HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-02-25 Public Comment - D. Campbell - Concerns about proposal for MSU student ex-officio seats on advisory boardsFrom:Deanna Campbell
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Concerns about proposal for MSU student ex-officio seats on advisory boards
Date:Saturday, November 29, 2025 3:06:56 PM
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Dear Commissioners,
I am writing to express my opposition to the proposal to create designated ex-officio seats forMSU students on each “Super City” advisory board.
I have great respect for young people who want to engage in civic life. But this proposalcreates a special class of participants whose influence is not earned in the same way as every
other resident who applies and serves.
A few concerns in particular:
Transient population, long-term consequences.MSU students are, by definition, a transient population. Advisory boards often deal with
issues that unfold over many years—capital planning, land use, transportation priorities,and long-term budget trade-offs. Giving a guaranteed seat to a short-term population
risks skewing those conversations away from the people who will actually live with theconsequences.
Unequal standing with other citizens.Residents who wish to serve on boards must go through the city’s established
application and appointment process. This proposal gives one group—students—areserved, automatic place at the table, outside that process. It sends the signal that one
group’s perspective is more valuable than that of other citizens, including long-timeresidents, taxpayers, and small business and property owners.
Not how you teach democratic engagement.If the goal is to teach students the democratic process, the most honest lesson is: apply
like everyone else, demonstrate commitment, and earn an appointment. Handing out aguaranteed seat short-circuits that lesson and replaces it with a message that advocacy
groups can secure special access if they are organized enough.
Indirect accountability to Bozeman taxpayers.
Many students do not directly pay local property taxes and may have limited experiencewith the real-world trade-offs the city faces: funding core services, maintaining
infrastructure, and dealing with regulatory and tax burdens. Yet their designated seatswould still shape the advice Boards give on how those limited resources are used.
Student voices are already welcome—within the same rules.Nothing prevents MSU students from applying for advisory boards today. Many have,
and do, serve. If the concern is awareness or training, the City and ASMSU could easilycollaborate on outreach, workshops, or mentorship to help students navigate the existing
process, instead of creating a parallel track with reserved seats.
If the Commission wishes to encourage more student engagement, I would urge you instead
to:
Partner with MSU to publicize board vacancies to students;
Offer a short “Advisory Board 101” orientation open to all interested residents,including students;
Invite student representatives to present periodically on campus issues, without alteringboard composition.
These options welcome student participation without creating a special class of ex-officiomembers and without sending the message that one group gets guaranteed access while others
must line up and hope for an appointment.
For these reasons, I respectfully ask you not to move forward with designating ex-officio
student seats on advisory boards, and instead focus on strengthening open, equal-accesspathways for all Bozeman residents—including students—who wish to serve.
Thank you for your consideration and for your service to our community.
Sincerely,
Deanna Campbell
UNA member