Wyomingites Reject Board of Trustees Amendment

uwyoWyomingites do not want out-of-state members on the UW Board of Trustees.

Last Tuesday, 70 percent of Wyoming citizens voted no on an amendment to the state constitution that would have allowed 20 percent of all trustees to be from outside the state.

Wyoming Senate President Tony Ross initially proposed the amendment, and it passed the state legislature with an 85 percent yes vote.

“I personally thought the amendment could be positive in creating a larger pool of good trustees,” Dave Bostrom, former president of the UW Board of Trustees said. “This is a policy decision for the citizens of Wyoming to make. They have spoken in a very clear way, and I support and endorse their decision.”

The board of trustees is responsible for the governance of the university in passing regulations, and overseeing fiscal aspects.

The failing of the amendment is unusual considering the amount of support it received from elected officials. Kermit Brown, a Wyoming legislator from House District 14 believed that the amendment would bring in quality trustees from around the world.

“The primary thinking behind that was our UW graduates are all over the world. But there are some people out there who could bring tremendous contributions to the board of trustees,” Brown said in an interview with the Casper Star Tribune. “We think there’s a lot of talent there, and it’s really a mistake and a waste not to let them.”

Opponents of the amendment made arguments that there are plenty of competent Wyomingites that can serve on the board, and there is no need to branch out. If Wyoming voters are to be believed, that was the prevailing opinion on Election Day.

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