The True Story of UNC-Chapel Hill’s New School. Arguments about the proposed School of Civic Life and Leadership are about politics, not process.

James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal ^ | May 22, 2023 | Perrin W. Jones

[karpov]

Last month, UNC-Chapel Hill faculty penned an open letter airing criticism of both the North Carolina General Assembly and the UNC Board of Trustees. Among their complaints was the allegation that the proposed new School of Civic Life and Leadership (SCiLL) is a “clear violation” of governance principles.

But the faculty don’t have the full story. More of the truth is finally coming out about the proposed school at UNC-Chapel Hill, my alma mater, where I am a member of the Board of Trustees.

The idea for the new school’s pro-democracy curriculum goes back years—and has involved faculty input from the beginning, contrary to the false narrative perpetuated by political partisans and other opponents of free and open learning and debate on campus.

As confirmed publicly by Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz and Provost Christopher Clemens, the administration’s proposal for SCiLL grew out of Carolina’s Program for Public Discourse and its IDEAs in Action curriculum, which themselves arose from campus discussions dating back to 2017. Their aims were to promote open, civil debate on campus and to equip students for success in our diverse nation and world.

Twice, in September and October of 2019, the Faculty Council discussed PPD and rejected proposals to halt it, thereby allowing the program’s development to continue. The initiative was always envisioned ultimately as including curricular components for interested students.

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

As noted in another thread -- since many things link together in increasingly clarified ways -- much centers on Chapel Hill.

"It is interesting that Dr. Barrett is now a resident of North Carolina, in Chapel Hill, the home of Ralph Baric of 'coronavirus' and 'spike protein' fame. For a look at Dr. Barrett: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Barrett

Reference" https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4154907/posts

Chapel Hill seems quite an axle for the several spokes of the entire "event," which slowly passes from the news

When citing "a 'clear violation' of governance principles," one asks a question, Based on "contrary to the false narrative perpetuated by political partisans and other opponents of free and open learning and debate on campus," who are these political partisans and opponents of free speech?

I suggest they may be the same consortium who has invested so heavily in the "event" and profits which have come from it, with more expected. Free speech will definitely upset their apple cart.

[blackdog]

All I needed to know about UNC was when I was flying freight. The airports closest to small airports had a university owned airline delivering newspapers for each location by airplane. Airplanes owned and operated by the UNC system. Mostly Barons, and King-Airs delivering thousands of pounds per plane of New York Times every day, at 4:00 to 9:00 AM, all over the state to college faculty.

Outrageous. Then there are the scheduled flights for faculty all over the state like it's own regional airline for their families.