We’re all inundated with emails and texts about the election which can get overwhelming, so we thought we’d pick a few newsworthy items to share with you this week.
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From the Assembly
“Two UNC-Chapel Hill trustees are running for state office. Their campaigns are one more sign that the politics of public higher education are growing increasingly partisan.
University board positions have always been a kind of spoils, often a reward for a long career in business or politics. This election could show whether that goes both ways, as two UNC-Chapel Hill trustees are the Republican nominees for council of state positions. Dave Boliek, a lawyer and former prosecutor in Fayetteville, is seeking to be the next state auditor, while investor Brad Briner is running for treasurer.”
Read more here: https://www.theassemblync.com/education/higher-education/unc-chapel-hill-board-of-trustees-election/
From the N&O
“When UNC-Chapel Hill administrators closed the university’s Campus Y building earlier this year, outcry from students and alumni was immediate. Administrators closed the building for more than a week this spring following a pro-Palestinian tent encampment on campus, citing “safety reasons” in doing so. The building reopened in May, but its long-term fate remained unclear — causing student leaders to worry that more restrictions on the historic space might be coming.
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The committee finished its work in less than a month, submitting its report to Roberts on Aug. 30. The university released the report to The News & Observer through a public records request last week. The key finding? The 15-member committee reported that the space is meeting its ‘highest and best use standard at this time.’”
Read more at: https://www.newsobserver.com/site-services/newsletters/deans-list/article294346469.html
From Duke University
For those interested in how the election might impact higher education, a webinar from Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy entitled; “When Universities are the Enemy: Academic Freedom, Institutional Autonomy and the Future of American Higher Education”, might interest you.
The webinar is moderated by Eric Mlyn who directs the school’s Project on Democracy and the Politics of American Higher Education. Follow this link to watch a recording of the webinar: https://duke.app.box.com/s/3g13hyo8cttdswqswg8l7egixp2celsn .
From The Assembly
The Assembly has published a very interesting, and thorough, article about our very own School of Civic Life and Leadership. Here is an excerpt from this piece:
“SCiLL started offering classes this fall with a stated aim of combating polarization by fostering free speech and encouraging civil discourse. Launched at the behest of the UNC-CH Board of Trustees and the state legislature, it has been mired in controversy from the outset. Critics said it was a Republican attempt to force the university to hire more conservatives, especially after a trustee described the school as a “remedy” to the liberal lean of campus.
All the drama aside, Atkins seemed like a fairly traditional hire. He joined from Duke University, where he’d taught since 2009, chaired the classical studies department, and held leadership roles in two programs focused on civil discourse. He consulted on the initial proposal to create SCiLL, and Duke colleagues said he genuinely believed—and operated by—the civil discourse ideals he espoused.
But more than six months into his tenure, the storm around SCiLL is still raging—and Atkins’ vision for the program is becoming clearer. At least half of the current SCiLL faculty attended theological schools or have research interests involving Christianity, as does Atkins, and most are affiliated with or have been funded by conservative academic networks.”
Follow this link to read the entire article: https://www.theassemblync.com/education/higher-education/unc-chapel-hill-civic-life/