Students Lobby Legislators
by Joe Mott

Student Body President Matt Calabria, along with other representatives from 16 schools around the state, met personally on Wednesday with legislators to fight for student issues.

“Throughout the university system we have almost 180,000 students,” said N.C. Rep. Alma Adams. “Now tell me you shouldn’t be able to get whatever you want with 180,000 votes.”

Adams spoke in favor for one of the issues on the minds of many, getting a student vote in the Board of Governors. In 25 central higher education boards in 22 states, students have the right to vote, placing North Carolina’s board as one of only five boards with student members where the students can’t vote. Opponents say serving on the BOG requires a significant level of knowledge that students don’t have. But others disagree.

“A seat at the table just isn’t enough,” said Association of Student Governments President Amanda Devore. “We have to have a true voice there. We have to have a vote.”

After encouragement from the speakers and drawing up a game plan over lunch, Calabria and others split up to lobby representatives from around the state for what they thought what most important for UNC-system students.

“Preferably we’d like to see more state support, so that the answer to tuition isn’t just don’t increase it,” said Calabria. “It’s find the money somewhere else from the state, that the university supports.”