In mid-November, two high-ranking officials at George Washington University rejected student efforts to put a student on the Board of Trustees. University President Stephen Trachtenberg and Board of Trustees Chairman Charles Manatt said they did not support a Student Assembly resolution in favor of adding a permanent student member to the Board of Trustees, The Hatchet, George Washington's student newspaper reported. AU's Board of Trustees adheres to a similar policy.
The Board is one of the highest decision-making organizations at GW and most other colleges, including AU.
"The 35-person board, which is comprised of alumni, benefactors and professionals, is the University's highest decision-making body and meets four times a year," according to The Hatchet. It meets four times a year to determine a variety of relevant student issues from parking policies to tuition rates.
The campaign to earn a student voice was started to increase the level of representation within campus government and heighten board accountability to the student body.
The GW resolution was introduced by Morgan Corr, a student who said the board has been historically negligent of student perspective on issues. Currently, one student representative is allowed to sit in on the closed-door meetings and address the board for two minutes, but cannot vote.
"A student board member would increase the transparency of the board and enhance student involvement," said Corr.
Adding a student to the board would require altering the by-laws, which currently block student membership, Corr said.
"There are a few board members who are sympathetic to our cause," said Corr, "[GW] President [Stephen] Trachtenberg is responsive, [the administrators] just need time to think about it."
At AU, student and board relations are different. Presidential Assistant Mark Huey said student relations with the Board of Trustees are good, and there is an active student voice present at meetings.
The Student Confederation, Student Bar Association and Graduate Leadership Council all send members to speak to the board about student concerns. One representative from each of the groups receives the meeting agenda.
During the meeting, representatives are given time to make a full-length presentation from the student perspective.
"The students provide a valuable resource to the Board by providing them with background information on issues," Huey said.
Recently, the board worked closely with the students to settle parking issues. Huey commented that the students would like to see the Board a little more frequently on campus.
"The Board is truly interested in meeting students and learning about their concerns," he said.
Some students disagree, however.
"I don't feel like the student complaints are heard by the administration," said Molly Doyle, a sophomore in the School of Communication. "Giving students a better voice is a good idea."
In May the GW community will vote on a referendum to determine if a student board member is necessary.
"Ideally," said Corr, "there will be two voting members, one graduate and one undergraduate that will be elected to the Board."
AU plans to maintain its current policy of student representation.
"We had a few student members back in the '70s, but most of them went on to become full board members anyway," Huey said. "We just haven't had many problems with student under-representation."
Some students want representation on the board.
"I think that's a little closed-minded of AU," said Maria Braeckel, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. "Maybe they think the students have enough representation, but I'm surprised the administration didn't give it further consideration"
