Bond issue passes!
rCAMPUS VOICE
issue
Wayne Community College, Goldsboro, NC 27533-8002 December 6, 2000
WCC to receive $13 mil
Vickki Daniels, WCC student, was one of 27 student
volunteers who called citizens urging them to vote for
the bond issue.
By KRISTIN G. DAVIS
The ballots have been cast
and the votes are in.
Election Day 2000 allowed
North Carolina citizens to
consider the Higher Education
Improvement Bonds, which
passed 74% for, 26% against
statewide on November 7.
It was the largest bond
referendum to go before NC
voters. The bonds will provide
$2.5 billion to the 16
University of North Carolina
campuses and $600 million to
the state's 59 community
colleges
Wayne Community College
will get close to $13 million
for its documented needs. Of
this amount, $11.6 million
will go towards construction,
.and $1.3 million is provided
for renovations and repairs.
"I'm excited. It was a
tremendous vote It
demonstrated that the people
support our Universities and
Community Colleges, and
especially WCC," said Dr.
Edward H. Wilson, Jr., WCC
president.
According to Wilson, WCC
will build 10 additional
classrooms, a larger
bookstore, and facilities for
student activities, including
physical education.
Programs that will benefit
from bond money include
Basic Law Enforcement
Training, which will have
classrooms and labs;
emergency services; fire/EMS
training; building trade
classes; and specialized
occupational extension
courses.
Other projects include
improved lighting and
communications in all
buildings.
The first project is a new
roof for the currently leaking
Holly Building, where health
and science classes are taught.
Renovations and repairs will
begin as soon as possible after
the state government bidding
process.
The system launched a mass
publicity campaign to keep
the bond issue in voters’
minds. A video entitled “A
Growing Crisis” was telecast
on PBS stations 4 times in
October.
According to Tara
Humphries, WCC Public
Information Officer, faculty,
staff, students, and members
of the community worked
together to inform the public
of the Higher Education
Improvement Bonds.
“We did everything a
political campaign does,” said
Humphries.
The volunteers put out yard
signs, held a press conference,
and distributed brochures and
flyers. Brochures were even
translated into Spanish.
Students and staff
participated in a “phone-a-
thon” to inform voters of the
referendum. They also
manned booths at the Wayne
County and State Fairs.
On Voter Registration Day,
SGA members reminded
students about the bonds as
they tumed in their
applications.
On November 5, an
advertisement appeared in the
Goldsboro News Argus to
encourage a positive vote.
The Higher Education
Improvement Bonds Steering
Committee for Wayne County
paid for the ad.
PHOTOS: VOICE STAFF
Political, social, and
religious groups and a vast
range of other organizations
endorsed the campaign.
A steering committee rallied
support for the bond. “They
don’t get enough credit,” says
Humphries.
The Dental Hygiene
department provided
assistance in an effort to pass
the bond. Currently, the
laboratory is not big enough
to meet guidelines for
bloodbome pathogens.
The publicity efforts paid
off. Every county passed the
bonds. Wayne County passed
77.4%, finishing 12^*^ in 100
counties.
The core message of the
campaign said that the passing
of the bonds would keep open
the doors of educational
opportunity and promote
economic growth—without
raising taxes.
State Treasurer Harlan
Boyles says the state will not
need to raise taxes to pay off
the bonds. Repaying them
will take, on average, less
than 1% of the state budget.
Continued page 20
ouppdrtyour
community colleges
^and uniwersitiess
0 mb the bonds
^ on November 7
Faculty and staff posted signs along the roadway to
remind voters to vote for the bond issue.