Trump Threatens to Cut Funding to Joint UNC-Duke Middle East Studies Program, Citing Bias

Hannah AstinStaff Writer The Trump administration is threatening to cut funding to a joint University of North Carolina and Duke University Middle East studies program, claiming that the program is misusing its federal grant money to promote the, “positive aspects of Islam,” but not Christianity or Judaism.  The Trump administration directed the Duke-UNC Consortium for Middle East Studies to amend its courses by Sept. 22 … Continue reading Trump Threatens to Cut Funding to Joint UNC-Duke Middle East Studies Program, Citing Bias

In-State College Football Recap: Week Four

Brayden StampsStaff Writer North Carolina! Come on and raise up! This one’s for you! It is, in fact, time to break out Petey Pablo’s iconic anthem because football in the Tar Heel State is back. Not only that, it’s better than ever. 2018 was a dark time; almost every team fell short of expectations or just plain struggled while our neighbors to the south cemented … Continue reading In-State College Football Recap: Week Four

9/11 Surprise Vote Rocks North Carolina House of Representatives

Hannah AstinStaff Writer On Sept. 11, Republicans in the North Carolina House of Representative voted to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of the state budget after months of stalemate between Cooper and Republican state legislators. Out of the 120 members of the state House, just over half were present to cast their votes.  Democrats in the state House had been told that there would be … Continue reading 9/11 Surprise Vote Rocks North Carolina House of Representatives

North Carolina Republicans to Comply with Gerrymandering Ruling

Peyton UpchurchStaff Writer After a North Carolina legislative map was sent for legal review due to allegations of partisan manipulation, courts ruled that the districts drawn corresponded with gerrymandering and that the Republican legislature was therefore in violation of the state constitution. The maps were thrown out by the court and must be redrawn.  As of Sept. 3, Republicans have expressed that they will comply … Continue reading North Carolina Republicans to Comply with Gerrymandering Ruling

North Carolina Officials Working to Promote School Justice Partnerships

Luciano GonzalezStaff Writer North Carolina politicians and government officials are determined to tackle a serious problem plaguing schools statewide. Dubbed the “school-to-prison pipeline” by activists and commentators across the country, negative educational policies such as “zero-tolerance policies” can have a devastating impact on a child’s education and life, and government officials throughout our state are determined to do something about it. A loose coalition of … Continue reading North Carolina Officials Working to Promote School Justice Partnerships

North Carolina Group Hosts Training on Spotting Immigrations and Custom Enforcement

Hannah AstinStaff Writer Dozens of volunteers attended a recent training on how to identify and report Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vehicles.  The majority-white group of volunteers was taught by a small solidarity group of women working with Siembra NC. Siembra NC is an immigrant-led activist organization that helps to provide services to immigrants in North Carolina such as data entry, fundraising and childcare, in … Continue reading North Carolina Group Hosts Training on Spotting Immigrations and Custom Enforcement

Report shows effect of ‘Read to Achieve’ in schools across North Carolina

Madison Hoffman Staff Writer According to a the 2017 National Assessment of Educational Progress, North Carolina students have made little progress on reading compared to the amount of money being invested into boosting elementary students’ skills over the past six years. The state program, Read to Achieve, was enacted in 2012 as part of Sen. Phil Berger’s Excellent Public Schools Act. Read to Achieve was … Continue reading Report shows effect of ‘Read to Achieve’ in schools across North Carolina

Contaminants Found in Durham Drinking Water

Jamie Howell Staff Writer The City of Durham Department of Water discovered chemical contamination in Lake Michie and the Little River reservoir, two sources of drinking water for the city. Lake Michie and the Little River are located just outside of Durham. According to Hazen and Sawyer, a company which proposed a project there, the Little River reservoir is the city’s second largest water supply. … Continue reading Contaminants Found in Durham Drinking Water

Report shows increased segregation rates in NC schools

Antonio Alamillo Staff Writer A recent report conducted by the North Carolina Justice Center and Education Policy Analyst Kris Nordstrom has revealed that segregation is rising in many North Carolina schools. Titled “Stymied by Segregation: How Integration Can Transform North Carolina Schools and the Lives of Its Students,” the report highlights how the state’s public schools are slowly shifting towards racial and economic segregation. While … Continue reading Report shows increased segregation rates in NC schools

NC school psychologist shortage leaves many students without mental health resources

Jamie Howell Staff Writer The number of school psychologists in U.S. public schools is considerably lower than the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) recommends. According to an article written by Professor Mark Phillips of San Francisco State University, the number of school psychologists per student varies widely between states, but the overall ratio was 457 students to every one psychologist as of 2016. “Most … Continue reading NC school psychologist shortage leaves many students without mental health resources