UW-Madison undergraduate student and UW Board of Regents member Nicolas Harsy provided the Associated Students of Madison Legislative Affairs Committee with an opportunity Monday to learn more about how student voices can be heard.
The meeting kicked off the year for the committee, led by a new chair, sophomore Carmen Gosey.
Harsy, who began his two-year term in May of 2014, is one of two students serving on the Board of Regents. He acts as the “nontraditional student” regent, representing the voices of undergraduate students 24 years or older.
Harsy spent two years at UW-Madison before serving in the Marine Corp for the next five years. In addition to his role as a regent, Harsy has returned to UW-Madison, majoring in computer science.
Committee members asked Harsy about the unique perspective he has as both a student and policymaker.
“As a student, for example, I would like to have tuition be as low as possible,” Harsy said. “But fully aware of the entire picture, I know that we need to find a balance.”
Despite this need to see long-term goals, Harsy said the board often gives him deference on student issues.
The committee also discussed the possibility of changing the process for appointing student Regents with Harsy, with committee members expressing the idea that student regents should be nominated by student government, as a recommendation to the governor.
“I can see how that could be beneficial, but I’d be hesitant to support it without more details,” Harsy said. “Ultimately, it is the governor’s responsibility to appoint Regents.”
No matter what the process is for appointing student regents, Harsy emphasized the importance of having students’ voices acknowledged by the Board of Regents.
“Talk to the Regents, and talk to the chancellors,” Harsy said. “More often than not, students don’t even know the board exists. There are opportunities for students to get involved.”
