“Overall, while North Carolinians may agree that public education is lacking in the state, there still is much debate to be had surrounding the funding of improvements.”
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“In a viral video, North Carolina’s Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson is seen making homophobic and transphobic comments, saying children should not be taught about “transgenderism, homosexuality, any of that filth.” Robinson faced significant backlash for his comments, including condemnations from the White House and Governor Roy Cooper.”
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“NAACP v. Moore could have long-term ramifications for North Carolina’s legislative and judicial landscapes, as it tackles questions on the General Assembly’s authority to pass referenda and judges’ discretion to recuse themselves from cases.”
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“After a long and arduous debate, this past Summer over whether or not to grant New York Times writer Nikole Hannah-Jones a tenured faculty position at the Hussman School of Journalism and Media, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is investigating “structural racism” within the UNC System. Their investigation is focused primarily on UNC Chapel Hill, which the AAUP claims “mishandled” the procedure with Hannah-Jones. More broadly the committee will investigate what it sees as “a pattern of egregious violations of principles of academic governance and persistent structural racism.”
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“The increased use of vetoes seems to indicate that the Governor will only accept bills that enjoy strong bipartisan support. So, with a lack of a veto-proof majority in the legislature, the Republicans are forced to play by these rules even if they believe the Attorney General does not.”
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“The dispute currently playing out is no isolated incident, but rather the most recent episode in a decades-long fight against a discriminatory system that speaks to broader questions about who bears the burden of ecological crises and the fight against climate change.”
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“A three-judge panel recently struck down North Carolina Senate Bill 824, a law enacting a photo voter ID requirement, saying that it would unfairly target Black voters and is therefore unconstitutional. How did we get here and what is next for voter ID requirements in the Tar Heel State?”
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“Decreased funding for public education in North Carolina is only one example of the much larger issue of school privatization. Yet, it is the most pressing because it directly affects students in the classroom. As legislators continue to view charter schools as an adequate alternative to traditional public schools, the public schools across the state suffer.”
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“North Carolina remains without an updated state budget this year, as legislators have not yet decided on a new state budget for the fiscal year. Negotiations between the governor, the House, and the Senate are set to start this week, at the beginning of October.”
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“The monthly debates, although contentious, allow each side to ensure that their voices are heard on this highly controversial issue. It also allows the current policy to be continually tested to show its strengths and weaknesses, allowing the board members and parents to weigh each side.”
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“As the Board of Governors and the Board of Trustees continue to take a larger, politicized role in university affairs without consulting student leaders and faculty members, this coalition may be the final hope to bring autonomy back to Chapel Hill.”
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“Cooper’s claim that the bill [regarding protests] is an attempt to deter people from exercising their constitutional rights is highlighted by the timing of the bill’s introduction during a wave of protests in which many of the participants were African-American, alongside the fact that Republicans have passed legislation considered discriminatory against African-Americans before.”
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“While the 2020 elections were monumental for a number of reasons, the Republican victories in North Carolina’s legislature have given the party the opportunity to shape the state’s politics for the next ten years.”
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“The town hall, which was held in the Pit at UNC-Chapel Hill and directed at student journalists, is one of several events throughout Beasley’s campaign to connect to North Carolina college students.”
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“In examining the bills, the impact of input by pro-law enforcement organizations like the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association (NCSA) is evident. For example, while HB 436 mandates mental health awareness training for officers, it requires only two hours of training every three years – hardly a step up from the previous requirements, and a win for the NCSA in maintaining the status quo.”
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“A debate rages over a program that has distributed over $750,000 in state funds to help low-income families afford private school tuition — North Carolina Opportunity Scholarships. In the 2020-2021 school year, 456 private schools received money from Opportunity Scholarships, with 12,284 families receiving scholarships. Opponents of Opportunity Scholarships argue it is wrong to take public funding and invest it into private schools largely unaccountable to the state.”
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“Many that have come out against the vaccine mandate have cited privacy concerns, believing that the Constitution does not allow the government to force people to get a vaccine. In reality, constitutional precedence does not look favorably upon this argument.”
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“The fractious national debate about COVID-19 has perhaps been most divisive on issues related to schools and education. In North Carolina, however, this debate was surprisingly tame.”
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“There is only one public high school mandating a vaccine for students — and only for its athletes — but many are requiring their employees to do so. As students begin to return to campus and classrooms, will vaccines prove to be the only true safeguard against a deadly virus? Are schoolwide vaccinations inevitable?”
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