Columbia, SC – State Representative and Lieutenant Governor candidate Bakari Sellers, alongside Reps. Joshua Putnam (R-Anderson) and Leon Stavrinakis (D-Charleston), filed the H. 5152 Student Empowerment in College Governance Act, which would add two student members to each public universities’ board of trustees. According to the bill, each student trustee would be elected by the student body to serve a one-year term. The student trustee must be a full time student and they would vacate the office if he or she withdraws from school before their term expires.
In passing the legislature, South Carolina public institutions of higher education would join many others that have student members of the board of trustees, including Ohio State University, Southern Methodist University, and Indiana University.
“It is no secret that students attending public colleges and universities in South Carolina lack a meaningful voice in the governance of their school,” said Rep. Bakari Sellers. “This bill would give them a vital stake in the outcomes of their schools’ management decisions. After all, these schools exist for the betterment of students. Why not give those students a voice in the decisions their schools are making?”
Students leaders across the state applauded the bill.
“We are so excited for Representative Sellers’ bill that gives South Carolina students a voice in the important decisions their schools make each year,” said College of Charleston SGA President Ryan Spraker. “I encourage our legislative leaders to pass this common sense bill and give students a seat at the table.”
“Students at public colleges and universities in South Carolina currently have no say in the multi-million dollar decisions their schools,” said Clemson Student Government Senator Justin Smith. “Representative Sellers’ bill would give us a direct stake in the future of our universities.”
“The board of trustees is vested with the responsibility to develop our University’s educational missions, fiscal policies, and vision for our future,” said University of South Carolina Student Government Senator Gavin Smith. “Allowing the student body to be further represented by a student voice on the board of trustees will not only cultivate a learning experience for this individual, but will also ensure that the student voice is represented when making decisions that impact both our future, and the future of our University.”
A comprehensive statement in support of Representative Sellers’ bill on behalf of the last eight presidents of the College of Charleston Student Body can be read HERE.
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12 comments
This inexperienced upstart keeps on publicly exhibiting why he should not be elected to a position of trust and responsibility that could make him Chief Executive of this State separated from it only by a missed heartbeat.
Nothing but pandering emanates from his mouth. Not a bit of gravitas displayed in the years I’ve observed this effete dilettante.
God, what a lightweight!
Jolly Good! Will there be a grade-point requirement for this person? Sounds like it will be a popularity contest between the stars on the basketball and football teams, but-but-but let’s not overlook some hot chicks on the cheerleading squads.
Yes, by all means, elect two students to be ignored.
Yet another waste of time by our legislators. Maybe they could elect someone based on who their daddy is rather than on their own merit like Sellers.
I’m going to amend Bakari’s bill to state that student be allowed to drink malt liquor at each meeting as well, and if they drive home drunk that get one “get out of jail free” card.
What? No mention of the supposed unconstitutionality of the Clemson Board of Trustees in a college piece……….talking about boards of trustees? A sad state of affairs indeed….
Oh, pls dear God, no! And the next step? Unionize Boards of Trustees, and then give them fairy wings, and dust them with ground up gold, and sing “Hey-Ba-Ba-Re-Bop (Doing, Doing)!” Enough! Enough! Our State is becoming insane!
Fix the friggin’ roads before you spend money on ANYTHING ELSE, dangit!
Can’t you see it now. The 2 CofC Student Board Members go against “status quo” on a decision and then all of a sudden their GPA’s mysteriously tank and their parents are now unemployed.
No, I can’t. The board doesn’t give students grades.
Someone should tell Sellers to read Oscar Wilde:”In America the young are always ready to give to those who are older than themselves the full benefits of their inexperience.”
Yes please, prove deTocqueville’s adage in extension in regards voting one’s self every sort of largesse. Two undergrad, two grad, two GI-bill, two LGTBAS, tow of every kind of animal and seven of every kind of “clean” animal as Noah was directed.
Sadly, this dilutes the wisdom of the boards, but WTF it shall further degrade the value of a degree from any SC skule
A play for the liberal college vote. Must be behind in the polls.