Former ASUU vice president nominated to regents

U student Basim Motiwala wants to serve college students in Utah. And he has a one-in-three chance of doing just that.
The Utah Council of Student Body Presidents nominated Motiwala in April as one of three candidates to sit on the Utah State Board of Regents, the state's higher education policy committee.
The student regent position, created by the legislature in 1977, is a full voting member of the board.
Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. must now decide which of the three candidates will fulfill a one-year term.
Motiwala, a senior in behavioral science and health and former student body vice president, said that his experience in student government qualifies him for the position.
"As a student, I have a grasp on the issues that students are facing," he said. "If selected, I'll work closely with the various student body presidents and represent them on the board."
Nolan Karras, a Regents member since 2001, said that student regents offer a unique and valuable insight to the Regents, which is composed of 18 voting members and two non-voting members.
"When we get to issues that are important to students, the student regent is someone who definitely has an impact," Karras said. "We've had good student regents in the past and I'm optimistic that (Hunstman) will make the right choice."
Student regents are required to attend a public university in Utah while serving on the Regents.
Anthony Frustaci and Peter McChesney, both students at Utah State University, were also nominated for the position, which begins July 1.
Huntsman is scheduled to interview the candidates within the next two weeks. A spokesperson for the governor was unable to say when Huntsman will make his decision, but Motiwala said he expects one by the end of May.
r.shelton@chronicle.utah.edu