OP Editors's blog

Tensions can run high in local issues, but lately the state of discourse has reached a sad low. When being the loudest person in the room and the most passionate advocate for your opinion becomes the objective at a public meeting, it’s a sign of a broken dialogue and a complete breakdown in civility.

Our state of uncivil discourse has been a long time coming. In Chapel Hill, the discussions around Ephesus-Fordham, Central West, Obey Creek, Charterwood, and other planning processes and developments foreshadowed where we are today, with outbursts, disruptions, and other tactics being used to derail conversations and suppress diverse viewpoints and opinions. Now, in Carrboro, discussions about the construction of a multi-use path from Winmore/the Landings on Homestead Road to Chapel Hill High School have seen a return to a lack of civility.

There are a growing number of departments and colleges at UNC-Chapel Hill that have taken a stand against HB2. Their statements affirm the value of all staff and students, note that they stand by UNC’s non-discrimination policy that includes gender identity and sexual orientation. Many call for the repeal of HB2. Below are those statements available now. More will be added as they become available.

UNC-CH Women’s & Gender Studies Department

http://womensstudies.unc.edu/statement-from-the-department-of-wgst-faculty-regarding-nc-house-bill-2/

UNC School of Law:

http://www.law.unc.edu/faculty/directory/eichnermaxine/

AND

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1524808561158447/permalink/1526361784336458/

It's Primary Day. We vote today in primaries for Orange County Board of Commissioners for District 1, District 2, and At-Large. Orange County voters are also voting to fill seats on their Board of Education.

Did you vote early? 

What are you seeing out there when you vote today?

What are your predictions?