Curators oppose vote for student
The Board of Curators voted to oppose three Missouri General Assembly bills.
Published Jan. 31, 2006
The UM system Board of Curators voted Friday against giving the student representative a vote on the board — at least under the terms of three Missouri General Assembly bills.
Eight members of the board voted to oppose the three bills that would give the student a vote on the university's governing board. One member, Anne Ream, abstained.
Board of Curators President Angela Bennett said she agreed with allowing the student representative to vote but disagreed with the bills' provisions that would have the student replace one of the board's members.
"I do have a problem with the student vote replacing one of the nine curators," Bennett said.
She said the board's members represented each of the state's nine Congressional districts and that the formula should not be altered. Bennett said she did not have an alternative plan in mind.
House Bills 1229 and 1308 and Senate Bill 673 elevate the student representative from a required adviser to a voting participant on the UM system Board of Curators. All three bills would replace one of the board's members with a voting student representative. The board's action is advisory and not binding on the legislature in any way. If passed, the bill would go into effect in August 2006.
Sen. Chuck Graham, D-Columbia, is sponsoring the Senate bill. Rep. Judy Baker, D-Columbia, is co-sponsoring both House bills.
Maria Curtis, the current student representative to the board, said the curators' opposition came from a misunderstanding of how student involvement in the board would work. She said she was disappointed by the board's decision.
"Although the student curator has a voice, until they have a vote, I don't see how that voice is equal," Curtis said.
She said that because of student support, she felt the student representative inevitably would be granted the power to vote.
"Students will work for this as long as it takes," Curtis said. "The only question is when."
Gov. Matt Blunt appointed Curtis, who is a graduate student at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, as the student representative to the board in July 2005.
Intercampus Student Council Chairman Tony Luetkemeyer and other student leaders echoed Curtis' disappointment.
"Since I have seen their increased interest in the student body, I thought the decision was a real step backward," Luetkemeyer said.
Luetkemeyer, who also is the former president of the Missouri Students Association, said voting powers for the student curator still would be a top priority among UM system students and student lobbying groups.
"(The Associated Students of the University of Missouri) made a presentation to the board, expressing to them their interest in pursuing legislative action that would allow the student curator to have a vote," Luetkemeyer said.
MSA President John Andersen said he felt the board should focus more attention on the student population.
"A student vote is essential," Andersen said. "We have never had it before, and I think it is deserved."