The student regent attends all meetings of the Board of Regents and advocates for the best interests of the student body. The student must also demonstrate a high level of knowledge about relevant issues and Baylor’s desire to fulfill the obligation.

Your recent editorial, “Regents shouldn’t choose rep for students” on Feb. 27 suggests a misunderstanding of the goal of Baylor regents when they chose to appoint to the board, in a non-voting capacity, a member of the student body and a faculty member.

Last year, regents decided to include in their future meetings one individual to provide a student perspective and one individual to provide a faculty perspective. The board did this without the expectation that these individuals would represent the opinions of all faculty or students. Instead, the board was acting to ensure that the voice and perspective of a Baylor student and faculty member would be present during board discussions and deliberations. This is consistent with the process by which others are appointed to the Baylor board. Leaders who are pastors, educators, physicians, corporate CEOs, lawyers and more bring their expertise to bear in service to Baylor as Regents. What these regents provide is a valuable perspective that emerges out of their experience. Such is the board’s expectation with the appointment of a student and faculty regent.

“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.”

This famous quote from Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” actually belongs to minor character Marcellus, but this small line from a small character has come to resonate with all people seeking change in their governance.

Things aren’t as bad here as they were in Hamlet’s Denmark— but the issue of the new student regent doesn’t pass the smell test.

The position of student regent is up for grabs.

The open application for a new student regent for the 2013-2014 school year is under way. The Baylor Board of Regents introduced the position of student regent last year.

The student regent is a non-voting regent who is allowed to be present during non-executive board meetings. Because this position represents the students of Baylor, this regent will have the opportunity to raise thoughts or questions about issues concerning students and the campus, according to the student regent application. The Baylor student body president works with the student government to bring up ideas that will benefit the campus and its students. While the two positions are almost the same, each has a different agenda.