Student trustee search begins

by Kristin Webber
THE POST

Students aspiring to become the next student member of the Ohio University Board of Trustees will have a chance to learn from those who have been there.

Michelle Miller and Deland Basora, OU's current student trustees, will hold an information session 7 p.m. tomorrow in the board room of McGuffey Hall.

Miller and Basora will discuss the purpose, responsibilities and benefits of the position.

Being a student trustee requires an amount of ambition, dedication and professionalism, Miller said.

"Some people just want to be a student advocate," she said. "For Student Senate, that's good, but as a student trustee, you need to look at the whole picture."

Applicants should have a good understanding of the way OU works, said Todd Grandominico, senate vice president and chairman of the Student Trustee Search Committee. In addition, they should not be easily intimidated and should be able to represent OU and its students.

The new trustee will replace Miller, whose two-year term expires May 13. Miller will complete her bachelor's degree in legal communication and pre-law this spring and will finish her master's degree in higher education administration this summer.

She said she originally applied to gain leadership experience, enhance presentation skills and begin networking. And during her term, she achieved all this and more.

"It's been everything I've expected," she said.

While she spends between 10 and 15 hours per week on board-related and university committee work, the amount of time can vary depending on how involved the student becomes, Miller said.

Applications are available in the Student Senate Office, Baker Center room 309. Applications are due by 5 p.m. March 10 in the senate office. Undergraduate and graduate students at all OU campuses may apply.

Miller, Basora, Grandominico and two other senators will conduct interviews for the position beginning Spring Quarter, Grandominico said.

The group will choose five applicants to send to OU President Robert Glidden, who will submit the applications to Gov. Bob Taft. Just like with regular trustees, the final decision lies with Taft, said Alan Geiger, secretary to the OU Board of Trustees.