Photo courtesy of ADN.
On April 2, the Senate Education Committee held a hearing to address bills and consider appointees for the University of Alaska Board of Regents.
The Northern Light interviewed Senator Jesse Kiehl, Senator Gary Stevens and Senator Löki Tobin, who serve on the committee.
Senator Kiehl represents District Q, which includes Juneau and the University of Alaska Southeast campus.
Kiehl said that, as long as he has served on the education committee, he has always asked nominees about their vision for UAS. At this hearing, he said to have been told the campus was pretty; which Kiehl said was not a smart answer.
He said that, of the two regents the committee was reviewing, Karen Perdue was not at the board’s DEI motion vote, while Christine Resler was. Kiehl asked Resler, “after the Board of Regents gave control of the University of Alaska to the federal government” if there was any red line.
Kiehl said Resler’s answer to the committee boiled down to saying that times are hard. He said he was unsettled by Resler not identifying that there was a line and it had been crossed.
“Why have a Board of Regents then? What’s the point?,” said Kiehl.
Kiehl said that, due to short committee hearings, nominees for the board often communicate with senators about issues with relevancy to that senator.
Kiehl said he had two conversations with Perdue about various issues, but hadn’t heard from Resler before or since the confirmation hearing.
Kiehl said he has an issue with the DEI motion because it is surrendering leadership of the UA system to the federal government.
He said he encourages people on any side of the political aisle to think about both what might come next from the Trump administration, and what may come after.
He said it’s important to imagine how a president someone is unfavorable toward would run the UA system. Kiehl said most people would not want the board’s approach to continue into the future.
Kiehl is also chair of the Senate’s Finance Subcommittee for the university. He said cuts made to the budget were largely related to the state’s fiscal situation. However, Kiehl said the subcommittee also took a major reduction in the regents’ budget separate from the fiscal situation.
“If they’re not going to work, why fund them?” said Kiehl.
Senator Stevens represents District C, which includes the island of Kodiak.
Stevens said he was satisfied with the answers given by nominees at the committee hearing. He said he was pleased to have such highly qualified people who want to serve on the Board of Regents.
Stevens said he retired from the university in 1999, and since then he’s paid attention to the university budget and issues. He said it’s crucial to have quality universities in Alaska.
Stevens said he was interested in the nominees' opinions on preserving research. He said he is concerned with the impact of the new administration and a possible loss of funds for the university.
Stevens said he has no complaints about the Board of Regents’ motion, but he was concerned to see the board give so much control to the federal government. He said he hopes the board can maintain UA’s independence while continuing to receive grants that are vital to the university.
Stevens said he’s impressed by universities like Harvard working to preserve their independence. He said a major reason for their independence is their ability to withstand fiscal crackdowns that UA isn’t as equipped for.
“You can’t give up to bullies, but we don’t want to harm the university either, so I’m not critical of the board at all,” said Stevens
Senator Tobin represents District I, which includes downtown Anchorage.
Tobin said she values the contributions of Regent Perdue, but was left disappointed by Regent Resler.
Tobin said Resler’s lack of understanding of the Executive Branch Ethics Act and her disregard for freedom of speech of faculty, students and staff were beyond disappointing.
Tobin said she has concerns about the current status of the UA system.
Tobin said she had doubts about her continued engagement with the university she loves and values. She added that it is regrettable the regents have made herself, students and faculty feel this doubt.
Tobin said she lacks confidence in the Board of Regents to put the academic integrity and freedoms of faculty and students over the will of the federal government. She said Regent Resler’s comments during the hearing cemented a lack of faith.
Tobin said she is proud to represent the historic Black neighborhood of Alaska, and that it is her obligation and honor to carry the voices of those she represents to Juneau. She said diversity, equity and inclusion make the nation stronger, and she will continue to challenge efforts to diminish and ignore the history of Alaska and the United States.
“I will not stop fighting to build better institutional systems that address the historic wrongs that have hurt people of color in Alaska,” said Resler.
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