State leader advises Student Senate

Wednesday, Student Senate heard from the North Carolina Senate majority leader Tony Rand about the joys and trials of working in government at the state level.

Senators were able to ask Rand questions pertaining to four pre-selected topics, as well as other current issues. The main topics discussed were the UNC-System tuition rate increases, Senator Rand’s roll as a majority leader, the new bottle ban law and how senators could work with media and students effectively.

Rand has served 22 years in the Senate representing Bladen and Cumberland Counties, and has served as the Democratic majority leader for a total of 11 years.

Sarah Center, sophomore in science education, serves as the public affairs chair of the Senate and led the planning team that invited Rand to speak.

“We have been planning this event for a while,” Center said. “It didn’t take Senator Rand very long at all to respond and we were very excited that he took the time to speak to us.”

Rand spent much of his allotted time speaking about the University tuition increase that the General Assembly passed in its last session that will come into effect next year. The bill made $162 million worth of permanent cuts and $132 million worth of one-time cuts from higher education.

“This past session of the legislature we were in the worst economic situation I have ever seen,” Rand said. “We regretted having to make budget cuts to the universities but we had to contend with a $4 billion deficit. We are fortunate to live in a state that values education as much as North Carolina does, and we will continue to support our universities.”

Student Body President Jim Ceresnak personally thanked Rand “on behalf of students that have enjoyed higher education in N.C.” for “the visionary leadership” he has shown in making higher education affordable for students in the state.

Rand also commented on the importance the University plays to the state as a research institution.

“We recognize that your University plays an integral part in the growth of our economic system,” Rand said. “The work you do in agriculture, textiles and engineering is vital to our state.”

Senators asked questions about many current issues such as the national and state healthcare systems, illegal immigration as it applies to the University System, recycling and equal marriage rights.

Senator Stephen Kouba, a junior in political science, brought the recent controversies surrounding the Talley Student Center fee increase to Rand’s attention.

“We have had to deal with some contentious issues on our campus recently,” Kouba said. “In your experience, what is the best way to respond when people are very upset about a decision?”

Rand encouraged the senators to be as transparent as possible and always put out information surrounding issues that are voted on.

“But when the vote is over, you have to move on,” Rand said.

The best advice Rand had for the senators was to “find something you enjoy and give it your best — then it won’t be work.”

The Senate passed a resolution to recognize and commend Rand at the end of the meeting. The resolution stated that Rand was consistently ranked as one of the Senate’s most effective members and recognized that he fought to ensure that higher education was held as unharmed as possible during the budget crisis.

The resolution also resolved that Rand had provided “service to North Carolina State University” and “tireless support of higher education in the state of North Carolina.”

William Lahti, doctoral student in computer science, serves as a representative of graduate students on the Senate and was pleased with the meeting.

“This was a big night for us,” Lahti said. “It was an honor for us to have the Senate majority leader here.”

Likewise, Jonathon Smith, freshman in agricultural education, said that Senator Rand’s words were inspiring.

“Senator Rand is a great leader in our state,” Smith said. “He showed us that our state senators are concerned about higher education and believe that we are the future for our state.”