The Facts: Student Government members are invited to attend all meetings held by the Board of Governors and speak on behalf of the students. However, not one person in Student Government has the power to vote in any capacity at these meetings.

Our Opinion: The right to one vote per Student Government should be granted to every school in the UNC System as it would be more beneficial to the student body.

Student Government  members are invited to attend all meetings held by the Board of Governors and speak on behalf of the students. Student Government members from each school in the UNC System attend these meetings.

However, not one person in Student Government has the power to vote in any capacity at these meetings. The right to vote should be granted to them as it would be more beneficial to the student body.

Last December, Student Government wrote a bill in opposition to the impending tuition increase. The bill, a unified submission of to the Board of Governors, spoke in the voice of the student body at N.C. State.

When this bill was submitted to the Board of Governors, it was ineffective and largely ignored. It should have been given more weight and consideration. No one should know better what the students’ needs and wants are than the students themselves.

As much as students hate the increase in tuition, it is a necessary evil, and no one is denying it has to happen. The problem lies in students lacking a say in the amount tuition is increased each year and for how many years this increase will remain.

Currently, N.C. State students’ say in what happens in matters concerning their tuition lies in their power to elect the members of Student Government. In turn, those elected members can appeal to the Board of Governors. However, this influence is demonstrably inadequate.

In order to have a more effective voice in student affairs, Student Government should be granted the right to vote. Each university in the UNC System should be granted one vote, which would mean an additional 16 votes.

If Student Government is to be taken seriously by the Board of Governors, they should be granted some form of official influence. A lot is expected of the members of Student Government, but without the ability to vote, they are effectively powerless.

The ability to vote, even if the student voting bloc is small, will give students a voice in issues that matter to them. We pay to attend the University, so we deserve a voice in the happenings of our school. Giving this voice to Student Government is the easiest way to do this.