The new academic year offers a fresh start for the University of North Carolina’s Association of Student Governments.
We hope the opportunity for initiative is not wasted.
We welcome Student Body President Hogan Medlin’s clear vision for working with ASG.
In developing Jasmin Jones’ concept of a trained student lobbying group, Medlin envisions ASG coordinating structured lobbying efforts.
He sees ASG representing a strong, united UNC-system student body to the legislature and university leadership.
And he has concrete objectives for tuition, health care and partner benefits for UNC employees.
At a time of instability — with a new system president, and financial uncertainty — a clear voice on behalf of students is crucial.
But we are not convinced that Medlin’s vision is sufficiently driven by students.
Student contributions fund ASG — every student at a UNC-system school contributes $1 toward the association.
For this contribution, students have a right to have their interests represented.
And that puts the onus on Medlin and his administration to provide students regular opportunities for engagement.
The Jones administration last year tackled this challenge by organizing a petition-signing drive in her ASG efforts.
This was a simple way to ensure student buy-in.
As Medlin works to create “student lobbyists,” it is even more important to minimize any disconnect between students and their representatives.
Students are not necessarily opposed to Medlin’s ideas; tuition concerns are on everyone’s radar.
But especially in more narrow areas — partner benefits for UNC employees, for example — he must justify it as the best use of student contributions.
Finally, the size of salaries paid to ASG officers must remain an ongoing concern.
ASG can be an efficient force for the interests of UNC students.
