“A bad idea” is the only part of Stephen Leonard’s letter (“Why the ASG needs N.C. State”) that we can agree on.
Opening with the question about “not what ASG can do for N.C. State, but what N.C. State can do for ASG” sets this article up for certain doom by suggesting that N.C. State is somehow subordinate or indebted to the ASG. He then tries to debunk the idea “that the ASG is some kind of special interest group or lobbying organization that has failed to do its job.”
Mr. Leonard may want to visit the ASG’s website. It clearly states one of the ASG’s purposes as “advocating for student interests.” “Advocating” is a synonym for “lobbying.” Later on the about page, it says that the ASG “looks to address the pressing issues facing students today.” This is a pretty clear indication as to whom the ASG is supposed to be lobbying for.
Perhaps Mr. Leonard has forgotten that the funds for his salary, and the salaries of his peers, and the student governments for the 17 UNC campuses, and (by extension) the ASG comes from both the taxpayers of North Carolina, and the students paying tuition at these institutions. As long as the ASG is taking moneys paid by North Carolina taxpayers and UNC-System students, there is every reasonable right to question “what ASG can do for N.C. State.” What are these services rendered for the moneys paid?
The ASG website is woefully devoid of information. The lonely link on the “press” page points to a single article about some politicking (lobbying) done by the ASG president. Ostensibly, the group is meant to represent students to the UNC Board of Governors. One would be entirely within their rights to question the value of the UNC Board of Governors, much less a student-run lobby group paid to “speak for” students. The message will hardly ever change; tuition costs need to be kept as low as possible, and education needs to remain as accessible to as many people as can be afforded.
And therein lies the real problem. These layers upon layers of “governance” aren’t saying anything new. Having a “voice at the table” is important only when there are ears willing to listen, and worthwhile items being discussed that can be actionably affected. Otherwise, the group is little more than a (costly) mutual adoration society. That goes for the N.C. State Student Government and the UNC Board of Governors, and especially for the ASG.
Perhaps there’s more to the ASG than that, but the burden is on them to demonstrate that value. N.C. State brings $35,000 in value to the ASG annually. It’s time for them to demonstrate accountability for that money.
Michael Helms,
junior in history
