Lack of Knowledge Hurt Leaders' Efforts

Their success was impeded by a general lack of knowledge on town issues and a lack of background information passed down from past student leaders, they say.

Less than 15 UNC students attended Monday's Town Council meeting. Prior to that meeting, students showed little opposition to the town's proposed development ordinance, which has been in deliberation for the past month.

But some students feared that passage of a ban on future construction of duplexes would push UNC students farther away to find affordable housing.

And student government's efforts to oppose the ban Monday proved unable to sway the council in their favor, at least in full. The council passed a temporary ban, which will last nine months, and will re-evaluate the issue at the ban's end.

Graduate and Professional Student Federation President Branson Page attributed the group's late action to an initial lack of knowledge. "We didn't understand the depth of the problem."

Dean Bresciani, interim vice chancellor for student affairs, echoed Page: "Students' intentions would have been better served by earlier involvement."

Dan Herman, vice president of internal affairs for GPSF, also said student leaders should have acted sooner. "It seems like mobilizing students sooner would have helped. But I'm not sure if efforts would have made a difference."

After realizing the ordinance's full implications, GPSF worked to become as well-informed as possible, Herman said.

But Page said time constraints and a lack of awareness regarding town issues -- particularly ordinances -- contribute to low student involvement in town issues.

Herman said the town's discussion of the ordinance so early in the fall semester was unfortunate for new student leaders. "Student government turnovers take place in late spring, and not everyone is around for the summer," he said. "New members only got into this in September."

But Student Body President Jen Daum argued that student government did everything in its power to help students. "I met with the mayor to discuss options and to address the legitimate concerns of the Northside neighborhood, and (Student Congress Speaker) Tony Larson met privately with members of the council."

Page also said students worked hard despite their late start. "Given the circumstances, we did the best we could."

Herman said that GPSF will keep a closer eye on town issues and that it is crucial to inform the next administration on the issue. Daum and Page said it would be a part of their transitions out of office.

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.