UNC AFSA & UNC News

The UNC School of Civic Life and Leadership is presenting a program at the George Watts Alumni Center for Reviving Civil Discourse on Campus.
The event will feature the premiere of a short film on the Courageous Conversations: Israel and Palestine on Campus course, followed by Q&A with some of the students. There will also be a conversation with Bret Stephens (The New York Times) and Elizabeth Bruenig (The Atlantic). Chancellor Roberts will also offer opening remarks.

Today, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announced the appointment of Magnus Egerstedt as Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost, effective March 2, 2026. Egerstedt, currently Dean of Engineering in The Henry Samueli School of Engineering and a Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of California, Irvine, will succeed Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost James W. Dean Jr., who has been serving in an interim role since May 2025.

For the first time in nine years, the UNC Board of Governors is allowing public universities to increase tuition for in-state students. UNC-Chapel Hill's Board of Trustees have decided they do not want to take that offer.

Chancellor Lee Roberts has signaled that UNC-Chapel Hill will not sign onto the Trump administration’s compact for universities in order to receive more favorable federal funding. The proposed agreement by the federal government would require universities to comply with a range of educational policy objectives. Roberts argued UNC was already complying with many aspects of the compact, but some features were “difficult or impossible” to implement.

Legal Director of the ACLU of North Carolina Kristi Graunke argues that UNC leadership needs to improve its protections for freedom of speech for faculty and students. Graunke argues that pressures from the General Assembly and federal government have gone too far. She also mentions the University’s investigation into Professor Dwayne Dixon and is critical of UNC’s treatment of anti-Israel protesters.

A group of professors from across the University of North Carolina system want officials to adopt a definition of “academic freedom.” While the term’s definition may vary depending on the organization, it largely expresses that faculty are free to research and teach subjects without reasonable interference. Academic freedom has become a hot button issue because of new local and national influences on the University.

The Manhattan Institute has established a new university ranking system which takes into account free speech climate, ideological balance, curricular rigor, and student outcomes. With these metrics, the University of North Carolina takes the number three rank, behind the University of Florida and the University of Texas. More traditionally prestigious institutions, such as Ivy League Universities, score poorly.

The Campus Y hosted professors Dwayne Dixon and Hồng-Ân Trương to discuss academic freedom at the University of North Carolina. Both academics recently came under scrutiny by University: Dwayne for his alleged association with an armed leftist militant group and Trương for organizing the creation of a mural which was criticized as antisemitic. The professors connected their experiences to wider national trends within academia.

Professor Emeritus Lloyd Kramer outlines how the struggle for academic freedom is a common occurrence throughout the history of the University of North Carolina. From early faculty dismissals to political interference, Kramer warns of the dangers of infringing upon academic freedom not just at the local level, but nationally.

Former UNC Provost Chris Clemens had a wide-ranging discussion with progressive student group TransparUNCy about free speech in higher education. Clemens defended his record on the First Amendment during his tenure, which included enacting new policies at the Trustee level. He encouraged current University leadership to resist temptations to regulate faculty speech at the classroom level.

Under a new system-wide funding scheme, UNC-Chapel Hill will lose just under $7 million in funding. The UNC System Board of Governors approved a plan that would link funding to University performance. There is disagreement about the benefits of the plan across University leadership with Chancellor Lee Roberts supporting the new model and members of the Board of Trustees comparing the plan to a “tax.”

Professor Dwayne Dixon has been fully reinstated by UNC after a full threat assessment was conducted. Dixon was put on administrative leave after concerns emerged he was a proponent of political violence and his affiliation with a far-left gun club was revealed. Through its investigation, the University found that Dixon was no threat to campus and violated no official policy.

Former provost Chris Clemens is suing the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees. The ex-provost claims that the board engages in secrecy and withholds information from the public, in violation of state law. The board’s chairman Malcom Turner has pushed back against Clemens’ suit and asserts the group is transparent and works within its rights.

UNC professor Dwayne Dixon is under an indefinite leave after his involvement with the armed far-left “Redneck Revolt” group was uncovered. This comes after multiple instances of violence on the campuses of American universities. In a statement, the University affirmed their commitment to free speech, opposition to political violence, and confirmed Dixon is being investigated.

Legal scholar and author Ilya Shapiro recently visited Carolina at the invitation of UNC AFSA. During his lecture, he discussed his book Lawless: The Miseducation of America’s Elites and the state of free speech in higher education. The Daily Tar Heel spoke with Shapiro and students about these issues.

Public universities across the state of North Carolina are being forced to restructure programs and staff due to changes in state and federal regulation. These include the banning of DEI and the threat of the federal government withholding funding. As part of the restructuring, UNC abolished 41 vacant positions, 35 of which were “diversity liaison” roles. The UNC Board of Trustees is pleased with the current progress at the university.

Members of the UNC College Republicans organized a vigil commemorating the life of Charlie Kirk after his assisination. The political activist and frequent campus speaker was lauded for his willingness to express his views and his ability to inspire young people. Students across the political spectrum denounced political violence at the event.

The Board of Trustees recently met to discuss implementing cuts to DEI after changes to the University system and federal rules.

They say the removal verges on infringing on the free speech rights of the students who put up the artwork.

As students return to campus, Chancellor Lee Roberts discusses changes to UNC funding.

While the UNC System and the federal government have cracked down on DEI in higher education, the practice continues to occur.

With uncertainty surrounding federal funds and a stalled state budget, the UNC System board is meeting to discuss possible effects on the state’s public universities.

UNC-Chapel Hill has been ranked the third best value public school in the nation by The Princeton Review. UNC moved up one spot in the annual poll based on a slew of factors including academic excellence, affordability and career outcomes. Carolina also ranked high in other categories such as best alumni networks and schools making an impact.

Governor Josh Stein has recently vetoed a bill that would have imposed DEI mandates on public universities and community colleges in North Carolina. Within the UNC System, many of the proposed regulations in the bill have already been implemented because of action by the Board of Governors. The General Assembly has the chance to override the veto.

UNC-Chapel Hill has paused all hiring, promotions, and salary changes in response to new systemwide financial guidelines. The move comes as the University expects funding cuts on both the state and federal level. The University expects more guidance soon.

Alice Scott | The Daily Tar Heel

Vice Chancellor and General Counsel Paul Newton discusses a wide range of issues pertaining to his new roles. Besides giving insights on budgetary and legal issues, Newton reaffirms his opposition to DEI and his commitment to academic freedom.

In response to uncertainties over federal funding, UNC-Chapel Hill has paused construction plans for a new research building on its campus.

Why it matters: The pause is the latest sign of how changing priorities within the federal government under the Trump administration affect the Triangle's universities — key players in the region's and state's economy.

UNC Charlotte says an administrator is “no longer employed” after a video went viral of her implying work related to diversity, equity and inclusion was still happening on campus.

The video, which appears to use a hidden camera, was originally posted by nonprofit activist group Accuracy in Media. Posts on X by Corey DeAngelis, who identifies himself as a senior advisor for the nonprofit, received more than 4 million views. They caught the attention of Assistant U.S. Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon and N.C. Senate leader Phil Berger, who also posted about the video.

The dean of the UNC School of Law recently announced he is stepping down from the role.

After serving as dean since 2015, Martin Brinkley said Monday he will leave the position at the end of the 2025-26 academic year, or if Chancellor Lee Roberts can hire a successor before then.

“When one has lived for a while in this world, one learns to listen to the gentle but firm voice of the writer of Ecclesiastes: ‘To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted,’” Brinkley said in an email to the law school community, according to the North Carolina Tribune.

Jenna Robinson | James G. Martin Center | April 24, 2025

UNC AFSA Board Member Jenna Robinson describes her experience sitting in on two classes at the School of Civic Life and Leadership. She credits Professor John Rose and his students for navigating a robust civil dialogue on the issue of abortion and commends Professor Danielle Charette James’s students on their preparation and engagement with Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America. Robinson writes that SCiLL students bucked the trend of self-censorship that is rampant on campuses today.

Ryan Quinn | Inside Higher Education | April 14, 2025

UNC Provost Chris Clemens has resigned after disagreements with hiring practices at the School of Civic Life and Leadership. Established in 2023, SCiLL aims to promote civic education, civil discourse, and a free speech culture at UNC. According to reports, Clemens disagreed with SCiLL Dean Jed Atkins regarding the hiring of outside faculty members. Clemens will return to teaching astronomy in the fall.

The revocation of six UNC students’ visas follows the issuance of a Trump administration executive order targeting those who “intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security, espouse hateful ideology, or otherwise exploit” immigration law. While the specific reasons for the visa terminations at UNC are unclear, FIRE has warned that revoking visas for political speech, including “hateful ideology,” will chill campus speech and may violate the First Amendment.

The UNC Board of Trustees passed a resolution affirming its commitment to free speech after passing time, place, and manner restrictions on campus protests. The resolution proclaimed the University’s support for students’ right to protest while maintaining the need to prevent the disruption of operations. This comes after protests last spring led to class cancellations and threats against administrators.

UNC Student Jaden Miller argues that UNC needs better forums for students to converse freely with each other about issues of importance. He points to a recent study that showed a sizable population of UNC students do not feel comfortable openly sharing their political opinions. He proposes moderated public lecture halls and online forums as possible methods to engage students in meaningful dialogue.

The ACLU of North Carolina, Emancipate North Carolina, and Muslim Advocates jointly filed a lawsuit against UNC alleging First Amendment violations against pro-Palestine protesters last spring. The lawsuit claims that participants in the protests on Polk Place––which culminated in the police clearing of an encampment—were acting within their First Amendment rights and were denied due process by administrators.

The UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees recently met to discuss how to balance student free speech protections and campus safety after the UNC System implemented time and place restrictions on campus protests in response to events last spring. The board passed a resolution affirming their support for the First Amendment, while also making clear that violence and vandalism will not be tolerated.

The Trump administration has begun to carry out deportations of foreign nationals who engaged in speech supportive of the Hamas terrorist organization. At UNC-Chapel Hill, students who engaged in such protests have already filed lawsuits arguing their actions were protected by the First Amendment. As these issues make their way through the courts, balancing free speech protections and security will be a point of contention.

Recent investigative reporting revealed that five UNC schools participated in a federal program explicitly created to hire faculty based on race. UNC should take steps to end these partnerships as soon as possible.

Last week in City Journal, Manhattan Institute senior fellow John Sailer published an investigative report on a DEI hiring program run out of the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) with three partner institutions. The $10-million “Re-Imagining STEM Equity Utilizing Postdoctoral Pathways” (RISE UPP) program is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Its purpose, Sailer reports, is to hire postdoctoral fellows, with special attention to diversity, and “fast-track them to tenure-track positions, sidestepping normal hiring procedures.”

The UNC Board of Governors approved a new policy Thursday for students who want to protest on any of its campuses.

They’ll have to reserve space to protest, and they can’t camp out. They can’t interfere with classes. Any protester who gets in trouble at one state campus can be punished at their home campus.

An investigative report from the Carolina Review indicates that The Daily Tar Heel inaccurately reported that activist Laura Saavedra Forero’s charges were dropped, as court records show she is in a conditional discharge for blocking UNC’s provost’s car and twice resisting arrest. Hunter Klosty notes that her arrests were not related to the April 2024 encampment or campus protests on Polk Place. Despite public records contradicting its claims, the DTH stands by its reporting.

After several scholars with the UNC Press were prevented from travelling to the US to present recently published works at book events, the UNC Press is worried that the free speech rights of scholars could be under threat. In one such instance, UNC Professor Eric Muller had a book event, set to be held at the US Attorney’s Office in Washington, canceled. In an interview with WUNC, UNC Press Director John Sherer outlines the importance of academic freedom and open discourse on college campuses.

The John Locke Foundation’s Chris West asserts that states looking to uphold the First Amendment on college campuses should look to North Carolina as a model. He highlights North Carolina legislation that codifies the Chicago principles, protects due process, eliminates restrictive “speech zones,” and prevents administrative overreach.

Morehead-Cain scholar Laura Forero had her scholarship revoked after using anti-Semitic tropes online and being charged with criminal offenses in connection with anti-Israel campus demonstrations. She argues her First Amendment rights were violated, as she believes the revocation was retaliation for controversial speech. The scholarship committee maintains that it is committed to free speech, but that the program is a privilege and that Forero’s conduct did not comport with their standards.

On Dec. 19 the Orange County District Attorney dismissed all eight remaining cases against protesters who were arrested following the April 30 pro-Palestine demonstration at UNC. The decision was made one week after a judge ruled to dismiss the first associated case that went to trial.

Detractors ignore the explicit role of the University’s governing board.

Few entities at Carolina have received greater public and media scrutiny than the Board of Trustees. UNC has undergone significant changes since the COVID pandemic, many of which were catalyzed by the board. Thus, examining its role — both its statutory mandate and its recent actions — adds valuable context to the often-heated discourse surrounding the university’s political and academic trajectory.

Six pro-Palestinian protesters had their charges dismissed Friday in Orange County court after one argued a UNC encampment at UNC-Chapel Hill was protected by the First Amendment and witnesses in the other cases could not be found.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – As the autumn sun warms the historic campus outside, a professor specializing in ancient and modern political philosophy guides undergraduate students through the seemingly ruthless nuances of Machiavelli’s 16th-century philosophy of morals.

A recent story on UNC Chapel Hill’s pioneering new School of Civic Life and Leadership by The Assembly, a left-leaning online magazine, missed an opportunity to explain to its readers what the program teaches, what students learn and what those students think about it.

Instead of illuminating the pro-democracy program’s academic content, The Assembly’s 3,000-plus-word story followed the lead of other news media in obsessing over process, impugning participants’ motives and highlighting the school’s origins — while getting that wrong.

You may have noticed that there has been less news this fall than last spring about Middle East-related demonstrations and disruptions on college campuses, a change only partly attributable to the recent presidential election.

Since retiring from the university, several people have asked if I miss it. I tell them I miss what it was, but not what it has become. Higher education in America has gone from being the best in the world to one of the most pathetic. Why? It’s hard to describe what academia was to me and to millions in the past. It was not just a job, but a way of life, and of Western Civilization; and I’m so close to it, that it’s hard to describe—like trying to describe one’s own mother (hence alma mater!).