At UCLA, one of the top-ranking public research institutions, and at the University of California, one of the most advanced public higher education systems in the world, students have always been at the forefront of creating change. It was once said, “I don’t speak because I have the power to speak; I speak because I don’t have the power to remain silent.” As students, this sentiment is imperative to our understanding of what it means to be the next generation of leaders. We each have a unique opportunity to be catalysts of improving our campuses and the world around us.
Looking over our history, we have clear evidence of what the student voice is capable of achieving. In 1961, it was UCLA students who boarded a train in Mississippi as a way to protest the unlawful segregation of interstate transportation. It was our campus that created the very first student-initiated, student-run and student-funded retention center in the nation. It is our students who regularly visit Sacramento and Washington DC to advocate on student issues such as college affordability and funding for mental health resources. Why is it that we trust these students to make a difference? Because no one knows the student experience and how to improve it better than the students themselves.
That is why in the 1960s, it was the student voice that pushed for student representation on the UC Board of Regents. The Board of Regents maintains full organizational and governance control over the University of California. Despite much pushback and a rigorous campaign, in 1974, a proposition was passed which allowed for the appointment of one student and one faculty member to the board. This student is called the student regent. The student regent has a two-year term, the first year of which he or she does not have a vote, but sits on the board, and in the second year becomes a full voting member.
READ MORE: Submission: Students should value increased representation before UC Regents
This means that on a board of 26 voting members who maintain full control over every decision impacting UC student populations, only a few students represent the voice of nearly 246,000 undergraduates and graduates, and in the next three years, this number is expected to increase by 10,000. Reflecting on our rich history of activism lead purely by students, it appears that our true allies lie within ourselves. Current student regent Avi Oved has recognized this fact and has been fiercely advocating for more student representation on the Board. He has proposed a new student adviser position who will function as a non-voting member with the power to speak at Board meetings. The student adviser will serve as an extension of the student regent and student regent-designate, ensuring that they elevate more issues on the ground to a regent level, all while contributing a complementary perspective to the student experience and ultimately influence regental decisions that will directly impact students’ day-to-day lives.
READ MORE: Letter to the Editor: Additional student adviser furthers conversation for future of the UC
With pressing issues that are directly affecting our students’ lives on UC campuses such as sexual assault and affordability of education, it is imperative that we have student input in the decision-making process now, which is exactly what the student adviser position is constructed to do. This individual would serve as another voice to the regents and would have full access to key decision-making stakeholders. The creation of student adviser is a step in the right direction towards creating another student voting member on the Board of Regents, and we proudly join the chorus of voices in support of this proposal that include over 12 student government associations, University of California Student Association (UCSA) and the UC Council of Student Body Presidents.
In the Daily Bruin editorial piece from January 7, the Editorial Board discusses the lack of transparency and accountability of the Regents, but fails to recognize that a student adviser would be one more student eye, ear and voice of the UC student body to hold them to higher standards of transparency and accountability. To belittle the power and influence of a student leader and activist on the decision-making processes is a shame and disgrace to student activism and student-led progress made across the UC. Shame on the Daily Bruin Editorial Board for misrepresenting and devaluing the power of student-led initiatives performed by the student regent, student regent-designate and student leaders of the UC.
Rosen is the 2015-2016 USAC President. Hourdequin is the 2015-2016 USAC Internal Vice President.