TO THE EDITOR:
The April 1 edition of the DTH contained several interesting articles, including one about student activism. Sadly, the notion of student activism does not apply to UNC students’ views on how some UNC student-athletes are educated. Two weeks ago, the Student-Athletes Human Rights Project (The Project) emailed more than 50 UNC student organizations, including the Parr Center for Ethics, about their views on the UNC student-athlete academic controversy. Not one organization replied to the email. While University administrators have implemented a code of silence that makes the muteness imposed in the Duke lacrosse scandal look pale, UNC students are advocating for everyone but the ones who keep them entertained. Student activism is not the staple of culture of UNC — it is the staple of the privileged because UNC student activists do not advocate for the student-athletes who represent the front porch of the University. The Project did not expect many UNC organizations to respond to our request for their input, but the actuality that we got zero responses affirmed one theory — that some student-athletes at UNC are not worthy of their peers’ support and that their peers only care about their ability to entertain them while they are being educated. Tough luck if the entertainers do not receive a true education!
Emmett Gill
Durham, N.C.
