TransparUNCy and Teach-In Updates
Hello!
Thank you to everyone who came to our re-run teach-in last night! Turnout was again even better than we had hoped and we are so excited to see students showing up to learn and build a stronger community within this movement.
Last night was very telling of UNC administration’s position on our concerns as students. Interim Chancellor Roberts’ “non-partisan” comments at the teach-in certainly show how willing, or more so unwilling, he is to stand with students and condemn the dangerous anti-DEI rhetoric and policy promoted by the Board of Trustees and Board of Governors. In the face of far right political attacks, “non-partisan” is simply not enough.
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Please read the whole letter to learn about upcoming engagement opportunities including our next teach-in, our newest TransparUNCy episode, the slides with the CLE credit link from last night, and additional resources for research. If you are viewing this newsletter through Outlook, be sure to allow “blocked content” at the top of this email to see the flyer below.
TransparUNCy Episode 7:
Check out our newest episode below where Julian breaks down the problematic School of Civic Life and Leadership, with a guest appearance from Anti-woke Toby on Fox!
Important - Save the Dates!
Click here to join the TransparUNCy Google Calendar!
Upcoming Teach-in on SCiLL:
Join us on Thursday, April 11th at 5pm for our next teach-in about the School of Civic Life and Leadership (SCiLL). As we mentioned last night, SCiLL is one of the most important ongoing battles on our campus right now. The origins of SCiLL are extremely suspicious, and now that Art Pope-funded Jed Atkins has been hired to run the school, we are in deep trouble. Come to the teach-in to learn more about how the SCiLL is a tool of a dangerous right-wing movement, and how students can resist. Stay tuned on our Instagram where we will announce the teach-in’s location. If you want to help expand this movement and its influence, bring your friends and spread the word!
Student Forum on University Governance:
For decades, Art Pope and the Board of Governors have relied on student ignorance in order to advance their agenda. They have never offered students a say in how our university should be run. If they won’t give students a seat at the table, we’ll build our own. On April 24th, 5:00pm at the Anne Queen Lounge in the Campus Y, we will be inviting the Chapel Hill Board of Trustees and the UNC Board of Governors to attend a forum where students will speak about how we want our university to be run.
Show up to make your voice heard and speak truth to power!
Resources from the Teach-in on 4/4:
We heard from many of you that you would like to be able to look back on the presentation. We’ve attached the slide presentation here for reference. If you missed the CLE link last night, refer to the QR code on the last slide!
We heard from others that you want to do your own research and read more about this history, but don’t know where to begin. Here are some resources on the topics we discussed.
START HERE: A Very Basic Background on University Administrative Structure
Art Pope:
Political Influence at UNC: An Examination of the Pope/Koch Network
How A Right-Wing Political Machine Is Dismantling Higher Education in North Carolina
In N.C., conservative donor Art Pope sits at heart of government he helped transform
How Art Pope's money shaped UNC's toxic debate over Nikole Hannah-Jones
The School of Civic Life and Leadership:
The uncivil origins of the School of Civic Life and Leadership at UNC
UNC looking to counter 'woke' campuses with new school: Creating a 'level playing field'
UNC Board of Governors hosts conservative academic star, looks to emulate his program
How Right-Wing Billionaires Infiltrated Higher Education (paywalled, but available for free through UNC library).
Silent Sam:
Gene Nichol and The Center on Work, Poverty, and Opportunity:
Nikole Hannah Jones:
UNC Center for Civil Rights:
DEI Bans:
Map: See which states have introduced or passed anti-DEI bills
UNC board member predicts NC will ‘follow Florida’s path,’ ban DEI at public colleges
Alabama bans DEI in schools and says bathrooms must be designated by ‘biological sex’
Thank you again for taking the time to attend one of our teach-ins! We look forward to seeing you at upcoming events this month.
With love and solidarity,
The TransparUNCy Team