Announcements/20091104031303

Dear President Ralph Hexter, Community Council, as representatives of the student body, would like to express our support for the inclusion of Leanna Pohevitz and Will Romey as members serving on the Governance Task Force. During the week of October 5th, a student group, Re-Rad, held elections within the student body to choose two candidates to increase the number of students on this important task force. Over 180 students voted and chose Leanna and Will to be their representatives. As it stands, the members of the task force include three trustees, three faculty members, three administrators, one staff member and one student. We are concerned by the idea that students and staff are not receiving equal representation on the task force, as compared with trustees, administrators, and faculty. We believe Hampshire will make better decisions when students are included in all aspects of the decision-making process, and when their input is respected as having equal validity to that of other members of the Hampshire community. We are urging President Ralph Hexter and The Board of Trustees to legitimize the Re-Rad sponsored elections by recognizing Leanna and Will as new members of the Governance Task Force. In the spirit of open discourse and inclusion, Community Council (This letter was approved by all voting members of Community Council with no blocks)