Should the Confederate Monuments Stay or Go?
It’s been more than two weeks since white nationalists gathered in Charlottesville, Virginia, to march against the removal of a Robert E. Lee statue and chant racist slogans. Social media…
Articles by Shannon Watkins
When College Sports Lean Pro, Students and the Public Pay
Last week marked the latest chapter in the biggest college sports scandal in history. Administrators and athletics officials from UNC-Chapel Hill appeared before the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions in Nashville,…
Should American Degree Programs Borrow from Their European Counterparts?
According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, in the previous two decades over 31 million students have dropped out of college shortly after beginning their coursework. There are many…
Paranoia and Paternalism Fuel the Fight Against “Rape Culture”
For several years, colleges have been battling an alleged campus “rape culture.” Before taking their first class, almost half a million students are taught that 1 in 5 women will…
Study Only What You Want? Not If You Want to Be Successful
Recently, a general education course at UNC-Chapel Hill, “Big-Time College Sports,” was canceled. This sparked controversy after the course’s professor, Jay Smith, argued that the class, which he had taught…
Why Colleges Should Be Allowed to Limit Students’ Federal Loans
Student loan debt, now totaling roughly $1.3 trillion, is the second largest source of debt in the United States. This is especially concerning given that there are presently eight million people…
Graphic Novels Are Trending in English Departments, and That’s a Problem
Many English departments are now beginning to offer courses on graphic novels, which integrate text and visual imagery. Graphic novels are increasingly studied alongside traditional literature, in some cases supplanting…
How the Academy Is Failing Feminism
Christina Hoff Sommers, also known as YouTube’s “Factual Feminist,” spoke last Wednesday at UNC Chapel Hill. Her talk, titled “The Failures of Feminism,” was sponsored by the UNC College Republicans.…
Concerns Raised Over NC’s Dual Enrollment Program and Possible Community College Misconduct
Each year, roughly 1.4 million high school students take college courses. This is made possible by dual enrollment programs, which give those students opportunities to earn credits and work toward…