October Report released

He promised to fight unreasonable tuition increases. He promised to activate the student voice. He even promised free music.

And now that Matt Calabria has reached the halfway point of his term as student body president, he said these platform planks - in addition to the more than 60 initiatives that served as the keystone of his campaign - are well on the way to being realized.

"I'm really confident that all of the headliner goals are more or less out of the way," he said. "Now we're onto more of the nitty-gritty details."

Calabria designed a platform that many say was longer and more comprehensive than that of any of his seven competitors.

Late Tuesday night his administration released its October Report to evaluate the progress made since Calabria first took office in April. The 306-page document is about twice the size of any in recent history, but the actual report, at 54 pages, is similar in length to those of recent administrations.

The report highlights Calabria's progress on his top initiatives. These include spearheading efforts to provide free and legal music downloading, revising the Student Code, initiating the VoteCarolina campaign, expanding the role of the Tuition Task Force and introducing more oversight of the Carolina Athletic Association.

The report also documents the administration's work to advocate for renovations to the Campus Y, to reserve funding for sports clubs and to reform the Association of Student Governments.

Student Body Vice President Alexa Kleysteuber said Calabria came into the position wanting all members of student government to take ownership of the platform. Several administration members pointed to Calabria's outsourcing of work to committees that have focused on issues including business and technology, environmental issues and minority affairs.

"This administration is tackling more complicated issues this year," said Provost Robert Shelton, who serves as co-chairman of the Tuition Task Force with Calabria.

Calabria also has grappled with unexpected challenges, such as evaluating CAA's credibility and advocating for Campus Y renovations.

While Calabria's list of accomplishments is long, several officials said he must continue with this momentum to follow through on his campaign promises.

"On the whole, we really have the sense that we know that if the platform goal hasn't been completed, we know exactly what needs to be done, and it is on the right person's desk," said Chief of Staff Tre Jones.

Some of the platform planks have proven to be infeasible, and others have taken care of themselves, Jones said.

"It is very easy to kind of continue on doing what we are doing in a bubble and not reach out and make sure there aren't new concerns and that what we are doing is applicable to the needs of the student body," said Brian Phelps, co-chairman of the Academic Affairs Committee.

Until Tuesday's election, the VoteCarolina campaign to encourage students to cast their ballots will remain key, several members of the administration said.

Calabria also said he will continue to advocate for free music downloading as the project comes to fruition in the spring. Work to revise the Student Code will continue during the year, as will his work with the Board of Trustees, he said.

Several committee chairmen said they will play a pivotal role in carrying out the administration's goals.

Students and administrators who have worked with Calabria during the first half of his term have expressed respect for his administration.

Richard "Stick" Williams, chairman of the Board of Trustees, said that when Calabria serves as an ex officio member on the board, he acts more like a trustee than a student. But Williams noted that Calabria has even more to contribute. "I think he is already making contributions, but I think there is even more he can do in that regard."

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.