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.

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. 

Hurricane Melissa hits close to home for a UNC student with family in Jamaica. Citing thousands of dollars of squirrel damage to homes and vehicles, residents of a Durham subdivision want the city to regulate wildlife feeders. But the mayor says a proposed ordinance goes too far. Now that college athletes are getting paid, a UNC business class is helping them learn to save and spend wisely. Duke Chapel is commemorating Day of the Dead. A former UNC post-doc has won an award for photographing something that can barely be seen at all. UNC Pauper Players puts its own spin on the cult classic film The Rocky Horror Picture Show. 

North Carolina’s congressional districts get even more gerrymandered. Protesters say truth and public service at UNC are under attack. Skateboarders on campus say they have no place to shred. At UNC and Duke hospitals, an atypical therapy is helping patients. UNC students can get their hair cut in the Pit… for free. It’s time for the annual appearance of pumpkin spice … in seemingly every beverage we drink.

UNC’s annual First Amendment Day takes on new meaning this year as people on campus and around the country say their rights are threatened.  Losses on the field and controversies off the field lead to questions about Bill Belichick’s future at UNC. Online gamers are often exposed to extremist content, but some say the community should work together to challenge harmful beliefs. North Carolina’s first Buc-ee’s is coming in Mebane, but some residents worry it will reshape the area. Chapel Hill trail enthusiasts will soon see repairs to paths damaged by Tropical Storm Chantal. Some students are already at work making Halloween costumes.

UNC reinstates a controversial professor after investigating him for alleged “advocacy of politically motivated violence.” The investigation concluded that Professor Dwayne Dixon posed no threat and violated no university policies. The UNC Dental School pays tribute to student Deah Barakat, ten years after he, his wife, and his sister in law were murdered in a case that many consider a hate crime. Oxfam America ranks North Carolina the nation’s worst state for workers. Some big name athletes and coaches are helping expand UNC’s sports communication curriculum. And, we talk AI – how an upcoming UNC conference will examine the future of the technology in everyday life, and how a local artist uses it to re-imagine his work highlighting the power of the Latino community.

This is Hispanic Heritage Month, but celebrations feel different this year because of the Trump Administration’s immigration crackdown. Some campus organizations fear losing their identities because UNC has banned DEI. Coffee houses are taking a financial hit due to President Trump’s tariffs. Nature and art are coming together this fall at the North Carolina Botanical Garden. The Chapel Hill music scene gets jazzier. More than a year after some scenes were filmed on campus, “The Summer I Turned Pretty” continues to bring out crowds.

Schools across North Carolina are restricting cell phones in the classroom to comply with a new state ban. UNC considers an incentive plan to encourage employees to retire. Student organizations adjust to tighter budgets. It’s Muscadine season, and we step through a local farm for a history of North Carolina’s official state fruit. In PlayMakers’ latest production, “The Royale,” boxing is a metaphor for the psychological fight against racial injustice. The North Carolina Folk Festival uses music to send a message about community. 

Colleagues honor the life of late Professor Zijie Yan with a new memorial on campus. Computer science students worry about AI impacting their future. A local puppeteer group is back on stage after tropical storm Chantal destroyed much of their warehouse. Amateur and professional poets have a new place to workshop. The hiring of Bill Belichick has changed the football game day experience – for better or worse. 

Facing multiple lawsuits, The Trump Administration has restored the status of many international students who lost their visas, including at least five at UNC. Researchers at UNC say lifesaving studies are under threat due to federal funding cuts. Employers expect to hire fewer graduating seniors this year, and the class of 2025 is feeling the effects. Spiking property values in the Triangle could make it harder for residents of traditionally Black neighborhoods to keep their homes. A UNC English class has a unique final exam: writing and performing their own original songs.