Editorial : SA must choose second Board of Trustees liaison with care
On Monday night, Student Association voted to permanently secure the SA president in one of two student liaison spots for Syracuse University’s Board of Trustees, effective in January. The Board of Trustees is the governing body of the university, and the role of the two student liaisons is to bring forth the opinions of the student body. The liaisons do not vote on the Board of Trustees’ proceedings.
The SA president is already involved in every other aspect of both the student body and the university, giving him or her a good grasp of wide-ranging student concerns. Making the liaison position permanent seems like a natural step. But SA members should be aware that with this extra power comes the obligation to be more conscious of who they elect as the second student liaison.
The two student liaisons hold the utmost power in setting an agenda in regards to campus issues and student life. With the SA president now a permanent liaison, there needs to be a greater emphasis on choosing a second liaison with a more diverse background or different set of ideas. Actively seeking another campus leader or someone outside of SA would prove most beneficial to the student body.
Student interest in campus politics has proven to be apathetic during the past few years. With few student grievances against the university, it’s easy for students to overlook the importance of having a strong voice in the highest governing body at SU. But should student activism rise again on campus, it would be crucial to have a diverse pair of student representatives.
