In the wake of Thursday’s student protest at the Board of Regents meeting, new questions need to be raised about the Regents’ willingness to hear from constituents.

It is a shame students feel they must stage a protest in order to speak at Regents’ meetings. The Regents’ policy that allows people to speak only if they notify the board in writing five days in advance of the meeting is inadequate in providing an opportunity for public debate.

The public does not see details of the meeting’s agenda until one day before the meeting. It is unreasonable to require the public to request time five days in advance when they do not know what actions the Regents’ will consider. While it is courteous for speakers to notify the board as far in advance as possible, they should be allowed to speak even when the board is not notified.

Particularly when the Regents’ consider controversial decisions such as a tuition increase, it would be beneficial to adopt the concept of a public hearing where students, faculty, staff and members of the public are allowed to air their views before the item comes up for a vote.

Allowing the public to regularly speak before meetings will promote better relations and understanding between the Regents and the university community and will allow the board to stay in touch with constituents’ concerns at each of the three institutions they govern. Such a policy would allow people to have their statements on record, the same way they are at public meetings of other governmental bodies such as a city council.

Such public debate could be accomplished simply by setting aside 30 minutes before each meeting for public comments.

It should be noted, however, that with freedom comes responsibility. While the public should have the right to speak at meetings on minimal notice, debate should be conducted with a sense of decorum. Behavior that prevents the Regents from conducting their meeting should not be encouraged.

No governmental body can adequately represent the public without hearing from them.