A new year's Eve

Student Body President Eve Carson took a DustBuster to Student Union Room 2105 Wednesday, cleaning out the last remnants of former Student Body President James Allred’s tenure.

With the old administration officially gone, Carson has set about taking the presidency in a new direction.

While last year Allred spent his first week in office organizing what he would do for the next year, Carson has spent her first week trying to fulfill a key campaign promise – reaching out to the student body.

She said the main focus of her first week in office has been trying to publicize and fill Cabinet and executive appointments.

She also is trying to find leaders for special projects she has established.

“We’re trying to work through several personal contacts and go out to different group meetings, trying to get the word out about these positions,” Carson said.

Student Body Vice President Mike Tarrant said he and Carson met with groups such as the Carolina Hispanic Association and Black Student Movement.

Carson said she would be in the Pit today and Wednesday giving out Popsicles and advertising the available positions.

By the time he took office, Allred already had filled his Cabinet. Allred said he spent his first week in office breaking his platform down into committees and creating a timeline for when goals should be met.

“The first week really sets the pace for the rest of the year,” he said. “You figure out who you want to work on each project and when you want each project to be accomplished.”

Carson also has started to organize her platform and set a preliminary schedule for what she hopes to accomplish.

“I think our projects and goals are different from James’, and we have a different way of approaching them,” Carson said. “We have more of a working platform than a checklist.”

For the past week Carson also has been working with Student Congress Speaker Tyler Younts on a bill that the two are sponsoring.

The bill seeks to exempt some external appointments, such as members of the Library Advisory Committee, from congressional approval.

Committees that require the use of student funds still will require approval, Younts said.

“This legislation will take a burden off of Congress,” he said. “It is something Eve and Mike both thought was a good idea.”

Carson said that the cohesiveness and productivity of her administration has increased since she took office last Tuesday.

“I’ve been really excited to see the student body officers pick up work and be eager to take on responsibilities,” she said. “There has been a lot of cooperating and sharing of ideas.”

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.