NC State’s Student Government Executive Board discussed issues of diversity on campus, this year’s Campout, the nearing of basketball season and new zoning codes for Hillsborough Street at its meeting in the Talley Student Union Thursday.
Additional topics of Thursday’s meeting included a discussion regarding the “No Smoking Bill” that the Student Senate passed last week and what improvements need to be made to the Student Government’s website.
As a part of Khari Cyrus’ plan as student body president to add diversity-related events across campus, Cyrus, a senior studying biological sciences, had each student director begin planning for his or her own event for Diversity Uniting the Pack, a campaign that is still in beginning stages, according to Cyrus.
“[The meeting] was very productive,” Cyrus said. “A lot of student leaders from Student Government, Student Media and UAB had productive conversations on how we can move forward in the face of cultural sensitivity and diversity.”
Along with imploring the need for diversity events on campus, Cyrus also briefly mentioned the result of this year’s Campout, saying that the event was a success and had a high turnout.
Seth Storey, student director of Government Relations and a senior studying political science, discussed the recent Cameron Village and Hillsborough Street Small Area Plans meeting, which addressed the new zoning code and its impact on Hillsborough Street for the next 10 years.
Regarding the new zoning code for this Raleigh area, Storey said, “It’s immensely interesting and some of the plans have the potential to be very impactful for students.”
The new zoning code alters residential areas around Chamberlain Road and Vanderbilt Road into commercial areas and will transform the block across from the Stanhope building into one big commercial space within the next decade, according to Storey.
“I addressed that the new zoning has the potential to drive up rent in that area — which is a big deal,” Storey said. “I live off Chamberlain, and I pay $400 a month. That’s not going to be possible with the new zoning.”
Kenneth Erickson, student director of Athletics and a sophomore studying fisheries and wildlife sciences, announced that there will be free food for all students during halftime at the women’s basketball game Friday night. The women’s team plays at 5 p.m., followed by the men’s team’s season opening at 8 p.m.
“They are hoping that it will be great exposure for the women’s team,” Erickson said. “[It] also gets fans in there early for the men’s game.”
Also at the meeting, John Taylor Willis, first-year senator and a freshman studying management, announced the outcome of the Student Senate meeting last Wednesday, which passed the “No Smoking Bill.”
Rye Robinson, executive assistant of the Student Government Executive Board and a junior studying business administration, discussed problems with Student Government’s website.
“I think that an important part of student government is that we are transparent and keep people up to date on what we do,” Robinson said. “When going through the website, I noticed several things that, being outside Student Government, I would be confused with.”
