12/22 Letters: UNC Board’s Silent Sam deal was another strike at campus ‘liberals’

UNC Board

The decision concerning Silent Sam is the latest example of the UNC Board of Goverors’ hostility toward the faculty and students of UNC-Chapel Hill for alleged liberalism.

Remember that the Board shut down the poverty institute, forbade law school faculty from acting on behalf of poor people, and forced out Chancellor Carol Folt. Now it has decreed that the UNC-Chapel Hill campus must pay $2.5 million to Sons of of Confederate Veterans.

The Board has also damaged the credibility of new Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz, because it appears that he had to agree to endorse the Silent Sam agreement in order to become chancellor.

Paul Grendler, Chapel Hill

Give me Silent Sam

I have such a deal for the UNC Board. For $1.25 million, I’ll take the Silent Sam statue put it in my living room where I’ll dust and polish it in perpetuity (mine that is).

That’s a 50 percent discount on the offer proposed to Sons of Confederate Veterans. What’s more, anyone can pay homage and get a free cup of coffee and a cookie (by appointment). For an additional $40K I’ll promise not to set foot on any UNC campus to protest anything.

I don’t know how the board could turn me down — it represents a savings of $1.2 million which could be used down the road should some other special interest group require an incentive to go away.

William Dunne, Raleigh

Mark Johnson

Regarding “NC superintendent asks court to step in and lift stay in Read To Achieve contract,” (Dec. 17):

State Superintendent Mark Johnson appointed a committee to evaluate two reading programs for use in N.C. public schools. Whenit recommended the program not favored by Johnson he accused the committee of bias and making untruthful claims.

These were people he appointed. He’s upset because they didn’t say what he wanted to hear. When a judge ruled against him he made similar accusations against the judge. Does Johnson’s behavior remind you of anyone else? Has Trump’s behavior already emboldened others to act the same way? It looks that way to me.

Perhaps an investigation into Johnson and how he expects to benefit from the choice of reading programs is in order.

Mark Kinlaw, Holly Springs

Gov. Roy Cooper

I work for one of the small engineering companies affected by the NC Department of Transportation budget slowdown. This impasse has trickled down from the governor, to the N.C. General Assembly, to NC DOT and to thousands of its employees and their families.

Now, at Christmas time, it is affecting all the families who are associated with the companies who do business with NCDOT. Some of these companies not only can’t pay their bills due to outstanding invoices, but also can’t pay their employees.

I plead with Gov. Roy Cooper, please stand up and do your part to get past this impasse. Please don’t let this political issue affect the livelihoods of these families, especially at this time. Search your heart, do the right thing for the people of our state.

Nancy Cummings, Raleigh

Homeless students

Homelessness among Wake County residents has received much-needed attention over the past month My research team collected data on homelessness among students at N.C. State University and found a shocking 9.6 percent, more than 3,000, had experienced a period of homelessness in the preceding 12 months, a rate higher than most institutions nationwide.

Common experiences included sleeping in outdoor locations such as parks, alleys, and train/bus stops. Sleeping in vehicles and couch surfing are other survival strategies. As the temperature drops, I am increasingly concerned about our students and those on other Wake County campuses who are faced with sleeping outside.

Given the scale of college student homelessness, higher education leadership must take initiative by acknowledging the challenge and pursuing critical partnerships with community entities. In turn, resources and expertise at local universities should be utilized to address growing rates of homelessness among all of our citizens.

Mary E. Haskett

Psychology professor, NCSU

Impeachment

Maybe impeachment has been lurking in the corners since the start of Trump’s presidency as so much of what he does is questionable.

Maybe the hearings had fewer witnesses because White House staff was ordered not to appear. Maybe the bribe of military support for announcing an investigation into the Bidens didn’t actually take place because it was made public midway through the transaction. (Completed or not, it’s still a bribe.)

Maybe a country with need for aid like Ukraine but less power will agree to anything to stay in favor with the current administration.

No maybes about it, this guy should be removed from the office of U.S. president.

Deborah Brogden, Raleigh