks at the Faculty Senate meeting, held at the Law building yesterday. Likins relayed information about the governor's new Higher Education Task Force.

University of Arizona student and faculty leaders yesterday said they were disappointed by Gov. Jane Hull's appointments to Arizona's Higher Education Task Force.

The 16-member task force, which includes presidents from all three state universities, as well as two members of the Arizona Board of Regents, was created to develop education strategies for state colleges.

"She (Hull) did not respond to our request (to include students and faculty)," UA President Peter Likins told the Faculty Senate at its meeting yesterday. "That leaves each of us the responsibility... to stay in touch with the legislature."

Associated Students President Cisco Aguilar said he was disappointed by the exclusion of student members.

"I'm excited that she (Hull) is doing it," Aguilar said. "I just wish there would be a student representative, especially because students are the direct impact of higher education."

Aguilar said he has contacted Hull's advisers about the possibility of adding Regent Christine Thompson, a UA student, to the committee.

"She could have cleared up a lot of misunderstandings," Aguilar said.

He added that if Thompson is not appointed, students will have to work harder to get their voices heard.

"We'll have to really lobby Dr. Likins," he said.

Likins said Thompson would have been a good addition to the task force.

"I would have preferred Christine to be able to serve," he said.

Faculty Chairman Jerrold Hogle said although he was pleased with Hull's choices, he "would have liked to see students and faculty represented."

Hogle said he has received assurances from Likins and the regents that faculty voices will be heard.

"I see a problem, but it seems that it's mitigated somewhat," Hogle said. "I'm at least satisfied with the president and regents' assessment that we will have direct input."

Likins said he doesn't foresee any difficulty in communicating UA concerns.

"The difficulty will be in finding any kind of convergence," he said.