Letter: ​Voting can lead to better representation

TO THE EDITOR:

As a candidate for student body president, a North Carolinian and, most importantly, a UNC student, I am humbled by your critique and insight provided in the two recent editorials.

The student body president can and should take stances on issues that affect student life.

Inherent to that responsibility, though, is working with several complex political bodies that have their own unique politics: student government, the UNC administration, the Board of Trustees, the Board of Governors and the General Assembly.

Therefore, to lead student government within the context of this range of nuanced institutions, while still being the students’ advocate, I must serve cooperatively and collaboratively.

But leading is not only about making public stances.

Leading student government is about empowering students to be advocates in their own right.

That’s what my administration will do.

My administration will educate the student body about legislators and issues through our CarolinaResponds team and through voting scorecards rating state legislators.

We will break down traditional barriers to voting through registration drives and step-by-step voting guidance.

And we will build upon established relationships, while also constructing new ones, with community leaders in Chapel Hill and Raleigh.

The student body president does not just stand at the head of student government.

The student body president stands with 30,000 voters capable of redefining Carolina.

With a vote, students can fix the opaque process by which Margaret Spellings was appointed.

With a vote, students can reroute budget priorities so that mental health and sexual assault resources are not out of students’ reach.

And, with a vote, students can safeguard the flagship of our state, this University.

Wilson Sink

Junior

Political science and peace, war and defense