DTH at a Glance: Pressed to protest

Happy Tuesday, UNC! We have a lot of stories about protests for you today, from gun violence and school safety to appreciation of the arts to policies at Duke:

QUICK HITS

• College students and professionals alike take advantage of ridesharing to get to and from work, the grocery store or a late night out. But more competition for rides, negative attention in the news and common misconceptions about riders have had their impact on the industry. 
• Junior UNC men’s basketball forward Luke Maye announced yesterday that he will enter the 2018 NBA draft process without hiring an agent.
• “They value only the appearance of caring about art.” Students marched from the Hanes Art Center across campus in order to protest the lack of attention the school has paid to the Art Department. 

HIGHER ED

• In the wake of the March for Our Lives movement and calls for safer schools, Governor Roy Cooper has proposed a $130 million plan to improve building security and address mental health of students. Twenty million dollars are allocated to the UNC system. 
• Civil rights, sports, an explosion at one of UNC’s most iconic landmarks — 201718 was quite a year to be a Tar Heel. We created a list of the top 12 stories affecting the University this year. 
• “Had they approached me with their concerns, I certainly would have been willing to speak with them.” Duke’s Office of Student Conduct has dropped its investigation into the student protest against university policies during President Vincent Price’s alumni weekend address. 

PEOPLE AND PLACES

• Senior Caroline Alcorta has had quite the run in her cross country career. Despite being small and sustaining injury, Alcorta has always been able to be ahead or make a comeback, exhibiting pure determination and strength in all areas of her life. 
• We talked to New York Times best-selling novelist Melissa de la Cruz about her new, Alexander Hamilton-inspired book “Love and War: An Alex and Eliza Story,” successes, future plans and advice for aspiring writers. 
• The students in ARTS 515: Advanced Photography have a variety of different passions. Their "people | place | perception" photo exhibition gives them an opportunity to capture and share what they care about, including ballet and the gentrification of Fort Bragg.