In the last Board of Trustees meeting and then with the Student Advisory Committee to the Chancellor, we struggled with how to quantify the "Carolina Experience." The University administration, faculty, staff, and students are being asked to decide on measures of excellence that we feel mark our progress, rather than relying on national rankings. But how can you put a numerical value on the pit at lunchtime, the quality of conversation in the Johnston Center, or the magic in the air after we beat Duke? I don't think we can.
However, that does not mean we should not strive to be the leading public university. We led this summer during the Summer Reading program controversy. Our judicial branch is used as a model for other institutions. The quality of services and the educational experience we provide continue to bring the best and brightest from both in and outside of North Carolina.
We can truly lead by serving. The University of North Carolina System President Emeritus Bill Friday said it best. Every day a million people living below the poverty line in North Carolina wake up and go to work to support your education. What are you doing for them? As students, we are leading. We lead work trips, fund-raisers, and spend countless hours helping our communities. But we can do better. Through further institutionalization of North Carolina Students for Educational Access, we can go to more of the schools and counties in North Carolina that are in need of our expertise. For three years, I traveled to rural counties in North Carolina and talked to students who thought a Carolina education was out of their reach. By physically placing financial aid forms in front of them and demystifying a college education, we can truly make Carolina open to all who wish to attend. We just need to level the playing field. And we, the students, are the best people to talk to others about Carolina. Guidance counselors simply cannot provide the insight we can.
The Tuition Task Force, which I co-chair with Provost Robert Shelton, has met three times. I was dismayed to discover that 39% of undergraduates have parents with incomes over $100,000 a year. Our mission, as students, should be to close the economic gap that plagues our University and to do a better job encouraging students to come here. This is not an easy task--it requires effort from each of us. But I have faith that, though tuition may rise, the student body will find ways to further the diversity, intelligence, and other aspects that brought us each here.
Thus far, the Executive Branch has accomplished numerous goals. From increasing the money going to child care services to holding a very successful drought forum, we are proud of all we've done together.
Next week a course on the Curriculum Review will start, allowing students to earn one credit hour. Students will be able to give their input to the Curriculum Review committee's recommendations, which will change the curriculum for undergraduates for the first time in decades. The proposal includes the removal of one perspective requirement, the possibility of majoring with two minors, and other changes. Students need to take a hard look at these changes and discuss their educational effect, as well as the practicality of implementing these new requirements.
Last night's Town Council meeting, though lengthy, went better than expected. To clarify--students will not have to move out of their duplexes. The ban places a moratorium on the development of duplexes until June 30, 2003. The Town Council decided to place this sunset clause after the Mayor and I talked last week and after student leaders spoke out last night. This ban's intention is to give the residents of a specific neighborhood the chance to organize into a Neighborhood Conservation district without continual disruption from developers, and it is not intended to affect other neighborhoods. However, the next administration will have to stay on the issue, because it will be revisited during the summer months.
In the meantime, the GPSF and Executive Branch will be putting together packets of information for students who live off-campus on how to be a good neighbor. Duke has a program in place that seems successful...I know, it's Duke. This packet will include basic information about noise ordinances, animal control, and how to dispose of a couch without infringing on your neighbor. Hopefully, this will be the first step in patching up the relationship between students and other members of the town.
Over the summer and into the fall semester, leaders in Student Government went to Raleigh and met with legislators to present the case for higher education to the leaders in the state. The end result is mostly positive. Graduate student tuition remission stayed in the budget, the legislature fully funded financial aid, and the 3% budget cut was significantly less than expected. This only happened because students and administrators worked together to protect higher education. Additionally, we worked with the Association of Student Governments to go as members of the University of North Carolina System, which further legitimized our presence and point of view. After a successful lobbying class last spring, we are looking to recreate the seminar for this spring semester, since the Legislature goes into their long session in January. The last push Executive Branch members made was to send over 550 letters to members of the Conference Committee. I received very positive responses from many legislators, particularly Senators Tony Rand and Howard Lee. We look forward to continuing this effort, especially by working with the Association of Student Governments, now that a $1 fee has been implemented and the Association has more resources to assist our individual governments in our efforts. Already, the Association has planned a Student Day at the Capital for February 4th, 2003. We will have buses available to bring students to Raleigh and are anticipating turnout in the thousands.
