Editor

After Donald Trump’s election, local clinicians are reporting a spike in demand for long-term contraceptives. In advance of the second Trump administration, students from immigrant families are also preparing for what lies ahead. Students are using Artificial Intelligence for almost everything in college – and professors are trying to keep up. UNC is raising student fees, but a lot of people are happy about how the money will be spent. Instead of Thanksgiving, Indigenous Americans counter popular narratives during Truthsgiving.

Student activists are strategizing ways to approach climate change and labor rights after Donald Trump’s election. The UNC Rowing team is bonding after a thief steals their vital equipment. Helene makes it harder for high school seniors in Western North Carolina to apply for college. A non-profit organization supports North Carolina women with cancer. The student-run Meantime Coffee Company opens a second location. 

The UNC community reacts to President-Elect Donald Trump’s victory, and we hear from both students and experts as they try to make sense of election results. While the nation was gripped by politics, western North Carolina is still recovering from Helene; we’ll hear how a college radio station is keeping its community informed. UNC has eased restrictions on the campus Y that were put in place during the pro-Palestinian protests this spring, but students say the culture in the building has changed. A local group is working to make sure North Carolina is still a welcome stop for migratory birds.

On Carolina Connection’s election preview: Presidential candidates descend on North Carolina, taking their final swing at swing state voters. Candidates are trying to win your vote both in traditional and new ways – from old fashioned rallies to trending podcasts and live streams. We speak with young voters concerned with an issue candidates aren’t talking about. And are you petrified by the presidential race? You are not alone.

At a Carrboro campaign event for Kamala Harris, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff said Harris is the candidate who actually cares about young people. The UNC System is working with fire departments to dispose of toxic chemicals in firefighting foams. A UNC expert says the aftermath of Helene shows the difficulty of preparing for inland storms. The N.C. State Fair offers new and exciting attractions including Pickled Dr Pepper. A Carrboro staple offers an unorthodox place for students to get their Halloween costumes. 

Lee Roberts is installed as UNC’s permanent chancellor, attracting both praise and protest. An advocacy group is calling on Gov. Cooper to commute the sentences of North Carolina’s death row inmates. The presidential candidates target North Carolina as a vital swing state. A new Orange County initiative hopes to reduce overdoses and aid in recovery. A Carolina alum and Emmy-nominated actor is an eager mentor for aspiring Tar Heel performers. A UNC group brings freestyle rap to campus.

College students in western North Carolina aren’t sure what will come next after the devastation of Helene. An appeals court ruling could make it harder for many UNC students to vote. As UNC gets ready to install Lee Roberts as chancellor, some students are questioning his lack of academic experience.  A university initiative hopes to make home ownership more accessible. For people who are colorblind, the Ackland now offers a new way to enjoy great works of art.

UNC experts say destructive storms like Helene are becoming more severe. The UNC system has abolished its DEI efforts, which has led to what some students call a less diverse campus. A proposed N.C. constitutional amendment would clarify that non-citizens can’t vote, but critics say it isn’t necessary. Some UNC fraternity members are disappointed about how organizers of “Flagstock” spent the half-million dollars they raised from GoFundMe. The Good Neighbor Initiative helps build bridges between UNC students who live off campus and their neighbors. The Ackland Art Museum is hiring its first full time art conservator.

Some UNC students are skeptical about the upcoming election, but campus leaders are hoping to boost voter turnout. Reports that Republican N.C. governor candidate Mark Robinson made lewd online comments shows that the internet can be a harsh world for politicians. Another political candidate fights for the right to take selfies with your ballot. A campus protest for Palestine leads to vandalism –- and more campus tension. UNC Campus Safety put on their pirate hats to host an emergency preparedness festival. 

A year after a fatal shooting on campus, some students are calling for more action against gun violence. UNC has disbanded its DEI programs, but administrators say they still want every student to feel welcome.  Republicans are trying to prevent students from using digital OneCards as voter IDs. Carolina Connection takes a stroll down Franklin Street, where one longtime store is leaving, and other small business owners are worried about competition from chains.