More than 200 people turned out to share their opinions about the University of North Carolina during a listening forum at the McKimmon Center Wednesday.

Jim W. Phillips Jr., chairman of the UNC Board of Governors, opened the forum by introducing the members of the UNC Tomorrow commission — a special commission set up to explore the future of the UNC system — and outlining the format of the forum.

The commission paused to hear concerns and comments from the N.C. State community at the last stop on its 11-stop tour across the state.

“What we’ve been doing for the past six months is listening,” Phillips said. “But we’re gonna remember what you say, I reckon, the best.”

According to Phillips, the listening forums have hosted 250 to 300 people at each event and brought out many opinions statewide.

“If I didn’t understand how important the University of North Carolina was to the people of North Carolina, I know it now,” he said.

Six noted speakers presented their comments to the commission before the floor was opened to the general public for comment.

Tom Rabon, executive vice president of corporate affairs for Red Hat, said he felt a huge commitment to the UNC system.

“There is no greater calling … than the University of North Carolina,” he said. “It’s close to my heart.”

Rabon said Red Hat and State’s partnership was unique and noteworthy.

“What we have on Centennial Campus is something that is not only the envy of a lot of people in this country but across the world,” he said. “The university can be the differentiator between what separates us from the rest of the world.”

Ted Fiske, the former education editor for The New York Times, spoke about UNC’s need to look globally.

“The University of North Carolina must think big. It must think global,” Fiske said.

According to Fiske, the university must expand outreach, connect education to the interconnected world, equip teachers properly and continue efforts of accessibility to low-income and minority students.

The general public were allowed to contribute their opinions at the end of the forum.

Michael Lloyd, senior in chemical engineering, said he hoped the University of North Carolina would value students’ opinions in the future.

“A lot of decisions can be made, but unless students can have input, it won’t be effective,” Lloyd said during the discussions. “I just want to make sure our voice is heard.”

Lloyd said he was grateful for the opportunity to speak his mind.

” I am happy that they actually went around to each campus and listened to each campus. They listened to the whole community,” Lloyd said.

“How many times on this campus do students get to get their voices heard?”