Napolitano will make final decision

 by Emma Breysse
 published on Tuesday, December 4, 2007

ASU will have a student voice on the Arizona Board of Regents next year, and Undergraduate Student Government narrowed the choice down to three candidates Monday night.

Devin Mauney, Ross Meyer and Alyssa Bisanz were selected as the final three candidates for one of two student seats on the board, which governs Arizona's three universities.

The three names will be sent to Gov. Janet Napolitano's office Tuesday.

The candidate she chooses will then have to be approved by the state senate before the end of the year.

Andrew Rigazio, a business sophomore and the co-chair of the selection committee, said the three candidates all possess the most important attribute for a student regent.

"The most important thing to look for is would they be willing to fight for the students," he said. "The seat is a voice for students, and we want the people that are going to take leadership positions on student issues."

The two student regent seats rotate between the three state universities, with NAU and UA currently holding the seats. One of the members has a vote, while the other is in an advisory position.

ASU's last student regent was Ed Hermes, whose term ended in 2006.

All of the candidates have leadership experience, which is another factor that led to their selection, Rigazio said.

Meyer is a former USG president, and Mauney is a former chairman of the Arizona Students' Association, an advocacy organization for Arizona college students.

Mauney said he is committed to the issues he would face as a student regent.

"I'm thrilled and honored," he said of being considered. "I will put all of myself into this position. It's really a job that takes a lot of time and energy. It takes passion and I have that."

Mauney said he would also bring the experience he gained as chairman of the Arizona Students' Association and a member of the textbook task force that fought for lower book prices to the position.

Bisanz said she wants to be a voice for her fellow students.

"It really enables me to give a voice to the silent voices on campus," she said. "I really want to be there to represent the students and I think that's a prime factor. It's not about me."

Bisanz said she feels her experience is an asset for her, even though she is the youngest of the three candidates as a freshman.

"I've been serving in different organizations for so long," she said. "This is second nature to me."

Meyer could not be reached for comment.

Rigazio said he and the other members of USG hope the candidate chosen will represent more than just ASU.

"It won't be an ASU regent, it will be a student regent," he said. "We're looking for a candidate that won't just represent ASU but that will represent Arizona."

Reach the reporter at emma.breysse@asu.edu