New, improved ASG set to make a splash

June 22 - RALEIGH - Student Body President James Allred looks set to offer some of the strongest backing ever for the UNC-system Association of Student Governments, a group that often has enjoyed only arms-length support from student leaders at UNC-Chapel Hill.

The campus and the association have traded criticism in the past about wasteful spending and lackluster participation, but Allred has offered clear signals that his administration will be fully invested in the ASG - a group comprising campus leaders from all 16 of North Carolina's public colleges and universities.

"Chapel Hill hasn't really shown a good-faith effort in the ASG yet," Allred said.

"Opinions of past student body presidents have run from disengagement to nonengagement, and it's been so easy in the past for members of that group to write us off."

Deeper involvement was made almost inevitable during the group's meeting June 17 at N.C. State University, during which Allred was named chairman of the association's finance committee.

The move should allow for greater influence over the ASG's budget of more than $166,000 and was designed in part to blunt, frequent criticism from campus leaders that UNC-CH's share could be put to better use.

UNC-CH contributes almost $27,000 to the ASG budget annually through a mandatory $1 student fee.

Among the other officers named was Jake Parton, a UNC-CH junior who was selected as vice president for academic and student affairs.

Michael Pyant from Winston-Salem State University was named vice president for public affairs, and Lee Hyde, a senior from NCSU, is returning for a second year as vice president for finance.

Attracting a committed group of officers was one of the association's most urgent concerns after a year that saw a string of high-level resignations.

The association declined to name a vice president for government affairs, although there are already several applicants for the post.

"We're not going to hire somebody just because they filled out an application," said Dan Fischer, the association's senior vice president.

"We want people who are highly qualified."

ASG president Derek Pantiel said on June 16 that he wants the group's officers to develop the kind of expertise held by UNC-system officials.

He told members of the Council of Student Body Presidents that they would act in a capacity similar to the system's Board of Governors.

"This council will be attending the Board of Governors," Pantiel said. "I always see the chancellors there, and the student body presidents should be there, too."

Several association officials said they expect providing a stronger presence at the BOG will pay dividends throughout the year, both in terms of building knowledge for the association and exercising influence over university policy.

"The ASG has the opportunity to exert more influence within the BOG than in any other governing body," Allred said.

"I think Derek can take on the role of a good advisor to the members of the BOG, and I think we're seeing him move toward that."

Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.