UNC system president should look to his predecessor for guidance on syllabi | Opinion

The author is director of The William and Ida Friday Center for Continuing Education:

In a recent op-ed, UNC System President Peter Hans promoted the idea that, as a matter of “transparency,” university course syllabi should be made available as “public records” – and did so without affording a meaningful opportunity for university faculty to be heard. Hans would have done well to be guided by the lessons of his predecessor, William Friday, who recognized such calls for “openness” from outside groups for what they are: external attempts to impose ideological or political limits on legitimate campus discourse.

Hans might also have followed Friday’s lead by zealously respecting the principle of thoughtful consultation with faculty on academic matters. It is disappointing to observe current university leadership acquiesce so weakly to political pressures that an earlier generation of leadership, working in tandem with faculty, would have resisted.

Norman Loewenthal, Chapel Hill

Compensating caregivers

One person develops Alzheimer’s disease every 65 seconds. Alzheimer’s disease most commonly affects individuals aged 65 and older. 11 million caregivers in the U.S. provide unpaid care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Nearly three in four family caregivers pay out-of-pocket for caregiving expenses. On average, dementia caregivers spend more than $12,000 each year, an unsustainable cost for many families.

As a public health professional, I can foresee how challenging socioeconomic conditions can make caregivers hesitant to look after Alzheimer’s patients and adversely impact their mental, physical, and emotional health. The Credit for Caring Act is a practical solution. The bipartisan Credit for Caring Act will create a new, non-refundable federal tax credit of up to $5,000 for eligible family caregivers, which would offset the cost of some caregiving expenses. Members of Congress can play an important role in standing up for dementia caregivers in North Carolina and across the nation by supporting this bill.

Namita Kulkarni, Raleigh

FEMA funding

Regarding FEMA funding for Helene recovery: the executive branch cannot legally withhold funds that have been appropriated by Congress. That’s the law. The most disappointing part of this situation is that the Republican representatives of these districts are not standing up for their constituents. Will this lack of action have political consequences for them? Doubtful.

John Price, Cary

Indiana Republicans vs NC

Some Indiana Republican state legislators have returned to the pre-Gingrich conservatism that put democracy ahead of political party. Successfully voting against mid-term redistricting, one member said “I see no justification that outweighs the harms it would inflict upon the people’s faith in the integrity of our elections and our system of government.” Another put his decision this way, “Living in a free constitutional republic means we empower voters to make those decisions, and we accept their will no matter what.”

Legislators in our state of North Carolina have chosen the party-first path. Where Indiana’s brave statements will be recorded in history books, our legislators will leave nothing except their obedient silence.

David Hopp, Durham

Breast surgery

Each year, more than 300,000 women in the United States and approximately 13,000 women in North Carolina are diagnosed with breast cancer. A mastectomy, a common surgical treatment is lifesaving, but also life-altering. Breast reconstruction provides both physical and psychological benefits, yet only about 40% of women undergo reconstruction, often because of inconsistent insurance coverage, administrative barriers, or lack of access.

In 1998, the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA) was enacted to ensure coverage of all stages of breast reconstruction. Despite this, many women face delays and unexpected bills when insurers deny coverage, claiming current reconstruction options are “not medically necessary” or are “experimental.”

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is working to modernize WHCRA, ensuring patients and their plastic surgeons, not insurance companies, determine the course of reconstruction care. Ensuring timely, full coverage for breast reconstruction is common sense and compassionate, the care every survivor deserves, and our law should reflect that.

Annie J. Bright, Chapel Hill

Notre Dame

Notre Dame has already won enough conference championships in the ACC in multiple sports to make it proud of its stay there. So it might be time to move on and go it alone like they did for so many years. Who knows, maybe another conference like the Big 10 will bury the hatchet with Notre Dame and join forces. Notre Dame is in a position of strength right now. The ACC couldn’t be weaker. Time to make a move and do it sooner than later. Tom Dorsel, Pinehurst