BOV to follow updated standards

After collecting more than 1,000 signatures in 100 hours, the Virginia General Assembly passed an amendment to the higher education reform bill, creating new standards for the JMU Board of Visitors on April 6.

The 85-14 vote is the result of Gov. Mark Warner’s push to keep politics out of the classroom, according to Jesse Ferguson, co-founder and executive director of Virginia21, an advocacy organization for young people that focuses on higher education, economic opportunities and open government.

David Solimini, co-founder and communications director for Virginia21, said, "Virginia21 was founded 21 months ago on the basis that young voters did not have a voice in Virginia politics. Think of us as the AARP for young voters."

This amendment will change the way the Board of Visitors is appointed.

"It will allow the university to have a form of logical autonomy," Ferguson said. Junior Beth Rudolph, SGA director of government relations, said politics can be a problem within the Board of Visitors, so creating a non-partisan, merit-based appointment system would ensure that those serving on the board have JMU’s best interest at heart.

The Board of Visitors oversee many aspects of the university, from admissions policies to tuition rates at public colleges and universities across the commonwealth. The amendment will set up an appointments commission that will screen applicants for merit before the governor can appoint them to the Board. Rudolph said Gov. Warner wanted this put into law so the policies could continue on after this year’s election.

"It’s a big step forward toward getting politics out of the classroom," she said.

Tuesday was second day of an eight-city "Politics and Pizza" tour initiated by Virginia21 aimed at informing young voters of the successes and future goals of the organization.

"The tour has a couple of functions," Solimini said. "We wanted to report back to the constituents about the past two years and also ask students years and also ask students what was affecting them and figure out what we should take on next year."

The tour will end on April 26, with the release of the 2005 Legislative Report card in Richmond. This report card is an indication to young people of how often lawmakers side with student-related issues when voting in the assembly, Solimini said.

The SGA counts this legislation a victory, Rudolph said.

"If we’re measuring in terms of wins and losses, it’s a win," she said.