UNDERMINING THE STUDENT VOICE
(In response to Katie Shoultz’s March 29 article, “Brewer selects USG candidate for Board of Regents.”)
Tyler Bowyer’s appointment as ABOR student regent has caused quite the buzz on campus. Bowyer was not one of three recommended candidates who underwent a rigorous application, interview and nomination process by ASU student governments, but circumvented the traditional procedure by applying directly to Gov. Jan Brewer’s office.
Brewer’s failure to select a recommended candidate is yet another disturbing example of how Arizona’s government is unresponsive to the student voice. Beyond this, Bowyer’s appointment is notable because of his candidacy for the USG presidency.
Bowyer will argue the appointment would have improved his ability to influence tuition debates — a hot topic in the campaign. Yet the mentality behind his actions should be pause for consideration.
He has, in effect, undermined the very student government that he aimed to lead.
In bypassing the endorsement process, Bowyer sends the message that student governments should not be an authoritative voice with the state government.
Regardless of one’s opinion on current administration policies, circumventing the system must be recognized as ultimately ineffective.
A history of disregarding standard procedure complicates working with the system when the time comes, as it inevitably will, to do so.
As a student with extensive college council experience, I know how hard student governments work building legitimacy among constituents and with administrations.
Bowyer has in effect given student government as a process a vote of no confidence — disturbing, considering his intention to run one. If elected, he has set himself up for a huge task: re-establishing the legitimacy he just undermined.
Emily Reynolds
Undergraduate
