Posts in Fellows
Announcement of School of Civic Life and Leadership Leaves UNC Faculty and Student Government Shocked while Conservatives Celebrate

This February, along with media coverage of an uncharacteristically lackluster basketball season, many news outlets have been reporting on the happenings of a different group associated with UNC- its own Board of Trustees. The UNC Board of Trustees recently made a motion to create the School of Civic Life and Leadership for future UNC students.

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New Parental Rights Bill Brings the “Don’t Say Gay” Debate to the Tarheel State

The North Carolina Senate has started off their new legislative session with a flurry of activity. One of the first things Senate Republicans brought to the floor was Senate Bill 49, better known as the Parents’ Bill of Rights . . . . Now that the North Carolina version of the “Don't Say Gay” bill is in the hands of the Republican-controlled North Carolina House of Representatives, many LGBTQ+ affirming and progressive education groups are preparing for the worst.


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Inflation’s Impact on Food Insecurity in America

““Food insecurity is one of the factors accounted for when measuring basic needs. Basic needs include access to nutritious and sufficient food; safe, secure, and adequate housing; access to mental and physical healthcare; affordable technology and transportation; resources for personal hygiene; and childcare and related needs,” said Natalia Rivadeneyra, the assistant director of advocacy at Nazun, an organization focused on ending hunger and food insecurity on college campuses.“

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Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis and Pat McCrory Speak on Partisanship and Its Place in American Democracy

“Although these men come from vastly different backgrounds, they got up on stage to promote the same message. Both men are part of a political collective called “No Labels,” a group that “demands American leaders and citizens alike declare their freedom from the anger and divisiveness that are ruining our politics and most importantly, our country.“

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Three Decades of Fighting for Our Students… and Why the Fight Isn’t Quite Over

“Leandro v. The State of North Carolina was first brought before the North Carolina Supreme Court in 1994. Fast forward almost 30 years later to March 2022 and Leandro is back on the docket of the state’s highest court. The Leandro litigation team brought to the courtroom a sense of deja vu, again arguing that the state of North Carolina was violating its students’ right to a sound education by underfunding its public education system.”


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International Refugees: A Global Issue Closer Than We Think

“One of the biggest questions tackled by the UNHCR is not necessarily if we help refugees, rather how we best help refugees. This question may seem like it has some far away answer in the stormy seas off the Italian coast or the heavily guarded Turkish border. However, the question and its answer applies to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro community more than one may think.”


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The Post-Roe Landscape: States’ Rights Reign Supreme

“Roughly six months later, the post-Roe landscape has shifted. Since this decision, 24 states have banned or are likely to ban abortion. While these bans are newer, the reality of a lack of access is not a new concept for marginalized and minority groups. People of color are overrepresented in those seeking abortion services, creating the opportunity for this group to be disproportionately affected by these bans.”

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Meet David Bass, who seeks to take on the University’s Most Endemic Challenges

“Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, but growing up all over the world in countries such as Japan, Australia, and China, he brings an interesting and unique perspective due to his time spent abroad and the lessons he learned in those years . . . Throughout his senatorial career, he has led numerous campaigns to improve the campus experience for students and fight discrimination throughout the University. Some of these campaigns have included rallying support for Purple Bowl . . . Other initiatives of his include a bill that asked the University to recognize Islamic holidays and make resources available during holidays such as Ramadan. Recently, I received the opportunity to sit down and talk with him about his career within the Senate.“

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This Is Far From The First Time That America Has Demanded More From Its Businesses

“Americans today are demanding more from the private sector. The concept that businesses have a duty to serve the public beyond simply providing goods and services is commonly known as Corporate Social Responsibility. Ideas about what exactly American corporations are responsible for have evolved over time, from the Gilded Age of Rockefeller and Carnegie to the modern idea of Corporate Social Justice.”

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The Carolina Student’s Guide to the Law: Housing Edition

As the semester draws to a close, it is important that Carolina students understand the law regarding the termination of their leases this semester and moving in next year. Tristan Routh is a Staff Attorney at Carolina Student Legal Services (CSLS), where he aids the UNC student community in dealing with landlord-tenant cases and litigation. The two major areas of rental disputes he sees are those relating to security deposits and rate abatement, and he has a plethora of advice to offer students on the topics.

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An Unlikely Pair for Peace

“Through history-making in their physical space alone, Roots takes an even more distinct approach to what would already be a complicated attempt at reconciliation. Roots looks to go beyond the general humanization of the “other,” and embraces the harsher and more radical sides to the Israel-Palestine conflict, even if it makes their general mission more complicated. Rabbi Schlesinger explained that in order to achieve true peace you cannot “make people check their identities at the door.” Instead, Roots looks to incorporate all different perspectives of the conflict into their programs.”

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A Conversation with 2022-2023 Student Body President Taliajah “Teddy” Vann

“Many people told Student Body President-elect Taliajah “Teddy” Vann that it would be impossible for her to win the election. ‘There were a lot of people who, in my opinion, did not think that it was possible for me to win the Student Body Presidential election. They thought that it would be especially impossible for any Black woman to win with two Black women on the ballot. Those people could not have been more wrong,’ she said. Instead of succumbing to pressure, Vann chose to view her doubters as a sign that she was doing something right.”

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Soft Power Will Define South Korea’s Modern Diplomacy

“Move aside, sanctions and treaties. There’s a new diplomatic tool on the block – pop culture. Instead of traditional foreign policy tools, South Korean diplomacy efforts have increasingly focused on other venues: K-pop, K-dramas, and K-beauty. Indeed, the prior South Korean prime minister, Moon Jae-In, invited K-pop performers to conferences with the United Nations, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, France, and China. The usage of pop culture as a means of diplomacy is not a new occurrence, but the massive popularity growth of South Korean culture is a never-before-seen phenomena – one that will spearhead the nation’s foreign policy.”

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The Elephant in the Room: America Must Not Ignore Africa’s Growing Power

“Despite countless statistics on the continent’s growing status, Africa imperatively lacks media attention and global perception of importance. In the coming decades, the continent’s economy will double. Its population will triple. Its foreign direct investment will quadruple. This data illustrates Africa’s coming status as a rising power – a power that American foreign policy refuses to acknowledge. With these imperative topics in mind, I had the honor of hearing Ambassador Mary Yates, former deputy commander at the United States Africa Command, speak about barriers between the western world and Africa.”

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Europe’s Handling of the Ukrainian Refugee Crisis Raises Important Questions of Equity

“The superior treatment of Ukrainian refugees is most likely due to a multitude of factors, the first one being the most obvious: EU citizens are better able to empathize with Ukrainians due to racial, linguistic, and religious ties according to research from Lamis Abdelaaty, an assistant professor of political science at the Maxwell School of Syracuse University.”

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