To add to and support Monday's column by Matt Jones, I feel that it is necessary to present an idea that could potentially strengthen the student voice here at Carolina and at schools across the state. We all know that the Board of Governors and the Board of Trustees pay no attention to the student voice or our elected officials, and furthermore, the General Assembly allows for such tax loopholes as Jones mentioned, which contributed to North Carolina's budget hitting rock bottom this year.
Unfortunately, North Carolina's politicians, Democrats and Republicans alike, have little interest in subsidizing public education, and when they're through with us, we'll be paying the same as our out-of-state buddies. I believe that Justin Young's Carolina Lobby Corps is on the right track.
However, like Jones mentioned, it needs more funding and also needs to be expanded to represent more students. Funding can come from a number of places but most of all from students. I want next year's student election ballot to contain a proposal put in a $10 or $20 student fee addition to fund Carolina Lobby Corps -- I am sure it would be voted in by a high margin.
Most of this money should go to lobbying and campaign contributions. There is no way we can be heard by "rising above" other interest groups; rather, we must sink to their level and play dirty dirty dirty. In expanding CLC, I mean changing the name to North Carolina Students' Lobby Corps.
North Carolina has one of the highest numbers of public universities relative to its population in the country. This means that students are spread out thinly across the state. If students across the state unionized, and more importantly, all financially contributed to this interest group, we would be cooking.
Sure, it's easier said than done, but I am sure every student in North Carolina would pay $10 a semester to fund a powerful interest group fighting on their behalf than pay a $400 tuition increase! It'll take time and effort, but it will pay off, so Jen Daum, please give it a thought, I think it could work.
Nathan Young
Junior
