Re-Rad Letter to the Community Fall 2009

Open Letter to The Hampshire Communit y

During the week of October 5th, Re-Rad held an election for two additional student positions on the Governance Task Force, a body that has the opportunity to revise and improve Hampshire’s decision-making processes. The task force was initially composed of three trustees, three faculty members, three administrators, one staff member and one student. Re-Rad and many other members of the community were shocked and concerned by both this unequal representation and the method by which the participants were chosen. After several other avenues of communication had been attempted, a group of 46 students respectfully sat in on a Governance Task Force meeting, requesting among other things** that they endorse the addition of two more staff members and two more students to the task force. The task force did not endorse this request, citing among other reasons a lack of student interest in the governance systems at Hampshire.

Re-Rad believed, given the opportunity to voice their opinions and participate in the selection process, students and staff would not only be interested but enthusiastic and engaged. Re-Rad reached out to the community to encourage interested students and staff members to serve on the task force. Ultimately, eleven students were nominated, six of whom accepted places on the ballot; despite attempts to reach out to the entire community, no staff members were nominated. On the ballot, students were given the opportunity to vote for two of the six candidates and to comment on the election process. At the end of three days, 180 students had participated; turnout was high compared to a typical Community Council election. Leanna Pohevitz received 93 votes, and Will Romey received 75 votes, making them representatives-elect.

On October 15th, the Governance Task Force posted a report of the meeting during which Re-Rad members had held a sit-in. Their report inaccurately stated the proposed changes submitted by Re-Rad. While the task force report of the meeting reaffirmed their belief in transparency, it was not released until three weeks after the meeting, making it impossible for community members both to keep up with current events in our governance system and to have time to prepare a response before the next meeting. While the report released by the Governance Task Force gives no indication that they support equal representation, Re-Rad is continuing to explore ways to further this cause, as well as advancing the cause of shared transparent governance as a whole. Leanna and Will, the representatives-elect, are communicating with Re-Rad but are also taking individual initiative and working on their own to ensure their spots on the Governance Task Force.

For more information on the Governance Task Force, visit https://hampedia.org/wiki/Governance_Task_Force.

Sincerely, Re-Rad

** Found at https://hampedia.org/wiki/ReRad_Governance_Task_Force_Requests_9-25-09