Amid a long discussion this morning on the budget cuts hanging over the UNC system, one member of the system's governing board spoke of what he called the university's "social compact."

That being, the cycle the university sets in motion by bringing a student to a public university.

Here's what Charlie Mercer said:

For many years, this university has educated people across this state that go back to their communities and contribute. When those students have gone to the university, the people in their community are very proud of them. There's an emotional component. They're going to go back to their community. So that one educated person will help that community. There's a societal benefit. We can't lose sight of that.