Undergrad must be Ohio resident, good academic standing
By Rachel NicodemusLantern staff writerWanted: an undergraduate student to fill a position on the Ohio State Board of Trustees.A replacement for Undergraduate Student Trustee Holly Smith, who will end her two-year term this year, is being sought.Applications are available in the Office of Student Affairs, the Board of Trustees office, the USG office, the Kuhn Honors House, and many other locations, said Mark E. Berkman, the graduate student member of the board.Interested students must complete a form, send a resume and write a five page statement. Undergraduates who are Ohio residents and not on academic probation may apply.Application coordinator Jenny Nelson said the applications are due by Jan. 31.’Student trustees participate in policy decisions that affect the direction and mission of The Ohio State University,’ Berkman said.’At Ohio State, student trustees participate in formal board meetings, executive sessions and are voting members of board committees,’ he said.Student trustees cannot vote in formal meetings, but a bill that passed the Ohio House Representatives in November could change that policy.The bill, which grants voting privileges to student trustee members of many Ohio universities, was not expected to pass the Senate.However, lobbying efforts continue, Berkman said.Maintaining close ties between students and the trustees is an essential part of the position, Berkman said.It is important that the student trustee be receptive to his or her constituency and be able to communicate the views of his or her constituency well, Berkman said. To keep up to date with student concern, Berkman said he meets regularly with USG, the Council of Graduation Studies and Interprofessional Council.Nelson said she could see how the position might be intimidating.’They (the student trustees) are dealing with Les Wexner and other famous people,’ Nelson said.Berkman and Smith said they never felt intimidated because they believe the other board members want student input.Once the applications are returned, a selections committee comprised of three undergraduates, two graduates and one professional student will make the initial cuts, Nelson said.The panel will conduct interviews the second week in February, Nelson said.From the interviews, five names will be sent to Gov. George Voinovich for the final decision, Nelson said.Smith said that although the appointment is time consuming, it is an enjoyable learning experience.’I would like to encourage anyone interested to apply for the position because it is critical that there be a student view point on the Board of Trustees,’ Smith said.
