‘I’m the man with the plan’: Meet SBP candidate Wilson Sink

For junior Wilson Sink, Carolina is home. Active in leadership positions in many clubs, it’s no wonder Wilson is running to lead UNC’s campus of 30,000 students as Student Body President.

We met Wilson, a Morehead-Cain scholar majoring in Political Science and Peace, War and Defense, at Alpine to talk about his candidacy.

What motivated you to run for student body president?

I grew up in North Carolina. I learned how important public institutions are to changing a place. I’ve had really positive experiences at Carolina and I feel I’ve been called to serve.

I have the unique capacity to bring groups together, to actually change things in a tangible way so everyone can find his or her own community here. One of the main implementations would be a Racial History tour during Orientation – the “Black and Blue” tour.

Students would see the the moral failings of our predecessors and how we are positively changing that. I want to break down barriers between groups by working towards a common goal, and I have experience doing that.”

What were you involved in at UNC before running for SBP?

I was a Green Chair for Chi Psi and I was on the Environmental Affairs Committee for Student Government. As a Cabinet member for Young Democrats, I was Political Action Chair. I serve on the State of External Affairs task force and the Town Council Transportation Connectivity and Advisory board.

I wrote for Campus BluePrint in the past, and worked for Strata Solar last spring. I’ve been on the Musical Empowerment executive council for the last three years, active in fundraising, community partnerships, sustainability and engagement at different times.

I’ve had the same student for three years, and I speak proficient Spanish with him. It’s amazing to see his growth and the growth of the club. We’re looking to expand into NC State and looking for a full-time executive director – and the teacher-student pairs have grown from 50 to 150 during the time I’ve been involved.

What do you consider your biggest accomplishment in Student Government?

Voter engagement is a powerful tool that not everyone utilizes. I come from a political family. I realize voting shapes decisions and drives governmental change.

On the State of External Affairs board, I helped organize a Town Council debate. We were electing a new mayor. I wrote platform summaries for all candidates. I brought leaders to campus to speak and meet with students. This year, there was a 193 percent early voting increase.

People complain about Margaret Spellings, Silent Sam and UNC funding issues. A lot of those issues are decided by the General Assembly. It’s vital people know the where and how of voting so we can all use our voice.

I’d create a step-by-step guide on how to vote and partner with residence halls and departments to make sure students understand the process of voting, absentee ballots and other voting tools. I would list which candidates support what causes so we can speak for North Carolina public education.

What is your favorite part about Carolina?

Relationships. It’s been so nice to find my absolute best friends here. There are so many stories I love to listen to. It’s important that each person has his or her own Carolina story here. All these crazy things can happen.

What is one thing you’d want people to know about you, if nothing else?

I’m the man with the plan. The point I’m trying to get across – I like to talk big, this vision of Carolina, but more than anyone else, I have feasible goals and how-to steps. It speaks to us of how organized we are that I am the one that can make this happen.

How will you be different from past UNC presidents?

For me, it’s about diversity of thought. Just because I look like someone else doesn’t mean I will lead like someone else. Student Body President is so much more than a symbol. It’s not about looking the part. It’s about being the part. It matters what your plan is.

I’ve worked for organizations that value and promote diversity for a long time. I can’t live the experience of every person on this campus. No one can. But I can listen. I attended a Martin Luther King Jr. celebration where the speaker discussed three main points on how to lead.

The first is deep listening – trying to understand where people are coming from. I do this by helping groups on campus I don’t know much about and listening to their needs. The second is deep analysis – figuring out why problems are problems, and working to fix them.

The third is brave action. For me, this is putting myself in a vulnerable position in front of thousands of students. That’s how you lead, cross boundaries and break down barriers. Take all the information you have listened to and make the world a better place.

Elections will take place on February 9th.