At last it seems the Board of Regents is listening to what the Regency universities are saying. “We want our needs and concerns presented to the Board on a regular basis.”

This request is being met on one account, by allowing the three university presidents to keep their current status with the Board. But now, there also might be further improvements if requests are honored to include alumni from the Regency schools on the Board.

Illinois Rep. Gordon Ropp, R-Normal, introduced a bill to include one alumnus Regent from both NIU and Illinois State University at Normal. The only visible flaw with this plan is that it does not include an alumnus from Sangamon State University in Springfield because it is a smaller and newer school.

Yes, SSU is much different than NIU and ISU, which also brings to mind that same separate governing board issue. But if SSU is to be categorized as a Regency university, they are entitled to the same alumni representation the other two schools might obtain.

The alumni representation issue is one that has been brought up before and should not be overlooked again. Even Regents Chancellor Roderick Groves sees the need for alumni representation, including SSU.

The Regency universities are hungry for adequate representation. If the Board members want to act in the best interests of everyone involved, they will support this bill with the inclusion of SSU, and put alumni on the Board.