House approves trustee position

The Indiana House of Representatives voted 51-45 Tuesday on a bill that would allow faculty to elect a non-voting trustee from their own ranks. \nState Representatives Matt Pierce and Peggy Welch, both Bloomington Democrats, assisted in co-authoring the bill. \nPierce said the success of the state-appointed student trustees, which began in 1976, led many members of the House to believe faculty should have the same input in University affairs. \n"Just like the student trustee, which the state began appointing over 20 years ago, faculty should have a say as well," Pierce said.\nWelch said it would increase student-professor relations on campus.\n"The essence of the University is the relationship between student and professor," Welch said. "By having both student and faculty members as trustees, we will create a partnership between them in governing IU."\nThe faculty member on the IU board of trustees will not have voting privileges, in order to make it easier to pass as a law.\nYet, Pierce said he believes the member should have voting rights.\n"If the student trustee is able to vote on affairs, so should the faculty," Pierce said. "With the student member I don't think there has ever been a conflict of interest in the past."\nStill, IU board of trustees President Fred Eichhorn said having a faculty member vote on personnel issues would be a conflict of interest.\n"It's different having a faculty member rather than a student trustee," Eichhorn said. "You can't have faculty voting on their own salary."\nWelch said the fact that the member is non-voting will prevent any conflict of interest from occurring.\n"I believe they could call an executive session to discuss affairs that involve the faculty," Welch said.\nIn addition, Eichhorn said the bill is unnecessary because faculty are already properly represented by the board.\n"We have faculty members present at almost every meeting we hold," Eichhorn said. "We encourage their input at these meetings and we have their best interests in mind at all times."\nBoth Welch and Pierce said that IU does fairly represent its faculty, staff and students, but by appointing a faculty member, input will be increased.\n"It is one thing to be a silent observer, but it is completely different being an actual member of the trustees," Welch said. "You can actually sit at the table and not just make comments when it is appropriate. You actually get to be part of the process."\nStill, the future of a faculty member looks dim in Indiana's Senate. Previously, similar legislation approved in the house never made it out of the Senate. Last year, a Senate committee rejected the idea 5-4.