Tag: UNC system

As free as the right-wing bosses will allow

August 17, 2012 at 11:23 amCategory:Uncategorized

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Article IX, Section 9 of the North Carolina Constitution says the following:  

“The General Assembly shall provide that the benefits of The University of North Carolina and other public institutions of higher education, as far as practicable, be extended to the people of the State free of expense.”

Unfortunately, as this op-ed in today’s Raleigh News & Observer helps make plain, the requirement is quickly ceasing to have any real meaning as right-wing money bags like Board of Governors member Fred “Right Change” Eshelman do their worst to privatize higher education. 

As the piece notes:

“Eshelman is essentially transferring a radical political ideology directly into the governing board of the university. That, of course, was what his appointment was intended to do.”

Let’s hope North Carolinians wake up to this effort to drag down our universities before there’s nothing left to save.

Bill Friday: It’s time to draw the line on tuition increases at NC universities (Audio)

April 2, 2012 at 3:03 pmCategory:Uncategorized

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Dr. Bill Friday, president emeritus of the UNC system, says North Carolina is at the point where it is violating the State Constitution, which states higher education should be offered as free as practicable.

In a weekend radio interview on News & Views with Chris Fitzsimon, Dr. Friday said it is time to draw a line on tuition hikes.

The 91-year-old, who served as the first president of the expanded UNC system, says continued cuts by the legislature have seriously hurt the institution.

At the same time, the trend of offsetting those cuts by raising tuition and fees has only discouraged young people from seeking higher education:

“One out of three families in North Carolina don’t gross $35,000 a year…the tragedy is these families don’t even apply anymore, see they have no resource base to work from,” explained Friday.

Friday believes the state’s lawmakers should have the courage to close billions of dollars in exemptions and tax loopholes rather than “whacking at” the budgets of North Carolina’s public schools and universities.

To hear a portion of Dr. Friday’s interview, click below. To hear the full segment (including this week’s other  interviews with Bob Etheridge and author Jeff Clements)  visit the Radio Interview section of the N.C. Policy Watch website.

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A preview of HK on J

February 10, 2012 at 8:24 pmCategory:Uncategorized

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If you want to get a taste of the kind of wonderful and inspiring spirit that attendees at tomorrow’s HK on J rally will have the pleasure of experiencing and participating in, watch this very cool video of NAACP President Rev. William Barber firing up a group of UNC students this morning in Chapel Hill:

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UNC students need help to get to Feb.10 tuition hike meeting

February 6, 2012 at 3:25 pmCategory:Uncategorized

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The following is from the good people at the NC Defend Education Coalition. Click here to support their excellent cause:

“On February 10, the UNC Board of Governors will vote on tuition and fee increases for all UNC system schools. Some hikes could exceed 10%, compelling students to speak out against the increase that will effect many students’ ability to access higher education. They have found support from many organizations, including the NC NAACP President Rev. William Barber II.

Earlier this month, the Association of Student Governments (ASG) pledged to support student efforts to have a presence at the February 10 meeting by funding transportation from every school.

But under pressure from the UNC General Administration and Board of Governors, Read More…