WILMINGTON - The UNC- system Association of Student Governments started off its 37th session this weekend the way it ended its 36th - with a bang.
Last session ended with a controversial presidential election that sowed uneasy feelings among some delegates to the body charged with representing UNC-system students and their interests.
However this weekend's bang was a triumphant one. The ASG plowed through a revised constitution" approved a new budget and confirmed nine executive officers - all in one day.
""Even today" I'm still absolutely stunned" ASG President Greg Doucette told The Daily Tar Heel on Monday, after the meeting.
But the road leading up to the weekend wasn't exactly smooth.
The week before the meeting, one committee officer resigned and Doucette withdrew his nomination for another. However, qualified replacements quickly filled the vacancies, Doucette said.
I don't want to replace (delegates)" but if they screw up I will" Doucette said.
I think that was kind of the implied message that came out this weekend.""
The ASG has been widely criticized for inefficiency and corruption in the past" and Doucette has made transparency and accountability a priority for his presidency.
The ASG budget has also been a tripping point for the organization in the past - but this year it passed smoothly even with the addition of several new programs.
The organization is responsible for allocating a recurring budget of $199000 that comes from student fees and a $99000 surplus from previous years.
Jason Smith the ASG chief financial officer" stressed his dedication to financial efficacy.
""I think any good budget has to be a little bit flexible"" he said. I think that it will work well with the kind of financial leadership we have this year and the kind of political leadership we have.""
Doucette said that he hopes the new programs will put the student fees to good use. In the past" ASG has been accused of being wasteful with student money.
The new budget includes funding for the launch of UNC Today an Internet-based survey that will let students give feedback to the ASG and various voter mobilization efforts that will receive a hefty portion of the budget.
University campuses can apply for a competitive grant which will be used to encourage voter participation. Constituent high schools UNC School of the Arts and N.C. School of Science and Math will receive money to encourage voter registration among high school seniors.
Doucette's message of efficacy appears to already resonate with members.
UNC-Asheville Student Body President Nick Ladd whose school stopped participating in ASG business last year was at the meeting Saturday. He said the school plans to resume involvement.
Ladd also said that although this meeting was mostly about working out kinks in the budget and constitution" he expects to see more initiatives spurred by the student representatives in upcoming months.
""I think things have been off to a really positive start"" Ladd said.
Constitutional revisions, which passed unanimously, should encourage increased input, Doucette said.
It's not just me as president setting the agenda" it's the students setting the agenda" he said.
Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.
