Wednesday’s Technician was filled with some scary headlines: “Task force deliberates tuition increase scenarios” and “Diagramming the dollar.” Each story outlines the University administration’s goal of taking more money out of student’s pockets. There is hope though: the University of North Carolina Association of Student Governments.

ASG is a student-led advocacy group whose main purpose is to ensure the benefits of the University are extended to the people of North Carolina, as far as practicable, free of expense. ASG is a non-partisan, 17-campus organization dedicated to the service of North Carolina’s students. Loosely translated — the organization fights against unwarranted and unnecessary tuition increases.

To accomplish this mission, students at each UNC institution, including N.C. State, pay a one-dollar fee. The fee appears on student’s bills once a year. According to the Cashier’s Office, the fee is levied for “administrative staff, travel and small stipends for student leaders.”

Right now, like many student groups, ASG is growing and dealing with some difficult issues and questions of leadership. But unlike other student groups, if ASG is weakened, students will be faced with a continuous onslaught of tuition and fee increases.

So I would like to share with you a few thoughts about the current state of ASG — in the hope that our student leaders will understand the gravity of the situation. It should be noted that I had the awesome privilege to serve as ASG’s President from 2000-2002.

With news about a pending UNC General Administration review of ASG and its fee, campuses “withdrawing” from ASG and the ongoing internal conflicts — the association is in a position I have never seen.

I’m extremely concerned about the health and future of the Association. Students have fought for and achieved too much for ASG to self destruct. For 25 years, ASG has worked tirelessly to keep North Carolina’s higher education opportunities affordable and accessible. For much of that time, ASG had nothing, except the blood, sweat and tears of student volunteers. There was no fee, no office, no support staff, no stipends — nothing. And unfortunately, not all students were represented in the ASG. Not all schools could afford to participate, so their voices were silenced on system-wide issues.

Now, after the fee, ASG has tremendous resources, a diversity of leadership and all schools are able to participate. ASG has never been in a better position to fulfill its mission and purpose. Students now have some power and influence.

It’s now time to move the association forward and to help fix it. Since ASG’s inception 25 years ago, it has been extremely effective, including securing a student seat on the UNC Board of Governors, passage of the Higher Education Bond Referendum and numerous tuition freezes.

There is too much at stake for ASG to falter. It owes it to the 200,000 students who have entrusted it with their support and money. ASG owes it to the student leaders who came before and dedicated their lives and their own money to the betterment of the association, the students and, most importantly, their cause. Student leaders must work together, to move ASG forward and to get back to basics — fighting to keep North Carolina educated through affordability and access.

Do you want to see a stronger ASG? Tell us by e-mailing your opinion to viewpoint@technicianonline.com.