I recognize this hatred against magnificent students exists. I mean NC university graduates are a premium in the real world. They are valued.
But, that aside, let's just look at a reality that the Republican Legislature and Governor has not a clue.
The GOP-controlled board of elections (click here) in Pasquotank County voted to disqualify Montravias King, a senior at historically black Elizabeth City State University, from running for city council, claiming King couldn’t use his student address to establish residency, even though he’s been registered to vote there since 2009. “The head of the county’s Republican Party said he plans to challenge the voter registrations of more students at the historically black university ahead of upcoming elections,” the AP reported....
There has been a reorganization of how public universities actually handle their dormitory rooms and apartments and housing. That is the case with undergrad as well as graduate students.
The public universities are actually no longer billing for a room as if the student didn't live there. The public universities now have a housing office where students sign REGULAR rental agreements. Agreements recognized by local courts for enforcement as if they were an OFF CAMPUS address. These LEASES are very often for an entire year at a time and the so called student lives there, regardless of roommates, year round.
The majority of on campus housing at UNCW is through a year long lease. (click here)
That reality INVALIDATES any state regulation that estranges RESIDENTS of a community from voting. The NC laws are unconstitutional. Residency is determined by where a person lives the majority of time in a year.
As a matter of fact, UNCW even allows rental of people not necessarily enrolled at the university. It has to. If a student is living on a year round lease, they may or may not take summer classes. In actuality the students leasing these rooms are working off campus at least part time and even serving in internships to enhance their experience and their resume.
The 'academic year' contracts are viewed no differently than partial year leases of off campus housing. Some of the off campus housing can be rented for as short a period of time as 3 months. That has no effect on their residency. Residency is determined by the CITY where a person lives, not the length of a lease for a place to live. So, if a person rents a room in a private house for three months as a trial to test compatibility of roommates, that doesn't effect their residency and voting.
That is why On Campus Voting or Near Campus Voting occurs. These folks are as much residents as anyone paying property tax. If it weren't for the RENTAL FEES paid per month the property owners would not be able to pay their taxes.
The North Carolina voting laws are completely discriminatory and politically driven. It does not serve the people therefore these folks should not even be in office if they chronically violate constitutional law to LEVERAGE power over voting. They are criminally corrupt. That cannot be disputed.
Making voting more and more impossible to accomplish is EGREGIOUS. That word is important. In relation to access to voting, egregious regulations are corrupt and unconstitutional.
Public school students have to remember something. They are citizens. They are very valuable citizens whom contribute to the brain trust of this nation.
But, recall the talk President Obama gave today during his tour. He pointed to the exploitative nature of private schools with very poor track records for their students.
Now remember this. Governor McCrory visited High Point University a Private University. He endorses the defunding of the UNC system and placing difficult regulations on the public universities in favor of the domination of private universities. The public school student has to fight for their rights and organize in their student governing bodies to bring about survival of their schools and their schools excellent reputation. A degree from any university is as valuable as their reputation. This is important. Public school students have to demand their rights and RESPECT. The dollars they spend are no different than the dollars of private school students and there is every indication their spending has the highest return to our country.
