UNC-system Association of Student Governments will hold first meeting

The UNC-system Association of Student Governments will discuss reforms to the organization Saturday at its first meeting of the semester.

The organization has been criticized in the past for its ineffective advocacy on behalf of students, as well as for a decision earlier this year to increase officer stipends by 10 percent.

The association, which is funded by an annual $1 student fee, meets monthly at different UNC-system campuses. It will meet at East Carolina University this weekend.

ASG president Cameron Carswell said there are several pieces of legislation being introduced Saturday aimed at making ASG more effective and accountable.

Former ASG presidential candidate Ron Hinton said the changes have the potential to improve the organization.

“The reforms are a good idea, but it depends on the people to see if they are effectively carried through,” he said.

Carswell and Senior Vice President Alecia Page have pledged to make the association more efficient than in previous years.

The legislation could revamp the committee structure to implement five new committees and require the executive officers in charge of those committees to submit monthly reports.

It could also create a new position — a chief of staff — who will oversee internal operations and help to ensure that meetings run smoothly, Carswell said.

The association’s website will be updated this weekend with a new format to keep students posted, she said.

The changes are a step in the right direction, said Peter McClelland, chairman of UNC Student Congress’ committee on ASG reform, in an email.

“What I hope to see in a more broad sense from ASG is systemic reforms, yes, but also a change in the economy of its resources,” he said in an email.

UNC Student Body President Will Leimenstoll agreed that the reforms could be helpful.

“I don’t think ASG has been an effective organization in the past, but I have faith in the abilities of the new senior leadership,” he said.

Contact the desk editor at state@dailytarheel.com.