Free speech is a problem at UNC, but don’t blame Republicans

UNC, free speech

“A right turn at UNC” (Feb. 6) gave a very one-sided view of what is happening at UNC-Chapel Hill. The culture at UNC is mirroring the culture of so much of the rest of U.S. academia — and that is not good.

The UNC Alumni Free Speech Alliance, of which I am managing director, was formed to give alumni more of a voice in a campus culture that more than ever endangers free speech. We’re loyal UNC alumni who want to see our alma mater do more to address free speech concerns.

UNC-CH has adopted laudable free speech policies, but unfortunately it oftentimes has not adhered to them. The result: Over 50% of UNC students claim they self-censor their opinions and some faculty have been so cowed by diversity and equity initiatives that their hiring, promotion and tenure are negatively affected if they dare disagree.

Republicans did not bring on this situation. Indeed, many of us are now working hard to fix it.

Chuck Houseworth, Wake Forest

School librarians

Regarding “Wake school librarians defend LGBTQ-themed books that some parents want removed,” (Feb. 7):

In Wake County, a group of public school librarians are defending the diversity of what is in their libraries and why it is important that all students are represented. Some parents who object are not only filing criminal complaints, but calling for school librarians to be fired. Parents should participate in their children’s education by offering suggestions, criticisms and support. But the actual educators who have spent their careers teaching children how to navigate a difficult world should get the last word. Public schools should not be political casualties.

Laura Stillman, Raleigh

RNC actions

On Feb. 4, the Republican National Committee did two incredible things. First, it censured Republican U.S. Reps. Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney for participating on the committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection. Then, it declared the events of that day “legitimate political discourse.”

The silence from elective representatives in North Carolina has been deafening. They either agree with the RNC actions, or are afraid to publicly disagree. I’d hope every elected Republican official in N.C. would stand up and say they disagree with the RNC. If not, “we, the people” will have to assume they agree. So, where do our representatives stand? We’re still waiting.

Eric Thomas, Durham

Gerrymandering

It is a mistake to allow the politicians to choose their own voters. The N.C. GOP is gaming the system. They draw unfair maps and are busted by the courts, but the courts sent the redraw job back to the same Republican Party that caused the problem in the first place.

We are in sore need of an independent commission which will redraw districts. The people grow weary.

Adams Wofford, Chapel Hill

Impartial justice?

There is something patently hypocritical and monumentally depressing to learn that the N.C. Supreme Court, by a strictly partisan 4-3 disposition, held that partisan gerrymandering, despite a pedigree as old as the nation, was unconstitutional. While Democrats may cheer today’s result because their four Democratic colleagues on the bench sided with them, it is regrettable that the court itself seems to have abandoned any pretense at impartial justice.

Edmund Tiryakian, Hillsborough

Coach K

The writer is a 1992 UNC grad.

The conduct of UNC fans at the nationally televised Feb. 5 Duke/UNC game was an embarrassment to the university, the basketball program, and every student, player or coach ever associated with N.C.’s flagship university.

Athletic rivalries are fine, and when Duke does well and UNC does not my heart sinks. But no rivalry is worth the price in dignity paid with the vulgar chants targeting Coach Mike Krzyzewski, a coach who will go down in college basketball history. In addition to five national titles, he led the U.S. national team to three gold medals and assisted on two more.

There is simply no excuse, no reason, no justification for the abandonment of common decency on display by the Carolina crowd that night.

Robert Bracknell, Norfolk, VA