Editor

There’s a new push from the North Carolina Senate to legalize medical marijuana. Fasting students who observe Ramadan say they don’t get enough support from the University during exam season. A UNC club adapts tech and toys for special needs children. Instead of police, some 911 calls now may be handled by mental health professionals.This April Fools’ Day, one UNC class shows that clowning around is hard work. 

Undergraduate enrollment rates are decreasing across the country. A UNC program helps first generation college students find community and support on campus. A new UNC study suggests ways to combat child neglect. Student app developers promote gender diversity in the tech world. The North Carolina tradition of wood-cooked barbeque is declining, but some small businesses are determined not to let the fire die.

North Carolina legislators reach an agreement on Medicaid expansion, which could have profound effects on UNC hospitals, rural healthcare, and 600,000 uninsured North Carolinians. A shortage of Adderall is causing hardship for people with ADHD. A proposed new state law would require businesses to accept cash. Older students at UNC face unique challenges. The men’s basketball team nears the end of a disappointing season.

The Republican-controlled N.C. Senate passed a controversial bill related to parental influence over gender, sexuality, and the public school curriculum. Chapel Hill’s Turkish community raises money after catastrophic earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. UNC makes mental health care more convenient. Artificial intelligence blurs the line between the work of students and computers. UNC’s new women’s field hockey team reflects on her first week. Hundreds of runners wolfed down donuts for the annual Krispy Kreme challenge.

UNC plans a new School of Civic Life and Leadership to balance what some see as liberal bias on campus. A UNC lab is working to reduce the number of laced drugs on the streets. Governor Cooper bans TikTok on state-owned devices, but students haven’t stopped scrolling. UNC graduate Erin Matson will be the next field hockey coach– at age 22. A class brings storytelling to the School of Information and Library Science. UNC’s “Hugs and Pups” group has stopped giving hugs because of health concerns, but it’s still spreading a positive message.

Though UNC has been mask-optional for about a year, some students and faculty remain concerned about COVID-19. Inflation has started to fall, but local businesses still are feeling the pinch of higher prices.  The lunar new year ushers in celebrations and community across campus. A disputed local photography exhibit moves to the National Civil Rights Museum. A Genius Grant recipient leaves students starstruck. Bird watching hobbyists play a crucial role in conservation efforts.