The allegedly slow pace of transformation at universities has raised questions about how they are governed. The NGO Higher Education Transformation Network has called for legislation that would give the government and society the power to select members of the senates and councils of universities.The network was reacting to reports about the lack of transformation at Stellenbosch and other universities.According to the network, the senates and councils should be "making and implementing progressive rules and policies for admissions, hiring of faculty and promotions".Chairman Lucky Thekisho said current senates and councils were "old boys' networks", whose members were more than willing to maintain the status quo."We don't want to tell them what to do or how to run their institutions," said Thekisho."We are more concerned about transformation to serve the broader society."Free State University rector Jonathan Jansen said giving the government the power to select members of senates and councils was not the answer."If the government gets involved in the vital academic function [of senates], a university becomes an organ of state, existing for, and at the whims of, whomever the current government is. Universities are not parastatals - look at how well they are doing," Jansen said.At present senate members are selected by academics whereas council members are elected by the government, alumni and students' bodies , with 60% of members being from outside the university...