The Daily Tar Heel
Printing news. Raising hell. Since 1893.
Thursday, March 28, 2024 Newsletters Latest print issue

We keep you informed.

Help us keep going. Donate Today.
The Daily Tar Heel

Congress declares CAA autonomous organization

Repeals Title VII of Student Code

Correction (November 12, 2010 1:21 AM): Due to a reporting error, this story incorrectly stated that neither Finch nor Goforth were sworn into their positions. Finch was sworn in during an induction ceremony last spring. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for the error.

The Carolina Athletic Association is now an autonomous organization.

Student Congress members voted Tuesday to repeal Title VII from the Student Code, citing it as redundant. The decision formally removed the CAA from student government rules and bylaws.

The removal does away with policies that include the right for Congress to swear in and impeach CAA cabinet members.

Zach De La Rosa, chairman of the rules and judiciary committee of Congress, said the change was expected since many of the policies were not being followed, such as swearing in cabinet members.

“The Student Code should reflect current policy,” said De La Rosa. “Current policy suggests they are autonomous and should be treated as such.”

He said he believed this to be the first time an entire title has been removed from the Code.

Congress Speaker Deanna Santoro said having laws for the CAA is redundant, since the organization functions on its own code.

Caitlin Goforth, CAA campus relations co-chairwoman, said CAA leaders were unaware of many Title VII policies.

“To my knowledge, we weren’t aware of Title VII and its applications,” Goforth said.

Goforth said neither she nor CAA President Brandon Finch were sworn into their positions.

The bill removing Title VII was proposed by De La Rosa at the Oct. 26 Congress meeting, but it was tabled when one representative suggested that the CAA should no longer receive funding for CAA presidential candidates.

Goforth, who was asked by Congress to appear and defend funding candidates at Tuesday’s meeting, said she argued the Residence Hall Association receives election reimbursement but functions autonomously.

CAA presidential candidates will be limited to spending $250 — rather than last year’s $400 — on campaigns in the spring elections, according to the new legislation.

“It keeps everyone on the same playing field,” Goforth said. “The whole point is that everyone has an equal opportunity to run.

“Obviously our independence was a big issue, but we didn’t know it was in effect,” Goforth said. “Taking funding away would have been huge.”

Santoro said editing the Code is important because it clarifies confusing policies.

“We’re just trying to make the Student Code a better document because it’s been neglected,” Santoro said.

“We’ve just been adding without looking at how it affects the whole document,” she said. “It’s gotten messy.”

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.

To get the day's news and headlines in your inbox each morning, sign up for our email newsletters.

Special Print Edition
The Daily Tar Heel's Collaborative Mental Health Edition