President Ritchie's Speech at Convocation

After returning from my research in Pisgah National Forest over the summer, I have some tough decisions to make as Student Body President upon my return to campus.

Should I begin the long path of intensive training so that I can compete for a spot on the UNC Charlotte football team next fall?

Should I use my Financial Aid money to buy a shovel that I can use to begin construction on the new university entrance?

or

Should I keep my Western North Carolina Beard to help UNC Charlotte maintain its facial hair quota after the retirement of Vice Chancellor Chuck Lynch?
 

All of these questions present themselves as I start my fourth and final year in Student Government and I am honored to be serving as the Student Body President during such an important and electrifying time in UNC Charlotte's history.

Together, we are witnessing the construction of a new student union, the beginning of a new university entrance,  and the continued growth of our student body.

As we move forward this year, we have many reasons to eagerly anticipate the future. This year will bring about the formulation of a yes or no answer to the question of football. We will bolster our presence in the community with the implementation of the ideas and solutions brought to light by the STAMATS study. We will compete against Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Maryland, and Clemson in Men's Basketball! And our fast paced growth along with the continued emphasis on student retention will challenge academic advising, but challenges mean that we can work together to find solutions.

Student Government will play an essential role in all of these issues. SGA will ensure a successful student forum this fall to provide a uniquely student perspective on the issue of football.

We will work together with faculty, staff and administration to continue the strides made toward improving academic services to every student.

By partnering with housing and political student organizations to hold a successful voter registration drive next week, we can ensure that UNC Charlotte has a voice in local decisions.

We can help to take our campus down the road of sustainability by bringing local foods into the cafeterias and replacing our lights with white LEDs. And we will explore the advantages and consequences of changing our website's domain name to something that emphasizes our unique identity.

This academic session is our time to embrace the mission UNC Charlotte has as an institution. An institution that is an individual and special campus in the UNC system... Charlotte... not just in our athletics but in our academics as well.

I am truly excited about working with every single one of you as we make it all happen. Let's have an amazing year together.