New resolution opposes presidential selection process
The CU presidential selection process may be reformed after the UCSU Legislative Council issued a resolution titled the “Call for Transparency in Presidential Selection Process” on Feb. 7.
The document voices UCSU’s concerns with the current selection process, including the lack of student input, the haste of the process and the lack of public awareness about forums.
“We have seen a lack of transparencies, ourselves,” said Dustin Farivar, a junior political science major and vice president of the Legislative Council. “This wasn’t an equitable way for students to get involved from the beginning.”
Two days after Bruce Benson was selected to be the sole presidential finalist on Feb. 2, a forum was held to allow students to establish an opinion on the decision. According to UCSU’s resolution, the forum was too hasty for students to rearrange their schedules or be informed in time to attend the event.
“Students were given only two business days to ask questions and form an opinion on the candidate,” said Boyce Postma, a senior architecture major and president of the Legislative Council. “It seemed rushed.”
The resolution also noted that UCSU and other students did most of the publicity for the forum, rather than the administration, the Board of Regents or the Presidential Search Committee. Of the approximately 300 students who were able to attend, some were turned away due to the small size of the room where the forum was held, the document said.
Members of UCSU said the lack of student involvement on the Presidential Search Committee was another concern they want to address.
“We wanted to represent all four campuses, but only one student was present,” Farivar said. “The experiences of students on all campuses are different and should all be represented separately.”
UCSU’s resolution calls for one student from each of CU’s four campuses to be on the Presidential Search Committee, as well as for the committee to hold off voting until well after two forums are held on each campus.
The resolution was distributed to the Board of Regents, chancellors, vice chancellors, and the public for consideration. Members of UCSU said they hope the resolution will allow for a greater student voice and better representation in future presidential decisions.
“This is going to affect students more than anyone else,” Postma said.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Carolyn Michaels at Carolyn.michaels@colorado.edu.
