Student Government - The Daily Tar Heel

A peer counselor at the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid gives financial advice to an incoming transfer student. Students with work study jobs are eligible for SNAP benefits, but few UNC students use the program.

'We just want to know what’s happening': Students push for clarity on CARES Act relief aid

By Kyle Ingram | May. 27, 2020

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.

Undergraduate Senate condemns Interfraternity Council event in first summer meeting

By Sara Raja | May. 20, 2020

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.

DTH Photo Illustration. With UNC's campus closed and large gatherings banned as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, members of UNC's student government hold meetings over Zoom.

'A holding pattern': Here's how student government is adjusting to reduced operations

By Hunter Haskett | Mar. 26, 2020

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.

Junior Senator Tanner Henson (bottom left) of the Undergraduate Senate reacts to Senator Sosa Evbuomwan's response to events that occurred at the last meeting Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018 in Gardner Hall.

UNC's Undergraduate Senate to vote on making senate seats paid

By Preston Fore | Mar. 4, 2020

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.

Student body president candidate Reeves Mosely speaks during the SBP debate on Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. The candidates debated civic engagement, graduate student needs, diversity and police conduct, among other topics.

So what does the student body president... do?

By Preston Fore | Feb. 12, 2020

“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.”

Student Body President-Elect Reeves Moseley (third from left) reacts to learning that he won the vote for student body president in an apartment in Carolina Square on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2020. Moseley won about 70% of the vote.

Junior Reeves Moseley elected student body president in blowout victory

By Ramishah Maruf | Feb. 12, 2020

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.

UNC faculty and students walk past ad campaigns in the Pit ahead of the Student Body President election on Feb. 10, 2020. Voting for the Student Body President Election begins on Feb. 11 at heellife.unc.edu.

Meet the two students running for UNC's Student Body President

By Ramishah Maruf and Noah Dolgoff | Feb. 10, 2020

Reeves Moseley is a junior undergraduate, and Ryan Collins is a second-year law student.

N.C. Sen. Mike Woodard (left), D-Durham, and Harrison Kaplan, a lobbyist in the N.C. General Assembly, turn toward each other during the Lobbying 101 Workshop event hosted by the Undergraduate Executive Branch of the Student Government in the Student Union on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019. "I tell people: 'I'm a lobbyist. It's impossible to offend me,'" Kaplan said, speaking on lobbying in legislature.

Student Government hosts workshop featuring professional lobbyists and state senator

By Addison Skigen | Nov. 14, 2019

UNC Student Government hosted a lobbying workshop on Tuesday night featuring lobbyists and a state senator.

Cassie Teixeira, a first-year exercise and sport science major, writes about physical activities she is grateful for in front of the Campus Y on Monday, Nov. 4, 2019.

Mental Health Monday addresses body positivity during the holiday season

By Abbey Thompson | Nov. 5, 2019

For the most recent Mental Health Monday, Embody Carolina hosted an event focused on body positivity and mental health during the holiday season.

A student picks up a voting sticker after casting their vote at the Chapel of the Cross church at 304 E. Franklin Street on Oct. 23, 2018. The Chapel of the Cross serves as an early voter location close to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's campus.

Your One Card could work as your voter ID — if UNC makes the deadline

By Addison Skigen | Oct. 24, 2019

UNC has until Nov. 15 to submit a form that would allow One Cards to be used as a valid voting ID.

Interim Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz delivered his State of the University address to the Undergraduate Senate on Monday, Oct.14, 2019. The speech touched on his time as chancellor and a number of initiatives his administration is starting, mainly focusing on diversity and new academic programs.

Undergraduate Senate heard from Chancellor, debated length of meetings on Tuesday

By Mary Mac Porter | Oct. 20, 2019

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.

The Undergraduate Student Senate held a full senate meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019, where they discussed topics such as supporting a new Asian American Center on campus.

Undergraduate Senate shows support for Asian American Center at Tuesday meeting

By Ramishah Maruf | Oct. 2, 2019

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.

Students often know that therapists and mental health services exist on campus, according to Samantha Brosso, a PhD student in the social psychology department at UNC. But it can be harder to gain the confidence to use them. Photo illustration by Anna Neil.

Student government creates new student support network for mental health

By Anna Neil | Sep. 19, 2019

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.

Photo courtesy of FSU Photography Services.

How Police Chief Perry was chosen, and what his history at FSU means to UNC students

By Evely Forte | Aug. 29, 2019

“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.”

Student Body President Ashton Martin stands in front of the Student Union on Sunday, Aug. 18 prior to preparing for FallFest 2019.

How Student Body President Ashton Martin wants to be remembered at UNC

By Evely Forte | Aug. 19, 2019

“We are not here to shove our ideas or our policies onto anyone, but really to collaborate with the community and work with other stakeholders to make sure that everyone has a place that they can call home here.”

Student Body President Savannah Putnam in the Carolina Inn following a BOT meeting Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019. President Putnam recently commented on the departure of Chancellor Carol Folt.

Savannah Putnam brought an activist angle to student politics during her presidency

By Preston Lennon | Jun. 24, 2019

Savannah Putnam, former student body president, took heed of the student government body during a tumultuous year filled with politics, Silent Sam and mental health concerns.

Chancellor Carol Folt attends the UNC football game against Virginina Tech on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018 in Kenan Memorial Stadium. Folt announced that she will be stepping down from her position as chancellor in an email sent to the University community on Monday, Jan. 14, 2018.

Students who advised Chancellor Folt remember a conflicted leader

By Preston Lennon | May. 29, 2019

Students offered input on former Chancellor Folt's time at UNC, specifically in regards to Silent Sam.

Student Body President Ashton Martin updates the 101st Undergraduate Senate during the body’s first full meeting.

101st Undergraduate Senate disagrees over first substantive bill

By Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez | Apr. 17, 2019

The 101st Undergraduate Senate's first substantive bill was meant to create annual reports on the work of student government — and cut funding for branches who didn't finish their report.

The Buddy Project teamed up with UNC Paws to host an event for Mental Health Awareness Week on Tuesday. Photo courtesy of Ally Yoder.

There’s paw prints in the pollen: Here’s why the Pit was full of dogs on Tuesday

By Janet Haver | Apr. 9, 2019

The Buddy Project, UNC Paws and the Mental Health Coalition teamed up to host their “Doggies and Dialogue” event Tuesday morning for Mental Health Awareness week.

Student Body President Ashton Martin updates the 101st Undergraduate Senate at their second meeting of the year. Photo by Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez.

UNC Student Government to host first Mental Health Awareness Week

By Praveena Somasundaram | Apr. 3, 2019

Beginning on Monday, April 8, UNC Student Government will host a Mental Health Awareness Week to support mental health education on campus.