Student regent selected from A&M System

By: Jessica McCann

Posted: 2/15/07

Nearly every decision the Board of Regents makes affects every student in the Texas A&M University System. In 2005, the Texas Legislature established a student representative to their ranks, allowing a venue for more student input. That position is now held by a student from a campus other than College Station.

The Board announced new Student Regent Cassidy Ann Daniel, appointed by Gov. Rick Perry on Feb. 5, along with nine students appointed for other state institutions. A senior political science major at West Texas A&M in Canyon, Daniel is the second student to serve on the Board, after Tyson Voelkel's year-long term ended on Feb. 1.

"In one word, I would describe the experience as humbling," Voelkel said of his service as the former Student Regent. "We should all be proud of our Texas A&M University System. It is truly an organization that helps make Texas and our world a better place."

In a statement issued on Feb. 7, the Board of Regents Chairman John D. White offered acceptance of Daniel into the student regent position.

"On behalf of the A&M System Board of Regents, I would like to congratulate and welcome Cassidy to this important leadership role and look forward to working with her during the next year," White said. "She has impressive credentials that will serve her fellow students well."

Daniel is the president pro tempore of the West Texas A&M Student Senate, chapter chairman for the Young Conservatives of Texas at WTAMU and is the state vice chairman of Chapter Relations. She is a 2006 Ronald Reagan Future Leaders Scholar and a 2003 Girl Scout Gold Award Recipient.

"My best friend goes to A&M in College Station, and she always says that she's an Aggie, and I'm a 'Waggie', but I'm not. I'm a buffalo," Daniel said.

"I want to make sure it's not forgotten that there are other universities in the System that are working hard to advance higher education, even if we don't have some of the old traditions that A&M does. I think it will be good for the entire System to have a Student Regent from another campus, to make sure we remember all of the campuses."

The Board of Regents currently comprises nine regular voting members and one non-voting student member.

As the student regent, Daniel will have the same powers and duties as the other members of the Board, except she will not be able to vote on any matter and will not be counted in determining a quorum, which is the minimum number of members that must be present to conduct business.

"The student regent really participates in discussion on all of the agenda items that the Board of Regents is facing," said Terri Parker, director of communications of the A&M System. "The other members really view the student regent as an equal member of the board, so she will be an effective part of the board."

According to State Bill Number 34, which legally establishes the student member, the student government of each state institution selects five applicants to recommend to the chancellor of the system.

Then, the chancellor chooses two candidates to recommend to the governor. The governor appoints the student regent, but is not required to appoint an applicant recommended by the chancellor. The governor can request to see all the applications.

Daniel's term is effective immediately and will expire on Feb. 1, 2008. Her first meetings in the student regent role will be Mar. 29 and 30 in College Station.

"I'm really excited and looking forward to voicing some student concerns, like tuition deregulation and tax-free textbooks," Daniel said. "One of the good things about being involved with a political organization like YCT is that I know the issues at hand and some of the history behind them.

"Some people are concerned that my involvement with YCT will somehow make my opinion one-sided, but I'm not here to advance some odd personal agenda. I want to find out what the students want, because that's my job."