Advocate
We believe that as students, we have the right to be seen, accepted, and heard. As your Student Body President and Vice-President, we know we have the skills and leadership to advocate for these rights. Advocacy is the biggest part of our job, and we promise to continue advocating for students for as long as it takes. We want to work well with administration, but we’re not afraid to stand up for ourselves either.
Expand Student Health Services by increasing access to essential healthcare, including extended hours on weekends and evenings.
We believe that every student should have access to the care they need, without having to worry about whether or not Student Health Services is open. Although staffing is hard, we think the university ought to increase the funding of such an essential service so that students never have to worry about receiving important medical care. College can be stressful enough without having to worry about whether or not a doctor can see you.
Clearer, stricter, and more robust sanctions for those who commit any sort of sexual misconduct.
A victim should never have to fear that their abuser will get off scot-free. By giving clearer, stricter guidelines, victims and case workers will be able to form a clearer picture of next-steps. Abusers should never get off scot-free either, it is time that college campuses stepped up and treated violations with the seriousness and severity they deserve. We intend to reach out to the counseling center, board of Student Conduct, and the Office of Title IX to establish a set of sanctions that are fair to victims.
Increase the number of sessions available to students in the Counseling Center.
Many times, there is a stigma associated with receiving counseling, therapy, or other forms of mental health help, especially among males and minorities. Working with the Counseling Center to allow students who would otherwise be unable to receive counseling is a top priority. Nobody should have to choose between their family and their mental health, and removing restrictive policies is important to making this campus more equitable and inclusive for all people.
More lenient sanctions for Student Conduct violations relating to marijuana for personal use.
Sanctions involving possession of marijuana are much harsher and restrictive than those involving Alcohol possession or use. It is inequitable to automatically sanction first-time marijuana offenders with disciplinary probation when a similar amount of alcohol will merit a less-severe disciplinary warning. We will work with the Office of Student Conduct, the department of Wellness and Prevention Services, and the Board of Trustees to define and loosen the sanctions in accordance with NC law.
Increased diversity in the Counseling Center and the department of Wellness and Prevention Services.
Students deserve to feel seen and heard during our time here at App, and we believe that increasing the level of diversity within our mental health and Wellness and Prevention services would allow students to more accurately share their experiences and feel understood. Inclusion, accessibility, and acceptance should be the first priority of the University, and we believe that a more diverse staff in these offices is an important part of improving student quality of life.
Make the Amnesty clause of the Code of Student Conduct more robust, including the removal of vague language and sanctionable loopholes.
Students should never worry about our ability to receive medical attention in an emergency, especially about whether or not we will be disciplined for seeking help. If we make the amnesty clause clearer and more thorough, we believe that students will feel more comfortable asking for help if they need it. We also believe that emergencies are stressful and traumatic experiences that do not need to be intensified by disciplinary proceedings.