Angelo Anthony Caravano

Tony Caravano served as president of NC State's Student Government from 2003 to 2005. Tony Caravano developed interest in NC State from his elementary school teacher, an NC State alumnus who gave him an undergraduate application as a high school junior. As a student, Caravano was active in many campus programs including University Scholars, the Student Wolfpack Club, and the Peer Mentor Association. He campaigned for the presidency as a junior, having previously been a member of the NC State University Judicial Board. According to Caravano, the main goal of his presidential campaign was, "to give the students a greater voice in the city of Raleigh and on campus and to excite the area with having students from NC State local." In a runoff election, Caravano won almost 64 percent of student votes. During his presidency, he fought tuition increases and established a traditions committee, which planned celebrations after basketball games. Following a successful term, Caravano ran for reelection stating, "I remember giving my platform to [Student Body President] Mike Anthony and Dr. Stafford, no one ever said that a lot of this stuff takes a long time. We put a lot of work into it; we just don't want to stop now." Following his election to a second term, Caravano established the "Red Terror Transit" while he continued his fight against tuition increases. Caravano also served as the only student representative on the Chancellor Search Committee. Having received his bachelor's degree in criminology in 2004, Caravano was the first graduate student to serve as student body president. He completed one year of the international studies master's degree program before securing a job as a communications specialist for N.C. Senator Marc Basnight.

More materials related to Angelo Anthony Caravano are available via NC State University Libraries' Rare and Unique Digital Collections website.

Images

Years at State

Student Body President, 2003-2004

Student Body President, 2004-2005

Accomplishments

In October 2003, Caravano vetoed a fee package passed by the Senate. Caravano cited “concerns raised throughout the fee review process” as the reason for his veto. Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Dr. Stafford disapproved of the Senate’s review process and recommended to Chancellor Fox that the Senate be excluded from the fee review process. Caravano stated, “Out of concern that Dr. Stafford’s recommendation might be implemented…I am issuing this veto as a notice to the Student Senate, to the administration, [and to students] that the process will be handled differently in the future.”

In cooperation with other Student Government officials, Caravano created a package for the Board of Trustees, which contained testimonies from students about the effects of tuition increases on their lives. Student Government hoped the Trustees would reject a proposal for a $300 tuition increase. The efforts of Student Government were unsuccessful.

Caravano negotiated with Connex, the Wolfline contracting company, to operate the “Red Terror Transit” during home football games to safely transfer students to Carter-Finley Stadium free of charge.

In November 2004, Caravano was the lone vote against the proposed $363 tuition and fee increase at a Board of Trustees meeting. During the meeting, Caravano questioned if the increase aligned with the University’s mission to remain affordable as a land-grant institution. Caravano asked, “How many times do we increase tuition before we lose that mission? Eventually this is going to have to stop before we price out students.”

Caravano served as a judge at the University’s first Chef’s Challenge. Caravano enjoyed the experience stating, “I definitely thought it was a success. It was great for students to get the opportunity to see what really goes on behind the scenes and see the kind of talent that our chefs have.”

Citations

Technician (1 April 2003, 21 April 2003, 30 April 2003, 19 September 2003, 8 October 2003, 22 October 2003, 28 October 2003, 20 November 2003, 4 February 2004, 3 March 2004, 26 March 2004, 19 August 2004, 31 August 2004, 1 September 2004, 27 October 2004, 22 November 2004, 25 February 2005, 15 March 2005)

“CHASS Highlights Caldwell Alumnus Tony Caravano ‘04,” Red & White for Life (20 August 2010). Accessed 15 November 2010.

“Emerging Tarheel Leaders Biographies,” Emerging Tarheel Leaders. Accessed 15 November 2010.