![<p>“How can I have trust [in the Board] if I don't even know how they incorporated [students'] feedback?” Student Council President Clay Dickerson said in an interview.</p>](https://snworksceo.imgix.net/cav/8221f397-1c24-4ef7-8478-ab26c9257190.sized-1000x1000.jpg?w=1000)
Student Council passed a resolution Friday declaring no confidence in the Board of Visitors, expressing frustration with the current presidential search process and condemning what the resolution called the Board’s failure to engage in dialogue about this process with student leaders. The resolution was adopted by Student Council and on behalf of the Fourth Year Trustees and the Second and Third Year Class Councils.
The resolution says that the Board violated its responsibilities by failing to protect the University from outside interference which led to former University President Jim Ryan’s resignation. However, much of the reasoning within the resolution’s language focuses on the Board’s decisions since Ryan’s resignation.
These decisions by the Board include a lack of inclusion of student voices in the search for the University’s 10th president in addition to a “disregard” for the requests outlined in a resolution passed by Student Council July 15 which called for five students to be included on the presidential search committee.
Ten days after this resolution was passed, the Board announced the official committee July 25, which included just one undergraduate student — Gregory Perryman, student representative to the Board and fourth-year College student — and two graduate students, doctoral student Quana Dennis and graduate student Dr. Babur Lateef.
Keoni Vega, Fourth Year Trustees president and fourth-year College student, said in a written statement to The Cavalier Daily that the Board’s failure to include students in the process led him to support the resolution in partnership with Student Council.
“This decision is a clear slap in the face to the entire undergraduate population,” Vega said. “A 28-member search committee composed of 14 current or acting Board members and no independent undergraduate voice is not only tone-deaf — it’s laughably disrespectful and reveals how little regard they have for students.”
In the resolution of no confidence, Student Council and the class councils demanded that the presidential selection committee be revised to include increased student representation. They also asked that Student Council be offered the opportunity to conduct a majority vote of approval or disapproval of the final candidate. Together, these steps, they said, would restore trust in the Board.
“We cannot support any future presidential appointment made through a process that inadequately represents the voices of students, unless and until confidence is restored through the implementation of the above requests and a demonstrated commitment to student participation,” the resolution reads.
In an interview with The Cavalier Daily, Clay Dickerson, Student Council president and fourth-year College student, affirmed this stance.
“[It’s important for] students to be there to make sure that the Board is held accountable and that we, at least, can confirm that our voices are heard,” Dickerson said. “Having a seat at the table means the world, and it especially means the world to the students who aren't there to know that we can have confidence in that process.”
The resolution also calls for the Board to publicly explain rules and guidelines for the search process, including feedback mechanisms, committee bylaws and voting procedures. The current selection committee has not yet met publicly or explained specific selection processes which is similar to past committees whose business was typically kept confidential.
When the University announced the search committee for a permanent president, it said that listening sessions with community members would be hosted throughout the process, and that the committee would launch a website with updates and opportunities for input on candidates and the selection process.
However, Dickerson explained that for him, this outreach is not enough — he noted that even if there are opportunities for feedback, the lack of student representation and transparency means students cannot be sure their opinions are taken into account.
“How can I have trust [in the Board] if I don't even know how they incorporated [students’] feedback?” Dickerson said. “[We’re] calling for some transparency on how the listening sessions results are implemented and utilized.”
Although no plans for listening sessions or websites pertaining to the permanent presidential search have yet been released, the Board did launch a website asking for nominations for interim president and held a series of listening sessions in July regarding the interim president selection process. The results of these efforts have not yet been released, and it is unclear whether community input was taken into consideration when the Board selected Interim President Paul Mahoney Aug. 4.
In the meeting to vote on the resolution, Law School Representative Kasey Michaud raised concerns that the resolution would be seen as an attack on Mahoney, of whom he says many members of the Law School community are supportive. Student Council approved an amendment which clarifies that the resolution is not a reflection on the current president.
“This position is not intended as a reflection on the current interim president; rather, it is a call for a transparent and inclusive process going forward,” the resolution said.
The resolution was sponsored by Dickerson, Imane Akhanous, chair of the representative body and fourth-year College student, and Princess Wuraola Olubuse-Omisore, vice president for administration and MPH candidate in the School of Medicine.
Student Council serves as an advisory body, meaning that any resolution passed is not binding — the Board has no requirement to meet these requests. Despite this, Dickerson said he remains hopeful that the Board will see the value in maintaining a strong relationship with the student body.
“I would [hope] this is a wake up call [for the Board],” Dickerson said. “Both I and other student leaders have been doing our [best] to work in good faith … this is by no means a complete negation of that branch that we've continually been extending — despite their rejection of it — but rather, it's an indication of the severity of the situation.”
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