The president of Washington State University or his or her designee has the power to appoint members of the faculty, staff, and student body; administrative law judges; members in good standing of the Washington state bar association; the president or his or her designee; a person or entity with whom the university contracts; or any combination of the above to be presiding officers for formal and brief adjudicative proceedings. When more than one individual is designated to be the presiding officer, one person shall be designated by the president or designee to make decisions concerning discovery, closure, means of recording adjudicative proceedings, and similar matters. The term "presiding officer" as used in this chapter is read in the plural when the context demands.