Students should be the focus of any decision Ball State University makes. Students are always a factor in university decisions because one student is chosen biannually to sit on the Ball State Board of Trustees.
Obviously, this is one of the most important positions a student could hold, and the choices the elected student makes will affect Ball State students more than any other elected or appointed student's decisions.
Everyone on campus who is qualified and has a strong desire to take the position should apply to be involved in the highest level of the university.
Potential candidates must be able to hold the position for two years while keeping their grade point average above a 2.7. Those requirements aside, the people with the best qualifications for the job are those students who are aware of the state of affairs on campus, knowledgeable about student life and, most importantly, fully informed about student opinions.
The number of students on campus who are qualified to take the position is probably in the hundreds.
With a pool this large, the application and interview process should be able to uncover those few students on campus who are truly qualified to hold the position. Eventually, the university will recommend the best applicants to Gov. Mitch Daniels, who will make the final decision when he has all of the information he needs.
This isn't where the process ends, however.
The student chosen for the position needs to ensure that student opinion is a major force in the voting process of the Board of Trustees. The student trustee needs to be aware of what all students want, which means working with students continuously for the two years he or she holds the position.
Although students aren't responsible for electing the right person for the job, everyone who is qualified needs to apply for the position. If the process works correctly, the candidate who has students' best interests in mind should be elected.
The Board of Trustees is a factor weighs in on nearly every decision on campus, from things as important as tuition to other issues that don't affect students as much.
Every decision the university makes should have input from students, and the student chosen for this position will be the biggest influence in whether or not the board votes with students in mind.
Daniels is charged with selecting the best student, but the only way he can make the right decision is if the right students apply.
Applications are available now. If you think you're the person for the job, then apply.
If you see these qualities in yourself and have no concerns about the status of the position to scare you off, please apply. After all, if you are appointed, you'll only have 20,000 students or so to answer to.
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