The UNC Institute of Politics welcomes new fellows who aim to engage UNC community

The UNC Institute of Politics welcomed two new fellows, June Atkinson and Robert Orr, to campus. The fellows will each lead a seminar series this semester in hopes to educate the community on politics and public policy. 

The UNC Institute of Politics, established last spring by Tanner Glenn, is an organization that promotes engagement with politics and public service. The organization's activities include a variety of student-led programs, summer internships and a fellows program. 

Atkinson, former North Carolina superintendent of public instruction, and Orr, lawyer and former associate justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, will serve as the UNC IOP’s spring 2018 fellows. 

Atkinson and Orr will hold weekly office hours in addition to conducting the seminar series. 

“The fellows program provides an opportunity for students to engage with some of North Carolina's best and brightest political practitioners,” Glenn said. 

Atkinson’s seminar series will focus on public education in North Carolina and the United States. Atkinson said out of the eight seminars, the most important will be about how public education is financed. 

“I think it's one of the most important because money matters, and if people do not know where the money for public education originates, or if they do not know how public schools are financed, then they are at a huge disadvantage in being able to have an impact on the political system of funding education,” Atkinson said. 

Robert Orr’s seminar series will focus on ethics in the context of politics and public service, with topics ranging from college athletics to the military. 

“I think, certainly, the college sports one will be the most controversial,” said Orr. “You know you sort of look around the country to the various issues from Michigan State, to Penn State, to Louisville, even UNC, the issues that have involved college athletics."

Atkinson's first seminar is Jan. 29, and she looks forward to the opportunity to teach and learn from students at UNC. 

“What I want to affirm is knowing more about what makes our generation of college student’s tick, what excites them, what are their concerns, what are their fears,” Atkinson said. 

Orr, who has taught at UNC's School of Law for 15 years, said he also enjoys getting to interact with students. 

“This year is my 50th reunion year at the University,” Orr said. “I was in the Class of '68, so it's somewhat interesting to be to work with these young people, students, today and be able to look back at the 50 years and how dramatically things have changed both at the University and around the state and country.” 

Glenn hopes that as programs like the fellowship get momentum, IOP will become a staple organization on campus. 

“We're trying to build something that won't just be around for 10 years, but will be around for 50, 100, 150 years, that will be a real gem for Carolina and for the state and for the country, that will continue year after year to inspire the next generation of leaders in politics and public service," he said. 

@JessySnouwaert

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