Cooper calls for education reform, “common ground” in first State of the State address

North Carolina Gov. Roy A. Cooper (D-Nash) rebuked a general lack of legislative cooperation by Republican lawmakers during his first State of the State address, March 13. As the newly-elected governor, Cooper laid out his long-term vision for a smarter, more sustainable Tarheel state. In an attempt to promote bipartisan cooperation among the state’s General […]

University police: “Community relations a two-way street”

University police departments from Cullowhee to Wilmington came together Wednesday evening, Feb. 22, for a town hall meeting aimed at improving officer-student relations. The meeting, hosted by the North Carolina Central University School of Law via conference software, invited officers and students from all 17 UNC System schools to discuss evolving issues in law enforcement. […]

Area nonprofits look to provide oasis for ‘food desert’ inhabitants

Mountain organizations are raising awareness for an issue that plagues nearly every North Carolina community, yet often goes ignored. An open discussion in Asheville, entitled “WNC Food Deserts & Food Policy,” centered around the concept of “food deserts,” and how a growing tally of Tarheel families, particularly rural ones, are finding themselves isolated from a […]

Rethinking the American Dream

The American Dream is still alive. But English may no longer be its first language. Just ask Dr. Farzaneh Razzaghi, dean of library services at WCU’s Hunter Library. “If there is one thing that people like me truly value, and there are hundreds of things, but if there is one thing that is valued the […]

WCU students fight for equality at historic demonstration

As WCU junior Joanna Woodson boarded a transport van to Washington, D.C. just after dawn on the morning of Jan. 20, Inauguration Day, she knew that her destination would be teeming with “nasty women” on a mission to make their voices heard. She didn’t know that 24 hours later, her group of 11 activists would […]

MLK Week Unity March calls for justice, solidarity

“Speak up! Be heard!” Addressing a growing crowd gathering in the Western Carolina University courtyard on Jan.16, senior Norman Falls implored those around him to raise their voices in boldness. “No justice, no peace!” Over 100 voices answered his call. Now they were louder, intensity rising with each iteration of the battle-stained slogan. They wore placards […]