AGENDA #3a(4)

 

Petition to the Chapel Hill Town Council

 

November 24, 2003

Presented by:    Frances Ferris, UNC-CH Student Body Secretary

                        Box 47, Carolina Union

                        Chapel Hill, NC 27599

 

Petition for Consideration of the Creation of Student Positions on Town Committees

 

The Executive Branch of UNC-CH Student Government and the Graduate and Professional Student Federation respectfully ask that the Council consider the creation of permanent positions for students on relevant town committees. 

 

We propose that the Council create student positions on committees that deal with issues of particular importance to the student body at Carolina, including but not limited to the:

o         Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board

o         Community Design Commission

o         Historic District Commission

o         Human Services Advisory Board

o         Planning Board

o         Transportation Board

 

We also ask that the Council consider reducing the term lengths for these positions from three years to two years.  The current committee system, as it stands, indirectly discourages student involvement in town government.  The three-year term limits on committee positions require that an undergraduate student decide to join a committee at the end of his or her freshman year and then remain as a member for the next three years.  The majority of freshmen are not in a position to make this commitment, nor do they possess the necessary experience or skills to function as quality committee members. Furthermore, a three year term would in many cases run into segments of education for graduate and professional students that may preclude involvement, such as clinical rotations and dissertation research.

 

Upperclassmen, on the other hand, have had the opportunity to hold leadership positions and increase their understanding of town issues.  Likewise, graduate and professional students often have knowledge of town issues that their age and experience provides. These students would be valuable town committee members, yet many cannot commit to a three-year term.  The system should be changed to allow students to serve for shorter terms, for although the actual individual might change each year, the perspective of this member will remain constant.

 

By adding specific student positions to the proposed committees, the Town Council would help to ensure that the student perspective is heard and integrated into political decisions made by the town.  The committees and the town itself would be able to make better informed decisions with this increased student input.  Further, our participation on town committees is both relevant and vital to the student support of the Council’s decisions and policy initiatives.  By forming a more permanent relationship between students and the Town, both parties will benefit from the increased level of communication and understanding.

 

The issue of increasing student participation in town politics was highlighted in the recent Town Council race.  With a student running for council, the candidates seemed to have heightened interest in garnering student opinion.  This proposal addresses the genuine need for additional student involvement and offers a viable opportunity to attend to this issue.

 

Student Government would act to ensure that qualified students apply for these positions, yet we would also respect the current system that the Town has in place to choose the members of its boards and commissions.  Recognizing that there are a wide range of options to consider, we have discussed various implementation plans for this proposal.  If this petition is forwarded to the Chapel Hill town staff, Student Government representatives would like to work together with the Town to come up with the most feasible and appropriate implementation plan that suits the interests of all parties involved while ensuring that the most select student candidates are recommended for these positions. 

 

As students, we do not wish to obtain undue influence on the committees beyond our status as regular citizens.  Rather, we would like the Council to recognize the special needs of students as a constituency.  We hope that you will consider our request and deem it to be of merit.