Farewell column: UNC is full of secrets
By Cynthia Dong | May 4With one final byline, University Desk senior writer Cynthia Dong shares some secrets about UNC — and The Daily Tar Heel.
With one final byline, University Desk senior writer Cynthia Dong shares some secrets about UNC — and The Daily Tar Heel.
Our Three Winners Day, created to honor three Muslim Chapel Hill community members who were fatally gunned down in 2015, hasn't been recognized by the University since 2016.
"It’s ironic. Google is coming to Durham to hire a thousand folks, they’re holding a major career event in the department — and at the same time as this tremendous growth, we’re having to cut our program.”
Student reporters have watched, investigated and preserved this history-making year in the pages of the DTH —from the cancellation of study abroad programs in Italy to quarantine memes to the summer’s protests for racial justice and the University’s fall reopening.
“Every object that was stolen or defaced can be replaced; but this vandalism goes deeper than property damage,” the Campus Y stated in a response on Tuesday. “It is a disturbing public display of division. While we are deeply saddened, we stand firmly in upholding the Y’s 161-year legacy as a space for students to unite, uplift, and act.”
The University's Jan. 7 announcement that in-person classes would be delayed until Feb. 8 was a relief to some, but an indicator of potential risks to others. Faculty members share their concerns with the delay and the potential for resuming some in-person classes later this semester.
Over 150 faculty members have signed the open letter, calling for the University to go remote for the spring semester. The op-ed signals growing fears that restarting in-person learning as COVID-19 infections and deaths increase across the country could trigger a dangerous surge in local cases. Faculty are calling for the N.C. General Assembly and the Board of Governors to alleviate the University’s financial challenges through alternative means. Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz and Provost Bob Blouin addressed some of the concerns highlighted by the op-ed.
International students living abroad face compounded challenges taking online classes, from class times at odd hours to uncertainties surrounding returning next spring. Vedika Parikh was studying abroad in Denmark in March when she heard that President Donald Trump had imposed a travel ban on all non-U.S. citizens coming in from Europe due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Parikh, who isn't a U.S. citizen, didn't think she could go back to the United States, but she also didn't know if she could stay in Denmark. Due dates, too, have become a minefield, as the time difference makes it more difficult to keep up with submission deadlines.
The pandemic has increased food insecurity for community members such as refugees and those who live in public housing developments. Public housing developments are located farther away from grocery stores, often requiring a round trip of more than one mile. Limited bus routes due to COVID-19 have added to inequities in transportation. Organizations, such as PORCH and Food Not Bombs, have been working together to provide aid to community members.
Concerns about Greek life have circulated since UNC’s leadership announced the full reopening plan in May. And now that UNC is shutting down its residence halls, all eyes are on students who remain in off-campus housing — especially those in Greek organizations. As UNC planned its Carolina Roadmap, Greek life organizations also had to assemble plans to comply with county and University COVID-19 rules. During discussions about off-campus community standards enforcement, University leaders said sorority and fraternity houses are privately owned, meaning the majority of enforcement falls to the CHPD. Police Chief Chris Blue said the volume of party-related complaints received by the Police Department in the past month has been on par with years past.
Andrew Perrin discusses the new general education curriculum at the Apr. 12 Faculty Council Meeting.