Ronnie Lee Jessup

Ronnie Jessup described the responsibilities of Student Government by saying, "the Student Government is here to protect the rights of the students, to speak [on] behalf of them to the appropriate channels, and to bring about programs that could benefit the students." Jessup worked to fulfill the responsibilities he described. He was influential in implementing many programs that benefited State students. Jessup gave students the opportunity to challenge parking tickets when he established the Campus Parking Appeals Panel and he looked out for student safety when he installed "Yield to Pedestrian" signs on campus. Jessup represented students' interests by traveling to New York with the Chancellor Search Committee to interview a potential candidate for chancellor. Additionally, Jessup vetoed two bills that he thought allocated student fees unwisely. Some of the programs implemented during Jessup's administration still affect students today. Jessup graduated from NC State in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree in communication and in 1976 with a master's degree in public administration.

Images

Years at State

Student Body President, 1975-1975

Accomplishments

Jessup used his presidential veto power to block a bill, sponsored by the Student Senate, that would have doubled Student Government designated student fees.

As promised in his campaign platform, Jessup created a Major Attractions Committee. The committee’s responsibilities included bringing well-known bands to campus. Students questioned the ability of the committee to sign major attractions when Billy Joel’s concert drew a meager crowd of 800 students. However, the committee saw success a month later when the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Steve Martin performed.

Jessup established a Transit Systems Committee to investigate the possibility of implementing a transit system on campus. The committee finalized a plan to run buses on a trial basis beginning in fall 1975, however city and University officials questioned the plan and halted the program. Students and city officials continued discussing plans for a University transit system for several years until an official program, the Wolfline, began in fall 1980.

Citations

Technician (31 August 1973, 24 April 1974, 28 August 1974, 11 September 1974, 23 October 1974, 8 November 1974, 14 November 1974, 20 November 1974, 12 February 1975, 24 February 1975, 7 March 1975, 2 April 1975)