Student Trustee resigns, replacement process begins

After serving eight months as the student trustee, UIC student James Winters resigned from his position last week.

The University of Illinois Trustees Act will be used to guide the campus in selecting Winters' replacement. He will be the second student trustee from UIC to be replaced in the middle of his term.

Winters notified the Board of Trustees, the presidents of the three governing bodies at UIC and The Chicago Flame of his decision last Wednesday.

Discussing his resignation in an e-mail, Winters wrote, "My reasons for resigning are both medical and personal and are the result of much thought and consideration from myself, my colleagues, and my family."

"I am very grateful for this experience," he added, "especially for carrying the mantle of the University of Illinois, but mostly I am grateful for my experiences working with the students and administrators of UIC."

Winter's position as student trustee was to represent the interests of all undergraduates, graduates, and health professionals to the Board of Trustees.

While all three campuses of the University of Illinois have a student trustee, Winters was designated with an official vote by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. The remaining two student trustees retain an advisory vote. UIC has not had a voting student trustee in five years.

As Winters exits, a successor must be selected to serve the remaining four months of his term.

According to the University of Illinois Trustees Act, one of the two remaining student trustees must be designated as the voting member by the Governor within 30 days.

Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Barbara Henley explained that although the Trustees Act is silent in regards to what occurs in the instance of a voting student trustee's resignation, as is the case with Winters, the process to select a successor will follow the interpretation of the University's office of legal counsel.

The office of legal counsel declined to comment on its interpretation to The Chicago Flame upon requests.

Dean of Students Linda Deanna spoke of the interpretation and referred to the Trustees Act.

"According to the statutes, the president of undergraduate student government appoints the replacement. Rasha [Atallah] will be appointing someone, hopefully within the next few days," Deanna said.

The Trustees Act states in the case of a nonvoting student trustee's resignation, the "chief executive of the student government" will select a successor.

While the legal counsel's interpretation of the statute has Atallah naming the new trustee, the decision is complicated by the fact that UIC does not have a unified student government.

The Graduate Student Council (GSC) and the Health Professions Student Council (HPSC) are also representative governing bodies at UIC.

According to Atallah, representatives from the GSC and the HPSC will be consulted in the decision to replace Winters.

President of the HPSC Mike Kralovec explained, "The GSC president and myself have been asked for input in an advisory capacity in the process, but the formal selection will be made by the USG president."

"The decision to have the president choose the next trustee was the most representative of the campus," Barbara Henley said. "Because the students are elected in a campus wide election, they tend to be representative of most of the students."

Atallah will be interviewing prospective candidates to replace Winters in the coming days, with hopes to have someone appointed before the next Board of Trustees meeting in March.

"James did a good job of building the trustee's office in the sense that he started a few projects and got a few people working on them," Atallah said. "I would expect the next trustee to continue on those projects and see them through as best as he or she can."

While discussing his sudden resignation, in an exclusive interview with The Chicago Flame, Winters explained that his health had prevented him from continuing his courses this semester, forcing him to withdraw. He plans to continue to work towards a degree in urban planning and public affairs next fall.

Winters said, "Until now, running and campaigning for becoming the student trustee was the hardest thing I ever did. Walking away has proved even harder."

Several colleagues of Winters expressed their respect for his decision to resign.

Paul Schmitt, the trustee from the Urbana-Champaign campus, said, "It's extremely responsible of him [Winters]. The fact that he is willing to give up something that he clearly worked so hard for last year, I think that shows a great deal of responsibility and a great sense of commitment to the students of your campus and to the students of the other two campuses."

Kralovec added, "I am sad to see James resign his post as student trustee. He worked extremely hard on behalf of the students of UIC during his tenure, and will be missed."

Recently appointed USG vice-president Manu Raghavan stated, "Medical issues, school issues - those things always will have to take prominence. I think James made the right decision at the right time, and I fully support him."

In addition to his colleagues, University administrators spoke well of Winters.

Deanna, with whom Winters worked closely, said, "He was thinking beyond himself and doing what was best for the campus so that there would be representation."

Henley added, "I respect his decision and certainly wish him well in all of his future endeavors. And my colleagues and I will continue to be here for him."

As of publication, the Board of Trustees had not prepared a statement regarding the resignation of Winters. Secretary Michelle Thompson stated, "We are all very sorry to see Mr. Winters leave."

Whoever the appointed trustee will be, he or she will serve out the remainder of the term, which lasts until June 30.