Draft of Resolution Supporting Caucus-Based Elections for Student and Faculty Board of Governors and Board of Trustees Representatives.

Whereas,
The primary purpose of the faculty and student representatives to the Board of Governors is to represent faculty and student perspectives—respectively—on that board,

Whereas,
The primary purpose of the two faculty, one graduate student, and one undergraduate student representatives to the Board of Trustees is to represent faculty, graduate student, and undergraduate student perspectives—respectively—on that board,

Whereas,
The Senate handbook defines their roles as the following: “Each Senate representative serves as a faculty or student voice, and as an advocate of the Senate view when appropriate, to the members of the Boards.” (VI.E.3)

Whereas,
Acting as an advocate of the Senate view is a secondary, rather than primary role of these representatives,

Whereas,
Current Senate practice calls for the entire Senate to vote on appointments to these positions,

Whereas,
Democratic principles dictate that representation requires election by the coordinate constituency,

Therefore let it be said:
That the current Senate practice of the entire Senate voting on faculty and student representatives to the Board of Governors, and the two faculty, one graduate, and one undergraduate representatives to the Board of Trustees—is not in accord with democratic principles,

That given the primary purposes of these representatives, it is inappropriate for non-faculty members to vote for faculty representatives, and non-students to vote for student representatives,

Thus, let it be resolved that:
1)    The faculty representatives to the Board of Governors and the Board of Trustees shall be elected exclusively by voting members of the Faculty Caucus of the Senate
2)    The student representative to the Board of Governors shall be elected exclusively by voting members of the Student Caucus of the Senate
3)    The graduate student representative to the Board of Trustees shall be elected exclusively by a sub-caucus composed of voting graduate student Senators
4)    The undergraduate student representative to the Board of Trustees shall be elected exclusively by a sub-caucus composed of voting undergraduate student Senators
5)    The procedures whereby these representatives shall be elected shall be at the discretion of their respective caucuses, but such procedures must be approved by a 2/3 majority vote in the caucus and the approval of 2/3 of the Senate
6)    This resolution be made effective starting this academic year for appointments of representatives beginning in the 2005-2006 academic year
7)    Elections shall take place every year hence in the preceding manner
8)    In the event of a vacancy mid-year, the same procedures shall be used to select a replacement as are used in the annual elections

(Draft submitted by Senator Andrew Hoekzema, January 24, 2005.)