The president of the UNC-system Association of Student Governments should be a representative of the schools, but at the same time know the responsibilities and limitations of ASG.
The next ASG president, who will be picked this weekend, must be committed to the position, and treat it like the job that it is.
Time has to be spent traveling to other universities in the system and building vital relationships with those at other schools.
The ASG president’s most important job, and greatest asset, is sitting on the Board of Governors. Though the president isn’t a voting member, he or she effectively serves as the face of UNC-system students.
The ASG president’s time shouldn’t be spent making ineffective lobbying trips or trying to rouse up a largely apathetic student body.
Instead, the ideal ASG president should master issues that come before the Board of Governors such as fees, credit hour requirements and academic advising changes, and be able to voice student concerns about those issues.
The ideal president must be efficient in organization and motivation. This means making sure venues, delegation and communication are organized.
Many times, ASG presidents campaign and begin their terms promoting the association as a force in state politics. However, a good candidate is one who understands that ASG’s role is rooted in education and advocacy — and rarely goes beyond that.
