The North Carolina Student Legislature is a nonprofit organization that gives students firsthand experience of the legislative process at Elon University. Through debates, students enhance their public speaking skills and work on real-world policy ideas.

Junior Eva Farmer, who serves as the vice president of Elon’s NCSL, explained that members bring resolutions to meetings — written proposals for new laws or changes to existing ones — sparking debates among the group. 

“It’s a lot of fun,” Farmer said, “and it’s hampered by the fact that we have a time limit for how long we talk.”

Every Monday, NCSL holds meetings where members propose resolutions on various topics, ranging from education to abortion and other pressing issues. During these meetings, students debate and refine these proposals with the help of other members for practice. The goal is to improve members' understanding of how laws are created and discussed and to equip them with the skills necessary to advocate and effectively present their ideas.

John Bloh, a senior political science major and president of Elon’s NCSL, views the organization as a way for students to engage with state politics.

"Students write their own pieces of legislation like the real North Carolina legislature would do and get a feel for what state politics is like in the state of North Carolina," Bloh said. "It gives a pathway for students to participate in the state as well as learn about issues that people are currently facing."

In addition to campus meetings, NCSL students participate in intercollegiate conferences, or ICs, held across North Carolina at schools like the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, Campbell University and Belmont Abbey College. 

Bloh said these conferences are valuable networking opportunities where Elon students can connect with other students interested in politics. 

"All of them have different beliefs and commitments, but everybody is commonly interested in North Carolina state politics," Bloh said. “One of the best things that we provide for Elon students is the ability to interface with other political people from other schools, our age, and see what options are out there." 

Thomas Kerr, a professor in political science and public policy at Elon, is the adviser for NCSL. Kerr said NCSL promotes student engagement with differing ideas.

"You can take on a perspective outside of your own, and that makes you analyze your own beliefs even further," Kerr said. 

Beyond these conferences, NCSL hosts an annual session in Raleigh. Here, students can present their fully developed resolutions to other universities and propose them to the North Carolina legislature for consideration as actual state laws.

"You see someone propose a resolution at the beginning of fall semester, and they kind of workshop it, and then at the end of the year, they have this beautiful, really well thought off resolution, and you're presenting it to the whole state," Kerr said. 

This semester, NCSL has increased its membership and created a welcoming environment. 

"We're trying to make the club a lot more inclusive to people," Farmer said.

While developing resolutions and debating them is exciting, Kerr emphasized the challenges that come with legislative work. 

"Yes, it's easy to recognize a problem and come up with a solution to address that problem, but the nitty-gritty details in the legislative process, where's funding come from, are you going to raise taxes? Is the real challenge for students," Kerr said. 

As students explore how the government works, Kerr emphasizes the importance of maintaining their values.

"I also want students to hold on to their morals and stick to their guns when it comes to policy issues," Kerr said. "Politics is a living, breathing thing, and everyone can get involved with it; your opinion matters."

Students interested in joining NCSL can attend meetings at 6 p.m. every Monday in Gray Pavilion 103.