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IU seeking applicants for student trustee
Nov. 28, 2000
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Applications will be available Tuesday (Dec. 5) for the student position on the Indiana University Board of Trustees. The deadline for applying is Jan. 26 at 5 p.m.
Application materials are available in the Trustees office at IU Bloomington, in the chancellors' offices at the regional campuses, and in three locations at IUPUI: Office of Student Life and Diversity (University College 002), Graduate School (Union Building 518), and the chancellor's office.
IU has had a student trustee since the Indiana General Assembly increased the board from eight to nine members 25 years ago and provided that the governor appoint a full-time student.
The position has grown in scope since the first student trustee, Leslie C. Shively, was sworn in on Jan. 1, 1976, according to John D. Walda, now president of the Board of Trustees.
Walda, who received his undergraduate and law degrees from IU, was a student government office-holder and campaigned on behalf of the enabling legislation when he was a student.
"When I was in student government," Walda said, "one of our issues was getting a student representative on the Board of Trustees to ensure that student concerns could be brought directly to trustees.
"In my mind, the position has grown to be much more than that. Today, the student trustee is equal with all board members," Walda added. "True, the position represents the student voice, but casts an equally weighted vote on all issues affecting Indiana University."
Student Trustee Dean A. Hertzler II, whose term expires June 30, termed his tenure on the board an incredible opportunity.
"It has been a tremendous learning experience," Hertzler said. "I've been able to learn the inner workings of the university, make real contributions to the board and have influence on decisions that are made. I would encourage students to apply. It has taken an extraordinary amount of time, but it's been worth every minute of it."
IU President Myles Brand also encouraged students to apply, saying the position provides an opportunity to have a voice in shaping IU's future, while mastering skills that will translate far beyond academia.
"The leadership lessons that you will learn and practice -- how to listen to others' views, how to analyze data and how to make the tough decisions that every leader must make -- these are lessons that will serve you in good stead forever," Brand said.
The term of office, which begins July 1, is two years. Any full-time IU student enrolled at seven of IU's campuses may apply. Students attending IPFW are counted as Purdue students and are not eligible. The student trustee must be a full-time student for the duration of the appointment. He or she may be an undergraduate or graduate student.
Applications for the student position will be reviewed by the 2001 IU Student Trustee Search and Screen Committee, which is composed of student representatives from IU's campuses. The committee will interview selected finalists on March 30 and 31 in Indianapolis. According to state law, the committee must forward 10 names to Gov. Frank O'Bannon, who will make the final selection by June 30.
For more information, call the Board of Trustees office, located in Room M005 of the Indiana Memorial Union on the Bloomington campus, at 812-855-3762, or visit the board's Web site at http://www.indiana.edu/~trustees
(Susan Dillman, 812-855-0846, sdillman@indiana.edu)