MORGANTOWN, W.Va.— Morgantown City Council has informally responded to the request by WVU Student Government Association representatives to allow students’ voices to be heard during council meetings.
Councilman Ron Bane made an informal proposal that would allow student representatives to have a spot in the Special Committee Reports section of the meeting allowing them to regularly bring issues to the council’s attention.
“It gives them an opportunity to do that, and then it doesn’t interrupt the charter. We could do it next meeting. It’s that simple if they’re willing to do that,” Bane said.
Bane said the deal should go both ways.
“To make it work right, they also have to give a seat on the BOG to a council member, nonvoting, so that we can be there for them too,” suggested Bane.
Mayor Jenny Selin agreed on the importance of communication between students and council.
“I’d like to see an increase in student participation all across the board with our boards and commissions and other kinds of specific issues. I think that’s where we really have value back and forth,” she told WAJR.
The mayor also emphasized the importance to entertain real discussions outside of meetings between students and council members.
“I would like to have a forum where we really get out the full range of issues and really talk about it. It’s hard in a very formal setting to do that. So, you need some workshops and some forums where we can really talk,” she said.
Discussions on the matter are set to continue moving forward later this month.