N.C. Spin Host Tom Campbell turned the tables on UNC President Emeritus William C. "Bill" Friday Tuesday night at the N.C. State University Alumni Center. Friday usually does the interviewing on "North Carolina People with Bill Friday," but Campbell got Friday to agree to a videotaped interview to be used in conjunction with NC Spin's upcoming 599th and 600th programs. Friday is comfortably in the lead, by the way, with about 1,500 programs under his belt. Friday talked about public issues and controversial points in his 30 years as president of the UNC system as well as his unofficial work as the conscience of North Carolina since then. And he showed why people listen to him with several thought-provoking comments.
One with huge currency right now, given the headlines in this morning's Observer about CMS beginning to lay off 600 teachers, was his observation about how North Carolina's priorities are sometimes misplaced.
Noting that Gov. Bev Perdue had recently informed the state's teachers that there would be no money available in the upcoming year for salary raises, he said that as of yesterday, the taxpayers of North Carolina have spent a total of $25 million to subsidize the tuition costs of out-of-state athletes at UNC system campuses. The legislature decided in 2005 to allow athletic scholarships (and some academic scholarships as well) for out-of-state students to pay in-state tuition costs rather than the much higher out-of-state tuition costs. It saves athletics departments at UNC campuses a bundle – and costs taxpayers that same bundle.
There's something wrong with the policy of the state of North Carolina when it values out-of-state athletes so highly but the state's public school teachers so poorly, and everyone knows it. Point to Bill Friday.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
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10 comments:
Funny- this is the same guy that came UNIVITED to UNC Charlotte to rant & rave about how we shouldn't add football and should focus on academics. Funny how quickly his tune changes when the money benefits his beloved Heels. Glad I didn't know any better when I attended all my business classes in the "Friday" building or I would have likely changed my major.
The other poster is 100% correct. Mr. Friday saw it fit to try and stop Charlotte 49ers football efforts but yet he supports everything about this. Wonder why?
This says "UNC campuses," meaning that all of the schools in the system have benefited, not only "his beloved Heels." If you understood this, you argues in a way that suggested you didn't, Anon. #1.
Also, it is mentioned that this was passed by the state legislature. Let's just blame it on the government.
They don't just let Friday run around doing whatever he wants to because he's so mean and powerful. Research the good he has done before you bash the hell out of him. When you're a public "moral" figure like Friday, people tend to focus on your errors and unpopular ideas, rather than focus on what you have done well.
Anon 5:34
The two previous posters still have a valid point. While "everyone" of the UNC System campuses can use this in-state tuition, it clearly benefits those institutions that have lots of athletes (ie football programs) and lots of out of state recruits (ie Chapel Hill, NC State and maybe ECU and App). I seriously doubt anyone who thought this up was thinking of the last three when they did. Its a double standard I'd expect from Dick Spangler but not Friday.
Not limited to just athletes, all full scholarship students get this benefit, but more to the point all out of state students are subsidized an obscene amount by the taxpayers of North Carolina with out of state tuition far and away below any comparable institutions. Even so, the money isn't even the worse of it, they count as instate students for admission purposes also. Each out of state athlete displaces an academically qualified North Carolina kid.
Read the article, not guess what it says. Dr. Friday is against the subsidy, not for it.
He is correct that UNC schools, including UNCC and UNC-CH, spend more too many resources on sports instead of academics.
As a teacher myself, I completely agree with Friday. I wish more people thought like he did! Which is more important at the high school or college level... academics or athletics? I would have to say academics and I am a PE teacher but still feel that way.
Well the whole academics vs athletics arguement is nice and all but that boat sailed 115 years ago. Major universities must invest in both to attract recognition and donations. That's the way it is. An investment in athletics IS a long term investment in academics.
The boat on academics and athletics in this country's universities sailed over 115 years ago. Major universities must invest in both academics and athletics for the public recognition and investments they need to function. Luckly those that don't understand this can go to one of hundreds of small colleges that don't and leave the major Us and their major sports to those of us who do like such things together.
Thanks for the great post
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