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Bonding for UNC

From the University Report (published by the GAA 1970-94)

Many who live or have traveled in North Carolina have observed a regional pride across the Tar Heel state. Regionalism can be found not only across North Carolina but across the United States. And recent events in what was the Soviet Union and in Eastern Europe make it clearer each day that regionalism is a worldwide phenomenon.

Former UNC President Edward Kidder Graham ’98 (PhD) once observed that “the boundaries of the University are coterminous with the boundaries of North Carolina.” Clearly, Graham’s observation continues to be true today. Our Area Health Education Centers, Principals’ Executive Program, the many programs within the Schools of Social Work, Public Health, Nursing and the Institute of Government, to name but a few, show that the First State University continues to take pride in its unique responsibilities to all the people in North Carolina.

Happily, Carolina now has an opportunity to work together with other campuses in the UNC System to achieve a much needed objective, that of securing new funds for capital construction. Not since the Second World War has the University System suffered such a construction drought. There have been no funds appropriated by the Legislature to build any buildings on any of the 16 campuses during the last three years.

As UNC System Vice President, Dr. Jay Robinson ’57 (MEDUC), recently told a group of alumni association presidents representing most of the campuses within the 16-campus system, it is essential that all 16 campuses pull together to seek passage by the North Carolina General Assembly for a University Systemwide facilities bond referendum.

Because the likelihood is rather remote that significant capital funds will be available from state sources in the near future, it is important that we have a bond issue if even the most critical construction needs on each of the sixteen UNC System campuses are to be achieved.

Since 1988, the UNC Systemwide head count enrollment has grown by more than 9,000 students. That number is greater than the combined enrollment of the System’s four smallest campuses and, if grouped together, these additional students would create a student body larger than those found on 10 of the System’s 16 campuses. Obviously, this enrollment growth has created major needs for classrooms, laboratories, library space and other facilities.

In order to place a bond referendum on the November ballot, the North Carolina General Assembly which convenes on May 26 must first approve the offering of such a referendum. It is important that Carolina alumni with relationships with members of the North Carolina General Assembly encourage these legislators to support placing a bond referendum on the November ballot when the General Assembly reconvenes in late May.

Legislators should be reminded that current interest rates make the bond market particularly attractive, and the weak construction market increases the likelihood that several projects would receive comparatively low bids on building projects in the near future. Thus, bond financed buildings could probably be built more economically, even allowing for interest payments, than those built several years from now with funds from annual revenues. Noting North Carolina’s relatively low level of indebtedness and high credit rating, the Treasurer of North Carolina, Harlan E. Boyles ’51, has commented that a bond issue for higher education in North Carolina makes good sense. And, North Carolina’s economy would get a badly needed boost from the infusion of University construction dollars.

As the accompanying partial list, prepared for the 1991 session of the General Assembly by State Senator Kenneth C. Royall Jr. ’40, shows (see page 5), a $300 million bond issue would provide each of the 16 campuses with at least one project that is badly needed.

Carolina alumni and friends have a wonderful opportunity to work with alumni of other UNC System campuses to advance with our legislators our support for a bond issue. Quite frankly, only by hearing from constituents are legislators likely to arrive in Raleigh favorably inclined to support offering such a bond issue. The case is one that can and should be made and one which Carolina alumni can advance, confident that in doing so, not only are we helping our own University but that other UNC System campuses will also benefit. Let’s all bond for UNC!

Yours at Carolina,

Doug signature

 

 

 

 

Douglas S. Dibbert ’70

 

P. S. Please call (919) 962-7050 or write me and share whatever you learn when talking with legislators about this important matter. Call or write also if you need additional information or have further questions. Thanks.

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