Viewpoints

You might not realize it, but it’s already illegal to wear a mask in public in this state, with a few exceptions: for a seasonal holiday, for a theatrical production (including Mardi Gras and masquerade balls), for work, for government-registered secret societies, and for health and safety reasons

There has been a lot of talk recently about Chapel Hill’s citizen advisory boards. Several of our Council members have criticized these volunteer advisory bodies and want to eliminate them.

Who influences government is one of the most critical issues of our time. Taken to an extreme, we have seen dark money-funded GOP takeovers of state governments, school boards, and courts across the country, including in North Carolina.

Student demonstrations are not all created equal. Despite your comparison to anti-war activities during Vietnam or protests against South African apartheid, the recent student encampment activities are not noble.

Public schools are currently experiencing a staffing crisis. Many of you reading this have children in the school system and know how challenging it is when a full time substitute is in charge of your child’s classroom instead of a highly qualified, licensed educator

Thank you to Florence Park for her May 10 piece in Viewpoints, “There Are No Universities Left in Gaza.” In it, she describes the nonviolent student encampment at UNC last month, its goals of university divestment from holdings linked to Israel, and the violent police response called in by Chancellor Lee Roberts and Provost Chris Clemens.

On the evening of April 29th, I took my camera to campus. Students were camped out on the lawn, listening to music, reading, and painting signs.

Field researchers began documenting Urban Stream Syndrome as a primary threat to watersheds and water resources in the early 2000’s.

We call for amnesty for suspended students and an end to Israel’s genocide in Gaza, where after months of bombing there are no universities left standing.