UC Student Regent Alfredo Mireles Jr. has one vote on the UC Board of Regents. As the only voting member enrolled in the UC system, he represents all 220,000 students. But last week, during the regents’ consideration of a plan which could see tuition surpass $22,000, neither Mireles nor Student Regent Designate Jonathan Stein said one word. We are speechless.

Their excuses? Mireles said that “on every issue I could state an obvious student position, but I want to be received by the other regents as someone who is insightful and speak on issues in a thoughtful way in order to have my words be received strongly.”

Stein said in an email that it is “typically the job of the student regent designate, early in his or her tenure, to meet people, listen to their concerns, and raise issues privately instead of publicly.”

We cannot believe that neither student had anything to say in the discussion and did not speak up on behalf of students. Mireles and Stein must not be so passive.

Their explanations are not acceptable and seem like a rush to the nearest excuse. Mireles and Stein inherently possess distinct perspectives from the rest of the board because they are students, not affluent members of the state’s elite. Mireles also said that because other regents were strong in opposing the plan, he felt they were doing his job for him and he did not want to interrupt, implying he had nothing new to say.

Instead of speaking up during the meeting, Mireles said he has opted to work “behind the scenes.” Stein, too, said that he saw his role, at least initially, as more private.

We acknowledge the importance of communicating with other regents in a discreet manner outside of public meetings. However, representatives cannot be effective by conducting all of their duties behind a curtain. They must be visible and vocal, demonstrating to their constituents that they are truly serving their causes. This is the precedent set by previous student regents, and it is the expectation of their peers.

Even if Mireles or Stein say exactly what others would anticipate, they must not shy away expressing their ideas. We expect them both to break their silence at the next regents’ meeting and fulfill their roles as the embodiments of all UC students.

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