In April of 1936, more than 80 per cent of University of Minnesota students voted for a group of reforms to student government and student rights, including a provision that would allow the president of the All-University Council to appoint student members of the powerful Senate Committee on Student Affairs. Dean Nicholson refused to abide by the vote. Nicholson and Coffman claimed that they would consider “suggestions” from students. They called on the formation of committees to discuss changes in student rights. None succeeded and ultimately the Board of Regents simply rejected what Coffman and Nicholson had opposed from the start.