Chancellor Holden Thorp gave an address on the state of the University Tuesday at a Student Congress meeting — a move that should be commended for how it promotes transparency.
This sort of direct speaking to students also boosts the administration’s credibility and ought to be employed more often.
According to UNC’s Student Code, the sitting chancellor is to be annually invited to Student Congress to give an address, but it hasn’t been done in recent years.
Thorp should be applauded for having this dialogue, considering the University’s recent troubles. But it shouldn’t take a piling up of scandals for the chancellor to give such an address.
Next year, and every year after that, the new chancellor should give an address to congress. Moreover, it should be made into a bigger, more publicized event.
This year the address was given where congress usually holds its meetings, in Gardner 309. Next year, the meeting should be moved a bigger lecture hall in order to accommodate the bigger audience it deserves.
At this year’s address, congress members were pleased with the chancellor’s speech and student attendance. This is nice, but the address should be expanded in the future.
A focus group comprising the chancellor and other university officials should plan for more State of the University addresses that directly engage students.
In order to get more people to attend, social media networks should be utilized, and the address should be livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person.
