The UW System Board of Regents came one step closer to including more student representation Tuesday as the state Senate passed a bill to add another student regent to the board.
The bill passed the state Senate by a voice vote but still needs approval by the state Assembly and Gov. Jim Doyle. It provides for the addition of a student who is at least 24 years old who represents the views of non-traditional students such as veterans or parents.
\I think it is most appropriate to acknowledge the number of students that are non-traditional students,"" said Sen. Sheila Harsdorf, R-River Falls, a co-sponsor of the bill and chair of the state senate Committee on Higher Education and Tourism.
Harsdorf added that non-traditional students would enrich the board's perspective when it makes decisions affecting the student body.
However, Board President Toby Marcovich said more diversity could create confusion on the board.
""We take as pretty much the position of the students what we hear from the student regent,"" Marcovich said. ""But if we have two student regents with diversity of opinion, then who is speaking for the students?""
Marcovich said he does not disapprove of the plan, but he does not understand why students want a second representative on the board. Currently, 16 people, including one student, sit on the board.
Doyle would appoint the new regent and the Legislature would have to approve him or her. In the past, appointments have been delayed by partisan politics when the legislative majority and governor represented different parties.
Although the regents would not get to choose their new member, Marcovich said he would like to see certain qualities in that person.
""It's got to be somebody ... willing to make some unpopular decisions to further the best interest of the system,"" Marcovich said.
The board's recent decision to increase administrators' pay scale ranges, which was later postponed, created some controversy. The board also raised in-state tuition 18 percent in July.
Jeff Pertl, president of United Council, a lobbyist group for UW students, said his group has pushed for a version of this bill for three or four years.
""I'd like to see this pass in the next couple of weeks and claim our first legislative victory of the year,"" Pertl said.
