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We applaud Hanson, her administration, and HUSC for hosting the event. For the first time in recent memory, a few faces of the otherwise shadowy board of trustees were revealed. Not only were they unveiled, but student leaders were able to connect with them on a personal level. We learned that board members are not nearly as unapproachable as some, including us, have thought. For that we also applaud the board members who took time to share their stories and opinions.

Most of the night’s discussion centered on student representation in the board of trustees. The board members and members of the administration felt that a student on the board wasn’t necessary, while some of the students in the audience felt that the student body was not being represented enough on the board. Currently, there is no student representation during board of trustees meetings.

We suggest that meetings between students and the board of trustees like “100 Who Influence” continue with some regularity. It would also be nice to see an occasional member of the board on campus to attend a campus events. Finally, we suggest that a non-voting student representative position on the board at least be explored in some capacity.

The administrators and board brought up the valid point that it is impossible to find a single student to represent all students. But how does any representative body fully represent its constituency? Again, we suggest that the option of a student representative simply be explored further. If the board is going to serve the students, essentially their customers, they need to know firsthand what the students needs' are.

Although most of the night was positive and at points nearly enlightening, there was one disturbing sentiment running through the conversation between a group of student leaders and the board members. A few student leaders suggested that we stop questioning the board members and simply “let them do their job.”

Stop questioning? Isn’t the question, that is, looking critically at the world, at the center of academic pursuit?

A silent student body is a submissive, passive one. Which means our needs will never be heard, and we will not grow as an institution.

At no point in the conversation did anyone break any measure of civility. Those who asked questions of the board did so in the usual respectful and civil Hamline style--same style the board members and the president congratulated Hamline students on before the open discussion began. At no point did the board members seem remotely offended, in fact, they seemed happy to field any inquires that came their way. Board members were passionate with their opinions, but not offended by straight forward, civilly posed questions. If the board is not afraid of answering questions, why should we be afraid to ask them?

On a greater level it frightens us when any of our peers, in our institution, holds back questions for fear of offending those in power. As we stated earlier, the key to academic growth, and the search for truth is only furthered by inquiry, and sometimes that means asking hard questions.