Dave DeWitt

Faculty Under Attack: How the public syllabus policy is seen as the latest weapon against academia Faculty across the UNC System are expressing increased concerns that their safety is at risk following the new UNC System policy that all class syllabi be posted in an online database.

“This institution doesn’t mind if you’re picked off one by one.” Professors at UNC schools say the new public syllabus policy will make them targets. #ncpol #nced #unc

www.wunc.org/education/20...

It's official, North Carolina professors will have to publicly post syllabi UNC System President Peter Hans' decision puts North Carolina in league with other Southern states like Florida and Texas, which legislatively mandate syllabi to be public records.

From @batkinson2501.bsky.social A late-week, right-before-the-holiday policy change: (it's official) public university professors must post syllabi.
www.wunc.org/education/20...

President Donald Trump endorses Sen. Phil Berger in NC's highest-profile legislative primary The Trump endorsement is highly coveted in competitive Republican primaries.

President Donald Trump endorsed Phil Berger on Wednesday night, choosing his candidacy over that of Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page in the Republican primary to represent North Carolina's 26th Senate District.

www.wunc.org/politics/202...

Two years on from Supreme Court decision, Black students feel less welcome at UNC-Chapel Hill Two years after the US Supreme Court outlawed race conscious admissions, Carolina's incoming classes have had 25% fewer Black students. After administrators eliminated DEI support programs, students w...

"I've seen a lot less Black students and that's something that really challenges – not only mine – but everyone's as Black students sense of belonging here."

www.wunc.org/education/20...

Hendrick Motorsports Technical Solutions sold dozens of SUVs to ICE, records show The $2.25M contract was for 25 Chevrolet Tahoes

Wonder how this will play with the customers who bought (or will think of buying) a Subaru from Rick Hendrick in south Durham.
www.wbtv.com/2025/11/17/h...

He didn't mention it specifically last night in his segment on public media, but @wunc.org was a source on John Oliver's show back in 2022. Help support public media at johnoliversjunk.com

Price calls terms of Trump’s compact ‘highly problematic,’ declines to take public stance Price said Duke does not intend to comment publicly on whether it will accept or reject the compact and told faculty members its strategy of “silence” is intentional.

Duke University President Vincent Price makes rare remarks on the school's "strategy of silence" (as reported by the Duke Chronicle)
snwrks.co/2eqfhg

'We won't be silenced': Cumberland County School Board attorney censors transgender valedictorian's high school graduation speech Gray Byrd had submitted a speech responding to the prompt "striving to excel" — part of the school motto — that included the line "transgender people are facing new levels of violence each day, and th...

Censored from a transgender valedictorian's graduation speech in Fayetteville: The line "transgender people are facing new levels of violence each day, and the voices of transgender children are being overlooked."

www.wunc.org/term/news/20... #ncpol

YouTube video by Duke University An update from President Vincent Price on Duke’s strategic realignment process

Duke Univ. Pres Vincent Price: “We are being forced to reduce the scope of our activities and spending in order to sustain excellence in our core missions.” youtu.be/9vv9zkoDZwE?...

How their lives changed: Student activist who became symbol for patriotism reflects on year since UNC pro-Palestinian protest In a two-part series, student activists reflect on their lives one year since UNC-Chapel Hill Polk Place protest. UNC student Brendan Rosenblum was one of the fraternity brothers who held up the Ameri...

Brendan Rosenblum is one of the Jewish students who held up the American flag a year ago. He had water and food thrown at him and found himself mischaracterized by right-wing media outlets: "No one was there to get honored with a party."
www.wunc.org/education/20...

How their lives changed: Student activist who lost prestigious scholarship reflects on year since UNC pro-Palestinian protest In a two-part series, student activists reflect on their lives one year since UNC-Chapel Hill Polk Place protest. UNC student Laura Saavedra Forero shares her personal journey in activism leading up t...

Laura Saavedra Forero was pinned under barricades, arrested and charged, doxed, and had her Morehead Scholarship taken away. Even with everything that’s happened, she says she would not change a thing: “This is the only morally right thing for me to do."
www.wunc.org/education/20...

More Than 180 Academic Leaders Condemn Trump’s ‘Overreach’ The statement came a day after Harvard University sued the administration over its decision to freeze billions of dollars in federal funding, following the school’s refusal to submit to a list of dema...

More Than 180 Academic Leaders Condemn Trump ‘Overreach’... including presidents at Duke, Warren Wilson, Davidson, Carolina Christian College... and not a single UNC system chancellor. #ncpol www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/u...

Art Pope: Trump tariffs mean ‘there are not good times ahead’ Art Pope, a leader in the North Carolina Republican Party, criticizes Donald Trump's tariffs.

Conservative stalwart Art Pope says about the Trump Tariffs: "I think President Trump and his administration are acting in good faith. I think they're very wrong. And the economy, the real world of price increases and lost jobs, will show that." #ncpol

www.wunc.org/politics/202...

House Speaker Hall: Bill seeking to ban virtually all abortions in NC will not advance Members of the NC House Freedom Caucus filed legislation that would ban access to abortion in most cases, including those where a woman is a victim of rape or incest.

"I don't think there's any real desire in our caucus to hear that particular bill," Speaker Destin Hall says about bill filed Monday that would greatly restrict abortions in North Carolina.
From @byadamwagner.bsky.social and Mary Helen Moore. #ncpol
www.wunc.org/2025-04-08/h...

North Carolina judge challenging outcome of race wore Confederate uniform in college photo A judge challenging the outcome of his North Carolina Supreme Court race was photographed wearing Confederate military garb and posing before a Confederate battle flag when he was a member of a colleg...

“Griffin said he regretted donning the Confederate uniform…” #ncpol

apnews.com/article/conf...

Resignations, Disagreements With Dean Roil UNC Civics School UNC professors who supported the initiative when others derided it are resigning and denouncing its leader. It’s an ironic turn for a civil discourse school.

The UNC-Chapel Hill School of Civic Life is having some issues.

www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty...

Ferry stuck in Big Foot Slough shoal for 12 hours The M/V Silver Lake hits the shoal in Big Foot Slough in the Pamlico Sound just outside Ocracoke. Photo: C. Leinbach By Connie Leinbach Passengers from Ocracoke to Swan Quarter Thursday afternoon o…

10/10 on this story in the @ocracokeobserver.bsky.social No notes. Pulitzer should be in the mail for this photo caption alone: "This pizza didn’t fare well during transfer from bobbing boat to the ferry." #Ocracoke

ocracokeobserver.com/2025/03/07/f...

Roberts declined to comment on the roles Rubio, Tillis and Berger played in greasing the wheels for Belichick but said he's "been really pleased with the support we've gotten across the board."

Power struggles, senators and the chaotic pursuit of a legend: How North Carolina landed Bill Belichick North Carolina's hiring of Bill Belichick was the stunner of the college football year. Here's how the Tar Heels pulled it off.

Didn't expect to read this in an ESPN story about how UNC landed Belichick: "(Thom) Tillis hung up the phone and immediately called Phil Berger..." "...the push to land Belichick all started with the politicians." #ncpol

www.espn.com/college-foot...

What North Carolina's Members of Congress think about Ukraine, Trump and Zelensky A rundown of where North Carolina's Congressional delegation stands on Ukraine, as of Monday, and how those views may have changed after Friday's contentious meeting between Trump and Zelensky.

Many of the members of NC's Congressional delegation have either changed their public stances on Ukraine since Trump/Vance berated Zelensky, or they are laying low.

www.wunc.org/politics/202...

DOGE website says Franklin’s Social Security office to close Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has been eager to propose federal budget cuts that purport to save taxpayers money, but as the proposed cuts trickle down to the neighborhood level — li...

NEW from ME: a Social Security office in Macon County (Franklin) appears to have been targeted for closing by Elon Musk's DOGE.

One week ago, NC Senator Thom Tillis called Putin a "cancer" and the "greatest threat to democracy in my lifetime." No comment from Tillis yet on today's events in the White House. #ncpol

thehill.com/homenews/sen...

From 17 to 7 left standing: Trump cuts gut Florida archaeologists, Parks Service staff A sudden loss of jobs at the National Park Service has some terminated archaeologists rethinking a life of public service.

Firing young professionals and falsely accusing them of "failing to demonstrate fitness or qualifications for continued employment” is incredibly cruel. Whatever your political leanings, who cheers this kind of thing?

www.tallahassee.com/story/news/l...

UNC System President Peter Hans writes in this letter to the US Senate that it is "my honor and pleasure" to recommend Linda McMahon to be the Secretary of Education #ncpol

Republicans Love Trump’s Spending Cuts. Just Not in Their States. Even as they praise the president’s unilateral actions to slash federal spending, G.O.P. lawmakers have quietly moved to seek carve outs or exemptions for their own constituents.

Ted Budd said he agreed with Trump.. but he conceded that the universities would need time to adjust to their new financial reality. “There’s great research being done by all of our institutions. We need to protect that. I think the White House wants to protect that.” www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/u...

Q&A: UNC Press warns of increased silencing of scholars amid 'heightened political tensions' UNC Press Director John Sherer recently spoke with WUNC higher education reporter Brianna Atkinson about the dangers of silencing authors and the UNC Press' call for collective action against censorsh...

"...we're hoping that maybe this was just some sort of initial chaos that smooths out. But we're not going to stop sending our authors out to speak about their books and if they run into roadblocks to be able to do that, we're likely to bring voice to that."

www.wunc.org/education/20...

UNC System president Peter Hans said, in a statement: "I urge patience while the issue is addressed, and I’m hopeful this will ultimately produce a healthy conversation about the benefits of university research to America's competitiveness while ensuring accountability to the taxpayers."

Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump Cuts to Medical Research Funding A coalition of 22 attorneys general sued the federal government, claiming that the $4 billion in cuts would “grind to a halt” studies on cancer, heart disease and other conditions.

The order leaves out states that did not join the lawsuit, which will still face the funding cuts. (North Carolina joined the lawsuit)

www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/u...

Trump's order to cut NIH research funding would cut millions from NC universities North Carolina's top research universities could lose millions of dollars in support if a Trump administration revision to funding from the National Institutes of Health holds up.

"It's our economic engine for the state. We have huge numbers of workforce that are employed in research-related activities... 14,000 North Carolina employees engaged in research... over 310 businesses we've spun out; $2 billion in North Carolina salaries."

www.wunc.org/education/20...

Faith organizations have a complex relationship to disaster relief Church volunteers have played a big role in the wake of Hurricane Helene. But for some survivors, the accompanying proselytizing feels unwanted.

I wrote late last year on the complex relationship between disaster survivors and the faith based orgs who helped them. Not to negate positive experiences with these groups but to say it’s not the whole story and many survivors do not feel welcomed by them. grist.org/extreme-weat...