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The Daily Tar Heel

Student Leaders Plan for State of University Address

Date, location to be decided in Friday talks.

Student Body President Jen Daum said she, Student Congress Speaker Tony Larson and Student Attorney General Amanda Spillman will speak at the address.

The three said it is important for the campus community to hear the student government perspective on UNC's priorities following Moeser's Sept. 4 State of the University Address.

"I think allowing all three branches of government to speak would be an effective way to mark our progress," Daum said. Daum said she plans to focus on issues such as judicial reform, tuition and the increase in the amount of public service students are performing.

She also will discuss the positive effects of the increase in communication between government branches.

In addition to this heightened cooperation, Larson said topics such as transportation problems and campus safety issues are all likely to be covered. He said that the student address might have different priorities than the chancellor's address but that it might have some overlaps as well.

"The purpose of the student address is not to challenge the chancellor's but to give it from the student leaders' perspective," Larson said.

Spillman said she plans to focus on the judicial review and the success of this week's Honor and Integrity Week. Like Daum and Larson, she said she will speak about the improved communication between the executive, judicial and legislative branches.

"I think it's important for the three branches to work together," she said. "And they have been to a high degree."

Details of the address, including date and location, will be decided Friday at a meeting of student government leaders.

Larson said the address will be held during a special session of Congress.

This year's address won't be the first State of the University Address by students. Former Student Body President Nic Heinke gave the first ever address Sept. 7, 1999.

Jon Curtis, assistant director of student activities, suggested the idea of a student State of the University Address to student government leaders. He said implementing a student address would be a helpful program for creating dialogue in the student community.

He said, "I think it would be a good opportunity for students to express their viewpoint and perspective on the state of the University."

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.

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