Monday, Dec. 22: UNC faculty + Durham mayor + Faculty report
Monday, Dec. 22
Your local news briefing
5 Headlines You Should Know Today
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UNC faculty must post syllabi publicly starting January 15
Starting January 15, the UNC System will require all faculty to publicly post their syllabi, though schools have until Fall 2026 to launch searchable platforms. The policy, enacted quietly over winter break, includes specific requirements such as listing learning outcomes, grading scales, and required materials. Faculty must also include a disclaimer affirming diverse scholarly perspectives. Critics, including over 2,800 signatories of a faculty petition, say the move enables political scrutiny of curriculum. UNC System President Peter Hans says the change promotes transparency, but safety measures for faculty remain unspecified.
Faculty report rising fear, censorship across UNC campuses
Faculty across North Carolina’s public universities are increasingly concerned about threats to academic freedom. At a recent UNC Faculty Assembly meeting, all delegates said colleagues feared losing their jobs over classroom speech or personal social media posts. Leaders say this chilling effect has led to widespread self-censorship, especially among untenured and non-citizen professors. A recent resolution by the Faculty Assembly aims to define academic freedom more clearly, seeking to protect faculty from vague or politically driven reprisals. The UNC Board of Governors may take up the proposal as early as January.
Durham mayor denies misconduct allegation by former student
Durham Mayor Leo Williams is denying allegations made by a former Southern High School student, who accused him of inappropriate conduct during his time as a teacher. Marquise Covington, now 30, posted on Facebook this week that Williams showed him an inappropriate video when he was a junior. Williams, who taught in Durham Public Schools and was twice named Teacher of the Year, called the allegation “demonstrably untrue” and said he is prepared to fight what he described as defamatory claims.
Wake County Commission expands, 2026 races now set
Wake County is expanding its Board of Commissioners to nine members with two new at-large seats on the 2026 ballot. A 2023 state law now limits voters to candidates in their own district and the at-large race. Seven Democrats and two Republicans are running for the at-large seats in the March 3 primary, focusing on housing, education, and infrastructure. District 2, which includes Holly Springs and Fuquay-Varina, is the only district to be decided next November, when incumbent Democrat Safiyah Jackson will face Republican John Adcock.
Animate! Raleigh postponed amid Convention Center repairs
The Raleigh Convention Center’s recovery from a December 2 fire has led to the postponement of another major event. Animate! Raleigh, a fan convention celebrating animation and cartoons, will now take place March 13–15, 2026, instead of its original January dates. Organizers cited uncertainty around the center’s repair timeline as the reason. Ticket holders can opt to transfer passes to 2026 or 2027, or request a refund. Attendees keeping their tickets will also receive passes to GalaxyCon’s Nightmare Weekend in October 2026.
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