Restrictions to Access

No restrictions. Open for research.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], in the Student Consumer Action Union of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Records #40168, University Archives, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Provenance

Periodic transfer from the offices that create these records.

Sensitive Materials Statement

Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.

The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.

Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.

• Automobiles--Maintenance and repair--North Carolina--Chapel Hill.
• Banks and banking--North Carolina--Chapel Hill.
• Chapel Hill (N.C.)--Commerce.
• College students as consumers--North Carolina--History..
• College students--Medical care--North Carolina.
• College students--North Carolina--Societies, etc.
• Consumer education--North Carolina--History.
• Rental housing--North Carolina--Chapel Hill.
• Restaurants--North Carolina--Chapel Hill.
• Student activities--North Carolina--History.
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill--Societies, etc.
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill--Students--History.
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Student Consumer Action Union.

The Student Consumer Action Union (SCAU) was established on the Chapel Hill campus in 1972 as an agency of Student Government supported by student fees. While its major emphasis was directed toward the protection of student consumer rights, the purpose of the union included the improvement of consumer-merchant relations in the Chapel Hill-Research Triangle area by the development of educational, investigative and advocacy programs. The primary focuses of the union's efforts were on price levels and merchandising practices, food quality and pricing, health care, rental rates, landlord responsibilities and tenant rights.

To accomplish its goals, the union was organized into five divisions:

• 1. Consumer Contact (i.e., complaint investigation);
• 2. Food Quality (i.e., ranking of area restaurants and grocery stores);
• 3. Housing (i.e., guides to apartments);
• 4. Date and Information Student Cooperative (i.e., computerized office systems for student organizations);
• 5. Special Projects (i.e., banking and auto repair guides).

The activities of the Student Consumer Action Union were directed by its Executive Committee, and membership in the union was open to all university students.

Records, 1972-1986, of the Student Consumer Action Union at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill include annual reports, financial records, its constitution and bylaws, general correspondence, its office manual, publicity materials, and copies of its publications and related correspondence. Subjects of the publications include consumer interests, including automobile repair, banking, restaurants, health care, and rental housing.