FRIDAY I was humbled to begin a one-year term as the student member of the Board of Visitors. For no particular reason, the work and role of the student member has been largely and traditionally opaque to the student body. To help correct this, I am pleased to begin my term with the first of a regular series in The Cavalier Daily. To begin this series, an introduction to the student member position itself is perhaps in order.
The Code of Virginia sets out the governance structure of the University. The corporation -- formally the "Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia" -- has a Board of Visitors that is ultimately accountable for everything that happens at the University. It is somewhat analogous to a board of directors in a corporation.
The sixteen voting Board members are appointed by the governor to four-year terms with an optional one-time reappointment. Statute dictates some requirements about the members; for example, thirteen must be citizens of the Commonwealth and eleven must be alumni.
But additionally, one student serves on the Board as a non-voting member. Over the years, The Cavalier Daily has critiqued the student member position. Of particular interest has been the member's function as a democratic representative.
I think the position has two duties: to give the Board an informed student's perspective on various issues and to help explain to students what the Board is doing and why. These functions are notably different than what our representatives on Student Council are: a mouthpiece for a small group of students fighting vigorously to advance their agenda. This difference in role makes good sense.
We should not pretend that 20,397 students are of like mind on important issues. For instance, many of my graduate student friends are extremely concerned about the lack of funds for attending professional conferences compared to peer institutions. What is the "student mandate" on this issue?
Answer: like many student issues, there isn't one. Most undergraduate, law, and Darden students probably are not aware that this is even a problem. Non-graduate students might prefer any additional funds to be spent on hiring more professors, athletic facilities, and so on. My job is to keep the Board informed that some students are very worried about conference funding -- not to pretend like all students are in agreement about where to get this money.
I do not believe that the student member should simply be a walking polling station for student opinion. That function is better served by student referenda. Moreover, a purely democratic representational model might ignore important perspectives held only by a minority of students. For more on this topic, I reference the writing of a notable townie and one of the first members of the Board of Visitors, James Madison. See The Federalist 10.
I received an interesting call from a student reporter last week. The questions -- which were supposed to be for a news story and not an editorial -- insinuated that the student member was more entitled to a vote than certain members of the Board. This is a bit too simplistic of an outlook.
Why doesn't the student member have a vote? Most simply put, the state statute does not give the position a vote. But the issue of divided student opinion (or even a lack of student opinion) about issues would make democratic representation particularly tricky.
The student member is in many ways more effective at his job -- again, voicing a student perspective to the Board and communicating to students about the Board -- without a vote. A vote would put the student member on one side of a potentially divisive issue. It seems clear to me that this would compromise his ability to connect with students who feel differently. Instead, by not vocally "taking sides" on every divisive issue, the student member is able to better understand both sides of a debate and effectively relay all perspectives to the Board.
Finally, it is worth noting that the Board is composed of individuals who care deeply about the University. They have a big job. There are many people who have a stake in the University: alumni, faculty, staff, students, Charlottesville residents, politicians, parents and more.
My observation tells me that each Board member is genuinely interested in students and our perspectives. Students need not fret over not having a voting student representative because there are already sixteen members who care what we think.
I hope students will take advantage of the student member position this year. I am committed to reaching out to students and doing my best to understand the many complex issues on Grounds. I plainly invite all students to reach out to me, share your opinions about the University, and give me suggestions on how the Board could improve this place we love so dearly.
Carey Mignerey is the student member of the Board of Visitors and a Cavalier Daily contributor. This article is the personal opinion of Mr. Mignerey and not necessarily the position of the Board of Visitors.
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