Charles Delmar: Move UNC centers to Duke

The Feb. 28 news article “UNC board closes 3 centers” was a great disappointment to me and, I’m sure, to a great many North Carolina residents who believe in free speech and academic freedom. However, it was certainly no surprise.

I believe that decision was preordained when the Board of Governors ordered the study of all 240 centers and institutes in the university system, a vaguely disguised cover for its real goal: to remove dissent in the ranks from loudmouths like Gene Nichol.

But it’s time to move on – perhaps literally. Wouldn’t it be ironic (even poetic justice) if the functions of each of the three centers the BOG has voted to shut down were simply moved to the other end of “Tobacco Road” – Duke University?

This story was originally published March 7, 2015 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Charles Delmar: Move UNC centers to Duke."