The Oregon State Senate approved the appointment of a Western Oregon University student to serve as a representative on the Oregon State Board for Higher Education on Jan. 19.
Gerry Blakney, a senior at Western Oregon, was appointed by Governor Ted Kulongoski and began serving on the board on Jan. 23 to fulfill former member Bridget Burns’ term. He will serve as a student representative until June 2007, when he will be eligible for a full term should an available position become available.
Blakney, 22, is the current president of the Associated Students of Western Oregon University and Director and Treasurer of the Oregon Student Association Board, where he said the other directors advised him to apply for the position on the board.
Blakney said he’ll focus on issues dealing with tuition and financial equity.
“My number one goal is making sure that there is access to higher education for all Oregonians,” he said.
Blakney said he found out that he had been appointed by the governor just before Christmas. He was approved by the Senate Rules and Executive Appointments Committee after answering questions on Jan. 18 and confirmed in a unanimous vote by attending members of the Senate the next day.
The Oregon State Board for Higher Education is an 11-member organization that is responsible for governing the seven university campuses of the Oregon State System of Higher Education, which includes the University of Oregon. The board consists of eight members who serve four-year terms, and of two students and one University faculty member who serve two-year terms. The board is responsible for such activities as setting tuition and recommending University budgets to the governor and state legislature.