Time to Reconsider?

Back in 1974, a change in the state constitution allowed for the appointment of a student regents and a faculty regent. At the time, however, the faculty - or at least the Senate - decided that having a voting faculty regent wouldn't be appropriate. As a result, the faculty head of the Academic Council is a nonvoting representative at the regents, but not a regent. Students had no such scruples about what was appropriate and student regents (with voting rights) began to be appointed.

Students are now pushing for a second voting student regent and a constitutional amendment to that effect is floating around in the legislature.* Of course, there is a long distance between dropping a bill in the legislature to put a constitutional amendment and the enactment of such an amendment by state voters. But maybe it's now time for faculty to consider having a faculty regent, a position which is authorized but not filled.

You can argue that it is rare for a single vote to decide matters at the regents. On the other hand, it is certainly not clear that not having a vote buys the faculty more influence, whatever folks may have thought in 1974.

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*https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260aca18.