WHEREAS, higher education has played a vital role in building the State of North Carolina into the thriving economic, cultural, and social leader that it is today; and,

WHEREAS, North Carolina community colleges and universities allow citizens to learn the skills necessary to compete in the global economies of today and tomorrow; and,

WHEREAS, in the next decade, North Carolina community colleges expect more than 57,000 new students to enrollments; at the same time public university enrollment will grow by more than 48,000 students; and,

WHEREAS, North Carolina higher education campuses must upgrade and construct academic, residential and administrative facilities, including critical laboratory and classroom space, to accommodate the growing numbers of students; and,

WHEREAS, To be effective as a Research Institution, North Carolina State University must have the highest quality facilities possible; and,

WHEREAS, North Carolina State University’s facilities are insufficient to meet both present and projected demands for enrollment; and,

WHEREAS, two-thirds of the facilities at North Carolina State University were built

more than 25 years ago; dilapidation and obsolescence are obvious; and,

WHEREAS, the $3.1 billion bond package approved by the General Assembly will assist community colleges and universities across the state in meeting their significant facility needs; and,

WHEREAS, On November 7, 2000, these bonds are subject to voter approval by the citizens of the state of North Carolina; now; therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the students of North Carolina State University support the higher education bond proposal; and, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that students of North Carolina State University pledge to work to educate and inform the citizens of North Carolina about the higher education bond.

SENATE ACTION: Passed by a roll call vote on October 4, 2000. 47-3-8.

Senators for: Adams, Ballenger, Bell, Brown, Bugg, Burgess-Ford, Carlson, Carty,

Cooper, Cox, Croom, Davis, Devore, DiColandrea, Dixon, Douglas, Ducotee, Fabricius,

Guthrie, Hansman, Hemphill, Houpe, J. Hunter, S. Hunter, Jackson, Kim, Luce, Lumpkin,

Mayhew, McCarthy, McNair, Murphy, Palin, Parker, Pendergrass, Phelps, Pless,

D. Powell, E. Powell, Reed, Robertson, Ruedy, Shah, Smith, Teeter, Vang, Wicks.

Senators against: Atkinson, Craver, Engler,

Senators abstained: Elting, Kalra, Lawley, Magnum, McMillian, Minerio, Moody, Peck

Conen T. Morgan

Harold B. Pettigrew