"And while some days in news — well, actually a lot of days — are long and tiresome, working with many talented and wonderful people at the DTH has given me hope for the future of journalism and the world."
There is now a record $1.1 billion worth of UNC maintenance backlogged — deferred until the University has available funds. Specifically, $357 million in HVAC, $82 million in plumbing, $70 million in fire protection and $47 million in elevators and lifts maintenance awaits funding.
Hamilton Hall has two of the most unreliable elevators on campus. Eleanor Bolton, a sophomore studying political science, has been unable to attend some events for her major in Hamilton Hall due to the elevators often being out of service. This is one example of the reality many students, faculty and staff who use wheelchairs or have mobility issues face on campus. "The lack of empathy and humanity with which the problems are being addressed is just completely harmful," Bolton said. "To be told by administrators over and over and over again, 'We're doing our best' when their best is completely illegal and a violation of my human civil rights is just so unbelievable."
Detectable levels of lead have now been discovered in at least one fixture of 125 buildings on UNC’s campus, with 27 having a sample above the Environmental Protection Agency's action threshold of 15 parts per billion.
Bryan Stevenson, public interest lawyer, author of bestselling memoir "Just Mercy" and founder of the the Alabama-based Equal Justice Initiative, will be the keynote speaker at UNC's spring 2023 Commencement on May 14.
On Nov. 18, the University and three Kenan-Flagler Business School professors filed motion to dismiss Angelica Rose Brown’s discrimination lawsuit. Brown's initial lawsuit was filed in August.
Lead has been detected in at least one fixture of 61 buildings on UNC’s campus, as of data released November 15. Avery Residence Hall and the building that houses Campus Health join 18 other buildings in having at least one fixture that tested above the Environmental Protection Agency’s threshold of 15 parts per billion (ppb), requiring water systems to take remedial action.
On Monday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments regarding a case against UNC-Chapel Hill that could affect the fate of affirmative action — especially relating to considerations of race in college admissions. The lawsuit, filed in 2014 by Students for Fair Admissions, Inc., alleged that the University's admissions processes violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The Court is expected to release its decision on the case next year.
Spencer Residence Hall, Carrington Hall and Wilson Library have all had multiple fixtures with lead levels above the Environmental Protection Agency’s threshold of 15 parts per billion which requires water systems to take remedial action. George Battle, vice chancellor for institutional integrity and risk management, said that testing has been completed in over 30 buildings. Over 20 more are scheduled to be tested for lead this week. “We're taking a really aggressive approach in terms of just making sure out of an abundance of caution, we want to reassure our campus community that their health and safety is paramount for us,” Battle said.
Lead has been detected in 57 of 84 in-room sinks in Spencer Residence Hall, according to a notification sent to residents Tuesday obtained by The Daily Tar Heel. The results ranged from 1.1 parts per billion to 34.6 ppb. Only three of the sinks had lead levels above the Environmental Protection Agency's threshold of 15 ppb requiring water systems to take action.
Tai Huynh, a UNC senior and town council candidate, held a Q&A on Wednesday.
