The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is the organization that accredits institutions of higher learning in our region. The accreditation manual is full of standards on governance, finance, libraries, undergraduate, graduate and professional programs, and on and on. Sadly, UNC has recently been admonished by the Association for allowing students to receive academic credit […]

I was always told never to attack the man but you can always attack his words with the facts. Recently, Alan Culton stated in his commentary of February 6 that he was upset about those pesky Liberals of Orange County who were taking away the rights of all residents of Chapel Hill to smoke in […]

Our newly elected governor and state legislature is hard at work. But are they solving our budget crisis, debating taxes, education, or alternative energy sources to power our state… Not entirely. House Bill 34, filed last Thursday, would make it illegal for women to bare their breasts in public anywhere in North Carolina. The bill […]

We have an amazing opportunity in Carrboro over the next 18 months. When as many as six positions on the Board of Aldermen could be up for grabs. Beginning with the Special Election on March 19. If anyone, including your preferences, truly wants to serve, they will have more than ample opportunity. So, let’s use […]

Two weeks ago, I spent the entire Sunday in shorts and a t-shirt playing basketball with my oldest three sons. This past Sunday, the clothing ensemble looked more appropriate to a typical January day but the weather was still remarkably warm coming on the heels of a snowy Friday morning which caused the cancellation and […]

Let there be no question, this guy was in a hurry. He whipped into the parking place nearest the entrance of Harris Teeter, jumped out of his luxury SUV, flung the driver’s door shut and strode majestically into the store. He had parked in a space reserved for handicapped drivers. It was well-marked with the […]

I want to talk to everyone who put their hard work into President Obama’s re-election campaign and is now feeling a little worn out and a little disappointed that we lost in North Carolina. You need to stay involved. The Obama administration has wisely chosen to keep their base involved with governing challenges after the […]

This is Raleigh Mann. If the university’s chancellor search committee is looking for a proven administrator, teacher, researcher, innovator, and motivator, I have an excellent candidate in mind, someone who excels at all of those things, was born and raised in North Carolina and who knows the University of North Carolina intimately. When James Moeser […]

I was very fortunate to receive an invitation to visit the White House last Thursday. I was among a delegation of 40 community leaders from across the state of North Carolina who were asked to join in a conversation with the White House Office of Community Engagement about the impending fiscal cliff. Now the fiscal […]

This is Geoff Gilson. A vacancy will soon be opening on the Carrboro Board of Aldermen. My mind turns to matters of political ‘establishment,’ the righteousness of challenge in a community, and what makes me itchy. Now. Let’s get clear. There is a political ‘establishment’ in Carrboro. This is not necessarily a bad thing. So, […]