AS ALLEGED UNC ATTACKER
IS CHARGED, REP. FOUSHEE
WANTS UNC TO COME CLEAN
ON OTHER RACIAL INCIDENTS
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
As the suspect in the UNC-Chapel Hill late August Black student gathering is finally released from a mental facility and charged with two misdemeanors for threatening and assaulting several students, Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (D-4-NC) has written UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts, inquiring about several other racially motivated incidents, and what safety measures are being implemented in their aftermath.
Police have now arrested and charged Keegan Carlisle Wilson, a 45-year-old UNC alum with disorderly conduct and simple assault for allegedly crashing a late August gathering of 80 to 100 Black UNC students in Greenlaw Hall who were watching “Love Island” on campus. Wilson allegedly chased students with a sharp object and a “homemade flamethrower” made from a spray can and lighter. He also allegedly pushed several students and used hate speech during his rants.
The night of the alleged incidents, Wilson was immediately involuntarily committed to a nearby mental facility, finally released on Sept. 16th when he was charged. On Friday, Sept. 18, secured bond was set at $10,000 for Wilson, who was also banned from the UNC campus and not allowed to contact the victims in the case. Wilson’s mother had reportedly told the Raleigh News & Observer that he had missed several days of his medication for the bipolar disorder he suffers from.
The court found Wilson to be indigent and that he is also facing a breaking and entering charge and violation of a domestic violence protective order against his 75-year-old adoptive mother.
Wilson’s next hearing will be Sept. 23rd in the Orange County courthouse in Hillsborough.
Fourth District Congresswoman Valerie Foushee, however, has apparently heard enough. In a Sept. 18th letter to UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts she asked how the university was being more proactive to prevent these kinds of racially motivated incidents from occurring in the first place.
Referring to “significant outreach” from UNC students regarding what steps are being taken to keep them safer on campus, the congresswoman inquired about concerns involving the campus wide alert system, and why it wasn’t activated in a timely fashion after the Black student “Love Island” attack.
Foushee also asked about “an act of racial harassment” towards members of the UNC Taiwanese Student AssocIation, where, according to The Daily Tar Heel, “…a group of white men knuckle-walked and made monkey gestures during a campus tour led by the organization. The email also addressed an act of antisemitism experienced by a Jewish student on campus.”
Students had grown frustrated with the administration’s delay in responding to their concerns about these incidents.
In a response to Rep. Foushee’s letter, a university spokesperson issued the following statement:
“Protecting the safety and well-being of our campus community remains a critical priority for UNC Police and all University leaders,” the spokesperson wrote. “We’ll continue to provide support, and we’re committed to working with students and the community at large to advance violence-prevention education and other programming.”
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NORTH CAROLINA IS
RANKED 44TH STATE
FOR TEACHERS TO WORK
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
When it comes to what state in the nation teachers would prefer to work in compared to other locations, North Carolina ranks 44th out of 50, according to results of a new national survey.
Based on a new study from Wallethub, when it comes to attractiveness to teach, educators prefer Virginia at #3, and South Carolina at #24 to North Carolina, considered close to the bottom of the list.
24 metrics across two categories were used to determine what states were most desirable to teach in - opportunity and competition, and academic and work environment. A score of 70% was given the first category, while 30% was given the second category by Wallethub.
In North Carolina’s case, Wallethub analyst Chip Lupo said, long-term earning potential was the primary reason why the state scored so low. "North Carolina, again, middle of the pack in starting average salaries, but way below par, 49th out of 51 in that income growth," Lupo said.
And that wasn’t all. When it came to projected teacher turnover, North Carolina was also prominent in that too.
"North Carolina's 43rd in that at about 11.5%," Lupo said. "So teachers are gonna be, if they're staying in the profession, they're gonna be looking at greener pastures,” Lupo maintained.
Reportedly, both Virginia and South Carolina place an emphasis on teacher retention.
If there’s one bright spot for North Carolina in the Wallethub survey, it’s that it was completed before salary increases for teachers were implemented by the state legislature. Observers say improving working conditions and benefits would go a long way towards improving teacher retention in North Carolina.
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