Higher Education | 2004 Archive

RALEIGH—They were rebuffed for the second straight year for inclusion in Women’s Week at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill by the Carolina Women’s Center. Nevertheless, the pro-life student group Carolina Students for Life prevailed in ending the center’s ideological exclusion of them from its web site and programming. While those developments left abortion-rights activists on campus hopping mad — some arguing that being against abortion was essentially the same as being against women — the university leadership says the changes are consistent with UNC-CH’s commitment to openness and valuing all perspectives.

RALEIGH — The president of the N.C. Center for Applied Textile Technology created the appearance of a conflict of interest by accepting outside teaching jobs, State Auditor Ralph Campbell’s Office said in an investigative audit released in mid-April. The auditor’s office was asked to review the secondary employment of the center’s president, James Lemons, by the president of the State Community College System. While that review was in progress, additional allegations were reported through the state auditor’s hotline, but those allegations were not substantiated. The chairman and a majority of trustees of the center told auditors they were aware of the secondary employment, but some of them were not aware the classes met during regular working hours.

On Monday night, millions of North Carolinians went to bed worried that the General Assembly would let another day go by without trying to spend millions of their dollars. They needn’t have worried.

CHAPEL HILL—This fall UNC-Chapel Hill will offer a new academic minor: “sexuality studies.” Students who complete 12 hours’ worth of the interdisciplinary courses can receive a minor in sexuality studies. Some of the courses include a history course on “the history of sexuality in America” and a political science course on “the politics of sexuality.” UNC-CH is not alone among universities with a program in sexuality studies. A steadily growing number across the nation offers some form of sexuality or gender-study programs. Included in that list is Duke University, which has offered a program on sexuality studies since 1994.