Laying the foundation: Medlin prepares for year

With classes starting in just 33 days, Hogan Medlin and his administration are working to accomplish their goals.

Medlin, UNC’s student body president, ran under a 68-page platform that outlined what he hoped to achieve during his year in office. This summer, he and his administration got started.

Before tuition was raised on July 13, Medlin spent much of June writing letters and making phone calls to help make sure any tuition changes were absolutely necessary.

“The student government needs to be there on this issue and get the voice of students out now on campus,” said Student Body Secretary Ian Lee, who helps write letters and press releases.

Another piece of Medlin’s platform focuses on student life. Under this section, Medlin aimed to create a site map with the locations of all the clubs that will be at Fall Fest.

Medlin hopes to finish the map by the end of July. Students will receive it via e-mail in PDF format before the festival.

Student government officials have also spent their summer focusing on new students.

Both Medlin and Student Body Vice President Holly Boardman have been speaking to incoming freshmen and transfer students.

Medlin said orientation is a critical time to communicate with new students about what student government is about and what it does.

“We are out there as much as possible so people can meet us and ask questions,” Medlin said.

In June, Medlin and his administration launched a monthly radio show through the campus station WXYC. The show will continue during the fall to talk about big issues on campus.

A monthly newsletter will also be available beginning in the fall to keep students aware of what their leaders are up to.

Medlin has also formed a team of about eight to 10 students to produce a tuition visibility report at the end of the month.

The report — an idea of former Student Body President J.J. Raynor — is intended to keep students informed about how funds from the tuition increase get distributed.

Under his administration, Medlin said student government will help simplify the election process.

A common application form will be available for those interested in joining student government.

Medlin also plans to continue working closely with the Board of Trustees and the Greek system to evaluate the current rush process.

A study will launch in September regarding the process. Until then student government will continue to work with trustees and Greeks to identify the best way to design the study.

Monique Hardin, Medlin’s chief of staff, said committee leaders have been spending their summers planning for the upcoming year.

“(They were) sent off with a mission over the summer to meet together and come up with a rough-draft time line of different events and different things that they want to do,” Hardin said.

Student government will reconvene for the year at a retreat on Aug. 29.

“We’re just making sure everyone is setting a foundation for the year,” Hardin said.

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.