The Undergraduate Senate’s Commission on Campus Equality and Student Equity met for the first time Tuesday. During the meeting, the commission discussed plans to address representation and support for minority groups on campus.
Reeves Moseley didn’t expect to begin his term as student body president during a pandemic. The rising senior took on his role in April with the goal to #BridgetheDivide between UNC and traditionally marginalized student groups.
The Undergraduate Senate passed a concurrent resolution at its full meeting Wednesday night, calling on the Board of Trustees to take action in renaming buildings on campus following the decision to lift the 16-year freeze.
Over 50 people gathered virtually Monday for a Solidarity and Action Virtual Vigil hosted by the Undergraduate Senate to discuss topics like mental health and self care, and campaigns to push for change on UNC's campus to address issues of racial and social injustice.
In this episode, host Evely Forte spoke to incoming senior class president Chris Suggs; incoming Black Student Movement president Tamiya Troy; Multicultural Affairs and Diversity Outreach committee co-chairpersons Chaz Crosby and Maya Logan; and Interim Chief Diversity Officer Sibby Anderson-Thompkins, to better understand what impact the movement, against police brutality and for racial equity, will have on the upcoming semester.
The UNC Undergraduate Senate met for a special session Wednesday, where they passed a concurrent resolution to condemn the murder of George Floyd, and a resolution to form a new Commission on Campus Equality and Student Equity.
The University is beginning to release emergency funding from the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act for students affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, but some have criticized the administration for moving too slowly to release funds and not being transparent about the process. Students were formally notified about the opportunity for emergency funding about a month after the University received funds from the CARES Act. The announcement was sent two days after Undergraduate Senator Lamar Richards sent a letter to the chancellor criticizing the University for not publicizing the funds and not moving quicker to release them.
The Undergraduate Senate looked ahead to fall semester and passed four items of legislation during its first full meeting of the summer Tuesday. One piece of legislation passed was a resolution in support of the Campus Y’s statement regarding a controversial Interfraternity Council event that took place in February.
Now that classes are remote and campus is in reduced operations, student government must decide how to do work for a University that is somewhat shut down.
A new bill proposed in the Undergraduate Senate would provide student senators with a $300 maximum stipend based on the number of meetings they attend. Some members of the senate think the bill will encourage participation and make the senate more appealing and accessible to students. Others have their doubts.
“Our institution is built on student self-governance and the ability for students to have a say in how the institution runs as well as how their daily life is organized and conducted.”
After midnight on Tuesday, it was announced that junior Reeves Moseley was elected student body president with about 70 percent of the vote. Moseley beat Ryan Collins, a graduate student and his only opponent, by 2,028 votes. Total voter turnout for this election was 4,170, a more than 650-vote increase from the year prior. Moseley's campaign slogan was #BridgetheDivide, and his platform included encouraging student voter mobilization and political engagement. In addition to Moseley's victory, students voted in Tuesday's election for a referendum petitioning for a student activity fee to help finance BeAM makerspaces on campus.
Reeves Moseley is a junior undergraduate, and Ryan Collins is a second-year law student.
UNC Student Government hosted a lobbying workshop on Tuesday night featuring lobbyists and a state senator.
For the most recent Mental Health Monday, Embody Carolina hosted an event focused on body positivity and mental health during the holiday season.
UNC has until Nov. 15 to submit a form that would allow One Cards to be used as a valid voting ID.
After hearing from interim Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz with his State of the University address, the UNC Undergraduate Senate argued about issues including student fees and the length of meetings.
In addition to showing unanimous support for an Asian American center on campus, the Undergraduate Senate clashed over bills on the consent calendar and appointed a new ethics committee chair during Tuesday's meeting.
A new peer support system for students is set to launch at the end of September. This new system, created by the Undergraduate Executive Branch of UNC Student Government, will focus on student-to-student interactions and changing the way people approach student mental health.
“One of the priorities in our search was to find someone with a proven track record in community policing and strong experience building communication and trust.”
