The student representative of the 15-member Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System Board of Trustees was impeached as student senate president of Rochester Community and Technical College in February 2001.

Winona State University senior Tyler Despins was impeached at 4:26 p.m. on Feb. 12, 2001, when he and fellow student senators had differing opinions.

“Their main ground for impeaching me was that they thought I didn’t communicate with them,” Despins said.

Other reasons for Despins impeachment were that he often failed to get back to people, according to an article in RCTC’s student newspaper, “The Echo.”

Also, during a student advocacy trip to Washington D.C. where he was supposed to answer questions on student issues, he was accused of questions for which he already had the answers written up.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who appointed Despins in August, did not respond to reporters’ questions by press time.

On the other hand, even with all of these negative feelings that were built up towards Despins that ultimately lead to his impeachment, he stayed on as a member of the senate even after his removal.

 “I wasn’t going to give up on the students because I might be embarrassed,” Despins said.

According to Despins it is all “water under the bridge now.”

He still visits RCTC and stops by the senate offices to say hello to his former colleagues. 

Asked if he thinks something like this will ever come up again, Despins simply replied, “I haven’t heard a complaint in the last three years.  

Since he was impeached two years ago, Despins has been busy with other public service positions.

He was on the Minnesota State College Student Association Platform Committee, where students from two-year colleges fight for issues at the federal level.

He was one of the key members at last year’s Lobby Day in St. Paul.

Despins was also the Minnesota State University Legislator Coordinator for two years.

“I have always had a fond interest in public services,” Despins said.

The position has a two-year term, but Despins will probably not return because he will be student teaching.

“If I do decide to run again it will be for a regular position with a six year term,” Despins said.

As a board member he has to know and deal with academic programs, the budget, personnel of the colleges, admissions requirements for the colleges, policy and procedures, and tuition and fees.

“When looking at the increase of tuition fees you have to focus on two areas,” Despins said. “The access to college for students in low income house holds and the quality of the college itself.  Recently the board has been choosing quality over access, which is maybe a reason why tuition has gone up at Winona State.”

Despins has developed a system on whose reaction to base his votes on.

“First, I think about the people of Minnesota and how they would respond because they pay the taxes, secondly I think of the student reaction, third and fourth are the faculty and staff, and then I think about the presidents and vice presidents.”

As a student representative Despins brings a different perspective into the mix.

He works closely with the student senate and conveys the point of view that will help get the student’s voice heard at the MnSCU level.

However, Despins is also a student and this responsibility does create some bumps in the road for him when it comes to school.

“A major difficulty is just being a student,” Despins said, “I miss class twice a month and have to make-up the work.  It is quite a time crunch.”

But being a student isn’t the only challenge, the fact that he is one face in a crowd of 1,000 doesn’t help much either.

“You work hard just to make people remember you.”

As for future goals, Despins plan is to try and increase the efficiency and credibility of MnSCU.

“I want to look at how we can become more efficient,” Despins said, “We need everyone to look at the budgets and see exactly what they can do.”