Wilson Sink wants to define UNC as home for everyone

If junior Wilson Sink wins the race for student body president, he wants every student at UNC to feel comfortable calling the University home.

He said he found his home at UNC through his classes, student government, Greek life and Musical Empowerment, among other organizations.

“I recognize, though, that not everyone has that experience, that feeling that they belong here, and that’s unfair,” Sink said.

“I’ve been really fortunate in my time here, but I’m running because I feel called to serve to make sure that my experience is not unique.”

Sink’s platform focuses on three major themes to help define Carolina as a home: space, stories and service.

He said space will focus on the physical aspects of UNC, and the stories portion focuses on students’ experiences at UNC.

He said engaging students in democracy is the most important issue to him — and that falls under the service theme.

“We have a voice to speak out through activism, but also we have a voice to vote, and I don’t think students utilize that enough,” he said. “It’s important that we recognize that there is power to change things if you choose to act.”

Sink’s interests go beyond politics. He said he is passionate about music, and he is involved in Musical Empowerment, an organization that offers free music lessons to underprivileged children in the area.

“He’s full of ideas and has a very clear vision,” Marissa Cranford, co-president of Musical Empowerment, said.

“He really cares, and he’s really dedicated, and he’s the kind of person that if he says he’s going to do something, you can be 100 percent sure that it’s going to happen.”

Sink, who has been involved in Musical Empowerment since he was a first-year, serves as an executive committee member and teaches guitar lessons to children.

He said some of his best memories at UNC have come from being in the organization.

“Probably the best feeling for me is always going to be seeing my kids perform,” Sink said. “It’s something really powerful for me to see them finally click.”

Sink also has a home in his fraternity, Chi Psi, where he said he has formed unique connections. Sink said his experience in Greek life has been overwhelmingly positive.

As student body president, he wants to continue creating partnerships between Greek organizations and groups on campus to make a philanthropic and environmental difference.

As a Morehead-Cain Scholar majoring in political science and peace, war and defense, Sink has also found a home in his classes.

Larry Goldberg, who taught Sink when he was a sophomore, said Sink is an active participant in class who possesses intelligence and common sense.

“He’s such a good student. I wish he’d focus all of his attention on his studies,” Goldberg said.

“But that’s a teacher’s point of view.”

Junior Joseph LaRochelle said since he met Sink during his first year at UNC, Sink has been someone to look up to.

“Wilson’s community is Carolina,” LaRochelle said. “He’s found a ton of things that he’s gotten involved in, but he never ceases to find other communities that he can engage in and thrive in and be friends with.”

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