November 2025 Archives

Carolina Connection – Nov. 15, 2025

November 15, 2025 Editor

Students are bracing to pay more to attend UNC after the Board of Trustees approves the first tuition increase in years. Zohran Mamdani’s historic win in New York City’s mayoral race is inspiring Muslims in Chapel Hill. A lot of people at UNC are trying to fight food insecurity – and so are some tiny insects. Dancers on campus say they don’t have enough places to pirouette or tap. People are going to DIx Park in Raleigh to see trolls made from trash.

Former UNC post-doc wins prize for photographing things we can’t see

November 14, 2025 Andrew Sellers

Maik Bischoff recently won an honorable mention in the Nikon Small World in Motion competition. He photographed fly testis. How did he do it? And why do they look at flies at all?

For the first time in years, UNC is raising tuition for in-state and out-of-state students

November 14, 2025 Brooks Stevenson, Emmy Berger and Reyna Drake

The UNC Board of Trustees voted Thursday to raise tuition three percent for in-state students and ten percent for out-of-state.

Zohran Mamdani gives a speech in front of a crowd.

Far away from New York City, the effects of Zohran Mamdani’s election are being felt in Chapel Hill

November 14, 2025 Andrew Sellers

Zohran Mamdani will be the first Muslim to hold the role of New York City’s mayor. Though controversial, Mamdani is inspiring Muslim Americans far beyond New York.

Following the example of their prized insects, beekeepers are helping provide students with food

November 14, 2025 Emmy Berger

The UNC Beekeeping club is selling honey produced by their on campus hives and donating all proceeds to the Carolina Cupboard campus food pantry to help address food insecurity.

Dance groups say UNC doesn’t have enough studio space for them to meet and rehearse

November 14, 2025 Gracie Durham

Without a formal dance program, UNC’s student dance groups are struggling to find rehearsal space and recognition. Club leaders say the growing interest in dance on campus isn’t being met with university support.

Disney is building a huge neighborhood in Pittsboro. Not everybody is enchanted with the plans.

November 14, 2025 Brooks Stevenson

Storyliving by Disney plans to build a 1500 acre development called Asteria in Pittsboro, stirring both excitement about economic benefits and concern about environmental impacts on the Haw River.

At Raleigh’s Dix Park, a Danish artist has turned trash into trolls

November 14, 2025 Marguerite Stouse

International recycled materials artist Thomas Dambo is bringing the Raleigh community together through the construction of five larger-than-life wooden trolls.

Carolina Connection – Nov. 8, 2025

November 8, 2025 Editor

Food pantries are overwhelmed as the Trump Administration holds back SNAP benefits during the government shutdown. Democrats had a surprisingly strong election this week, but a political expert warns against drawing long-term conclusions from the results. UNC has limited access to a lounge that students of color have used for over fifty years – leaving some feeling alienated. UNC’s schools of library science and data science are merging – leading to concerns that the library side will be overshadowed. A local group is trying to build community through woodturning.

Carolina Connection podcast: Giant trolls in Dix Park spread a message about nature and sustainability

November 7, 2025 Marguerite Stouse and Maddie Policastro

On the latest edition of the Carolina Connection podcast, Maddie Policastro and Marguerite Stouse dive into a new art installation in Raleigh’s Dix Park. Thomas Dambo and his massive wooden trolls have invaded the park, spreading their mission of sustainability and community through the Triangle. Dambo is an international recycled material artist and has recruited local volunteers in building these five wooden trolls. Marguerite took to the park to understand the community Dambo fosters, and she got a first hand experience of what building these whimsical creatures looks like.