Media

Nationwide, university workers are fighting for their workplace safety amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Explore local and national coverage of organizing efforts below.

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Are you a UNC System worker interested in speaking to a member of the media to share your story about your campus' Fall 2020 plans? Let us know here: link.

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If you are a member of the press looking to connect with workers for a story about UNC System campus plans to reopen, email us. We have campus workers, graduate workers, and faculty who are willing to speak to reporters.

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Press releases

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• "Class Action Complaint: Jermany Alston et al. vs. The University of North Carolina System" (August 10)

• "NCSU Workers Housekeepers Deliver Demands" (August 4)

• "UNC Workers Rally for Campus Safety" (July 30)

• "UNC Workers Day of Action Press Release" (July 16)

• "University Workers COVID-19 Town Hall Press Release" (July 14)

• "AAUP Joins Amicus Brief Opposing DHS Directive" (July 14)

• "UE Campus Workers Demand Safe Jobs" (July 4)

• "NC-AAUP to NC Leaders: Protect the CORE of Our Higher Education Institutions" (May 29)

• "Local 150 Launches “Safe Jobs Save Lives” Campaign, Fights for Essential Workers’ Safety" (May 26)

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North Carolina media coverage 

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Coverage of UNC System workers and universities:​​​

• "UNC System president to “weigh the best course” for each system school following COVID-19 outbreaks", NC Policy Watch (August 21)

• "Granville Towers has 102 positive cases of COVID-19 — 10.8 percent of residents",The Daily Tar Heel (August 21)

• "NC urges all students living at three UNC student housing complexes to get tested for virus", WRAL (August 21)

• "UNC-Chapel Hill reconsiders daily COVID-19 reports, withdrawal deadline and time off for students", NC Policy Watch (August 21)

• "Report: 102 COVID-19 Cases Among UNC’s Granville Towers Residents", Chapelboro News (August 21)

• "N.C. State moves all undergraduate courses online as COVID-19 infections continue",

• "N.C. State becomes second UNC System school to pivot to an online fall semester", The Greensboro News & Record (August 20)

• "Students scramble to move out, arrange online coursework — all while classes continue", The Daily Tar Heel (August 20)

• "NC State moves undergraduate classes online as COVID-19 cases increase on campus", WNCN (August 20)

• "UNC begins COVID-19 testing after 'rapid increase' in virus cases", WRAL (August 20)

• "UNC System President Peter Hans Blames Students for Situation He Could Have Stopped", INDY Week (August 20)

• "UNC System president blames students for fall reopening failures at UNC and N.C. State", The Daily Tar Heel (August 20)

• "UNC extends suspension of athletics, will begin COVID-19 testing at 3 residence halls", The News & Observer (August 20)

• "NC State to move undergraduate classes online after new COVID-19 cases, clusters reported", The News & Observer (August 20)

• "UNC-Chapel Hill pauses undergraduate classes until Wednesday to allow students to "catch their breath", WTVD (August 20)

• "Records from before reopening show experts warned UNC of COVID-19 outbreaks", The Daily Tar Heel (August 20)

• "UNC System president blames students for fall reopening failures at UNC and N.C. State", The Daily Tar Heel (August 20)

• "One week out from the start of classes, first-years say their goodbyes", The Daily Tar Heel (August 19)

• "Charlotte college students speak out after UNC-Chapel Hill makes the decision to switch to virtual learning", WCNC (August 19)

• "COVID-19 clusters reported at N.C. State, App State and ECU as UNC System continues to grapple with infections", NC Policy Watch (August 19)

• "Carrboro Town Council expresses concern over COVID-19 outbreaks", The Daily Tar Heel (August 19)

• "UNC athletics extends suspension through Friday due to coronavirus",The Daily Tar Heel (August 19)

• "UNC Continues to Fall Apart with Two More Coronavirus Outbreaks Announced, Athletics Suspended", INDY Week (August 19)

• "UNC Employees Sue For Workplace Safety as Coronavirus Cases Rise", WHQR (August 18)

• "Some UNC Charlotte students concerned about plan to open year with in-person learning", WBTV (August 18)

• "On-campus students ask 'what happens next' to Carolina Housing", The Daily Tar Heel (August 18)

• "Students and faculty adjust as hands-on lab classes go remote", The Daily Tar Heel (August 18)

• "Chapel Hill tells UNC leaders to take responsibility for students’ off-campus behavior", The News & Observer (August 18)

• "UNC-Chapel Hill Provost on failed reopening plan: 'I don’t apologize for trying'", NC Policy Watch  (August 18)

• "UNC Charlotte assessing options as two N.C. colleges move undergrads to remote learning due to COVID-19", WBTV (August 17) 

• "'I don't apologize for trying,' Blouin says as University rolls back reopening plans", The Daily Tar Heel (August 17)

• "App State faculty votes 'no confidence' in Chancellor Sheri Everts", NC Policy Watch (August 17)

• "UNC-Chapel Hill moves online as it sees 135 positive tests in one week, quarantine capacity at 5.5%", NC Policy Watch (August 17)

• "UNC-Chapel Hill moves all classes online after 130 more students infected with COVID-19", The News & Observer (August 17)

• "After a Week of COVID-19 Outbreaks, UNC-Chapel Hill Is Moving to Remote Classes", INDY Week (August 17)

• "'Half-step behind': How UNC is distributing community protective equipment", The Daily Tar Heel  (August 17)

• "UNC reports 135 new cases of COVID-19, only four rooms are left in its quarantine dorm", The Daily Tar Heel (August 17)

• "Students 'surprised, not shocked' UNC-Chapel Hill moving classes online", WRAL (August 17)

• "As Chapel Hill shifts classes online, what’s next for NC State and rest of UNC System?", The News & Observer (August 17)

• "As COVID clusters mount, university dashboards provide incomplete and outdated information", NC Policy Watch (August 17)

• "Editorial: We all saw this coming", The Daily Tar Heel  (August 17)

• "UNC Dean of School of Public Health on return to campus: “Time to take the off-ramp", NC Policy Watch (August 17)

• "ECU identifies COVID-19 cluster at residence hall", WITN (August 17)

• "After fourth COVID-19 cluster students, prominent faculty and medical experts call for UNC-Chapel Hill to go online", NC Policy Watch (August 17)

• "UNC faculty call special meeting as fourth COVID-19 cluster among students reported", The News & Observer (August 16)

• "UNC student says he’s moving home, others react to 4th COVID-19 cluster in 3 days", WNCN  (August 16)

• "Alert Carolina confirms fourth COVID-19 cluster, in Hinton James", The Daily Tar Heel  (August 16)

• "Breaking down UNC's COVID-19 dashboard", The Daily Tar Heel  (August 16) 

• "Where are the COVID-19 cases on UNC's campus?", The Daily Tar Heel  (August 16) 

• "UNC community members write letters asking for accountability, protection",The Daily Tar Heel  (August 16) 

• "Fourth cluster of coronavirus reported in UNC student housing", WRAL (August 16)

• "COVID-19 case cluster confirmed at Sigma Nu fraternity house", The Daily Tar Heel  (August 15)

• "PW Exclusive: After COVID-19 clusters, UNC-Chapel Hill Faculty Chair appeals for local decision on in-person instruction, dorms", NC Policy Watch (August 15)

• "Two clusters of COVID-19 infections in student housing at UNC-Chapel Hill", NC Policy Watch  (August 14)

• "The reopening picture at this UNC campus is not a pretty one", NC Policy Watch (August 13)

• "App State Faculty Senate to hold 'no confidence' vote on chancellor as pandemic opening concerns mount", NC Policy Watch (August 13)

• "As Campuses Reopen, Workers Sue The UNC System Over Safety Concerns", WUNC (August 12)

• "UNC kicks students out of dorms, off-campus residents warned, after COVID-19 violations", The News & Observer (August 12)

• "COVID-19 cases at ECU nearly triple in one week", WITN (August 12) 

• "Party with 400 people shut down during students’ first weekend back at ECU, cops say", The News & Observer (August 12)

• "Greenville police shut down party of 400 students at ECU", WRAL (August 12)
• "Editorial: You spoke. The University didn't listen.", The Daily Tar Heel (August 12)

• "UNC System Employees File Lawsuit Seeking Safe Working Conditions During Pandemic", WUNC (August 11)

• "Orange County's health recommendations 'more of a personal communication,' Blouin says", The Daily Tar Heel (August 11)

• "9 cases of coronavirus at UNCP in Robeson County", WPDE (August 11)

• "UNC System faces lawsuit over unsafe working conditions in pandemic", NC Policy Watch (August 11)

• "UNC-Chapel Hill provost defends withholding county health department pandemic recommendations", NC Policy Watch (August 11)

• "UNC System employees file lawsuit over COVID-19 concerns", WCTI (August 11)

• "UNC System Employees Sue Over Working Conditions, Request Online Classes", Chapelboro News (August 11)

• "NC State Is NOT Coronavirus Safe", Nubian Message (August 10)

• "Campus workers sue UNC System, claiming unsafe working conditions during pandemic", The News & Observer (August 10)

• "Campus workers file lawsuit against UNC system regarding COVID-19", WNCN (August 10)

• "Lawsuit claims UNC System faculty & staff at increased COVID risk by returning to campuses", WITN (August 10)

• "'Uncharted territory’: Graduate workers express fears about teaching this semester", The Daily Tar Heel (August 9)

• "UNC employees sue the University system over workplace safety", The Daily Tar Heel (August 9)

• "Students, faculty, campus workers hold die-in to protest UNC's campus reopening", The Daily Tar Heel (August 9)

• "Orange County took a strong stance on UNC reopening. What do Wake and Durham think?", The News & Observer (August 7)

• "UNC Sorority Girls Seen Partying off Campus Before Classes Begin", INDY Week (August 6)

• "PW Exclusive: UNC System creating all-campus COVID-19 dashboard not open to public", NC Policy Watch  (August 6)

• "Unions call for county health directors to shut down in-person instruction at UNC schools in pandemic", NC Policy Watch  (August 6)

• "N.C. State Housekeepers Demand Shorter Hours, More PPE", Spectrum Local News (August 5)

• "Orange County health director wants UNC to delay in-person classes for at least 5 weeks", The News & Observer (August 5)

• "Orange County health director calls for UNC to go fully remote for at least five weeks", The Daily Tar Heel (August 5)

• "Chair of UNC-CH faculty: “a serious breach of trust” campus not aware of Orange County health recommendation", NC Policy Watch (August 5)

• "UNC students concerned after video surfaces of crowded sorority rush party", WNCN (August 5)

• "'This road leads to a disaster': Faculty express reopening concerns in letters", The Daily Tar Heel (August 4)

• "Uncertainties grow as UNC Chapel Hill students and workers return to campus", WRAL (August 4)

• "Campus workers delivered demands to University officials. Their deadline just passed.", The Daily Tar Heel (August 3)

• "Despite The Pandemic, Students Return To Full Dorms Across UNC System", Blue Ridge Public Radio (August 3)

• "UNC-Chapel Hill students move into dorms amid COVID-19 concerns and campus protests", The News & Observer  (August 3)

• "UNC Launches Coronavirus Tracker, More Than 100 Students Already Test Positive", Chapelboro News (August 3)

• "Despite The Pandemic, Students Return To Full Dorms Across UNC System", WUNC  (August 3)

• "UNC-Chapel Hill launches COVID-19 dashboard, shows 173 infections as students return to dorms this week", North Carolina Policy Watch (August 3)

• "UNC student commission resolution: ‘All courses must be offered virtually'", The Daily Tar Heel  (August 2)

• "UNC-Chapel Hill Commission: too many hurdles for return to campus in pandemic", North Carolina Policy Watch (August 1)

• "UNC System releases report on “worst case” budget cut scenarios", North Carolina Policy Watch (August 1)

• "Housekeepers at NC universities worry about safety as students move back into dorms", The News & Observer (July 31)

• "UNC not releasing ‘worst case scenario’ budget proposals", North Carolina Policy Watch (July 31)

• "UNC faculty urge Chapel Hill students to “stay home” in COVID-19 letter. Here’s why.", The Charlotte Observer  (July 30)

• "UNC-Chapel Hill's Office for Diversity and Inclusion Say They Weren't Included in Reopening Plans", INDY Week  (July 30)

• "UNC Faculty, Staff Prepare Lawsuit to Delay In-Person Classes", Spectrum Local News (July 29)

• "WCU Athletes And Staff Test Positive For COVID-19 As Students Move In", Blue Ridge Public Radio (July 29)

• "These North Carolina colleges and universities reported COVID-19 cases on campus", The News & Observer (July 29)

• "UNC Housing Plan Falls in CDC’s ‘Highest Risk’ Tier of COVID-19 Spread", Chapelboro News (July 28) 

• "Some UNC students worried about COVID-19 during return to campus", WNCN  (July 27)

• "UNC community expresses concern over Greek life compliance to fall guidelines", The Daily Tar Heel (July 24)

• "Black student leaders discuss their opposition to fully reopening campus", The Daily Tar Heel  (July 24)

• "UNC Housekeeping Staff Rally, Deliver Petition for More Safety Protocols", Chapelboro News  (July 23)

• "UNC System will not change tuition and fees, waives testing requirements for 2021", The Daily Tar Heel (July 23)

• "Western Carolina Faculty And Staff Voice COVID-19 Concerns, Prepare For Fall Semester", Blue Ridge Public Radio (July 22)

• "Budget Cuts, Health Risks Loom For UNC System Campuses And Workers", WUNC (July 22)

• "'Not just about the students:' UNC housekeepers petition for more COVID-19 safety measures as students return to campus", WTVD (July 22)

• "Who will be notified when a student at UNC, NCSU or Duke tests positive for COVID-19?", The News & Observer (July 22)

• "UNC schools begin responding to potential budget cuts of up to 50 percent", NC Policy Watch (July 21)

• "UNC-Chapel Hill Faculty Chair to UNC Board of Governors: 'Allow decision-making at the local level' on COVID-19 pandemic", NC Policy Watch (July 21)

• "Letter urges white tenured faculty to strike at UNC-Chapel Hill over return during COVID-19 pandemic", NC Policy Watch (July 21)

• "Essential NC workers take issue with pay and work conditions: Demonstrations and demands for better treatment.", The Charlotte Post  (July 20)

• "'Safe jobs save lives': University faculty and staff demand safer conditions for fall", The Daily Tar Heel (July 19)

• "UNC campuses must submit plans for 50% budget cuts as COVID-19 worst case scenario", The News and Observer (July 18)

• "UNC Chancellor signals plan to bring students back to campus may have to change", WRAL (July 17)

• "PW exclusive: UNC System exploring worst-case scenario budget cuts of up to 50%", North Carolina Policy Watch (July 17)

• "UNC System workers on dangers of return in COVID-19 pandemic: 'They’re showing us what they feel about us.'", North Carolina Policy Watch (July 17)

• "Staff, students hold town hall to voice concerns over UNC System reopening schools during pandemic", WNCN (July 17)

• "WCU students up in arms over 2020-21 housing agreement", The Western Carolinian  (July 16)

• "UNC student starts petition to cancel in-person classes​", North Carolina Policy Watch (July 16)

• "College students question wisdom of returning to campus during a pandemic", WRAL (July 15)

• "ECU suspends all athletic activities after 27 positive COVID-19 cases", WTVD (July 15)

• "New COVID outbreaks at UNC system schools lead to growing concern about return to campuses", North Carolina Policy Watch (July 14)

• "UNC System Essential Workers Organize COVID-19 Town Hall To Voice Safety Concerns", Spectacular Magazine (July 14)

• "New UNC student survey gives insight into concerns, safety measures for return to campus", North Carolina Policy Watch (July 14)

• "ECU pauses athletics after more than 2 dozen people test positive for COVID-19", The News & Observer  (July 14)

• "Faculty asks UNC System to move all classes online during COVID-19 pandemic", WNCN (July 13)

• "UNC System facing pressure to protect international students, move Fall courses online", North Carolina Policy Watch (July 13)

• "As UNC campuses prepare to bring students back, some faculty fear that it will backfire", The News & Observer (July 13)

• "Charlotte 49ers report that 5 of 374 tests of those back on campus are positive for coronavirus", WBTV (July 13)

• "North Carolina A&T reports 4 student-athletes test positive for coronavirus", WXII (July 13)

• "Foreign students in NC fear online classes mean deportation", The Virginia Pilot (July 12)

• "Concerns mount in Chapel Hill over prospect of students returning to UNC amid pandemic", WRAL (July 10)

• "UNC System Faculty and Students Petition for Classes to Move Online", INDY Week (July 10)

• "37 athletes, coaches and athletics staff members test positive for COVID-19", The Daily Tar Heel  (July 10)

• "ECSU suspends fall 2020 college athletics", The Outer Banks Voice (July 10)

• "Despite precautions, UNC’s athletic program becomes one of many dealing with coronavirus", The News & Observer  (July 9)

• "NC State athletics members test positive for coronavirus; ACC pushes back start of sports", The News & Observer (July 9)

• "UNC Athletics Just Had 37 People Test Positive for COVID-19", INDY Week (July 9)

• "GPSF Senate adopts resolutions supporting grad and international students, UNC staff", The Daily Tar Heel  (July 9)

• "'A really cruel move': International students express concern over ICE visa restrictions", The Daily Tar Heel (July 9)

• "CIAA Suspends NCAA Competition for Fall 2020", FSU Bronco News (July 9)

• "UNC System-wide petition urges a move online rather than return to campuses", NC Policy Watch (July 8)

• "Parents struggle with question of return to UNC campuses", North Carolina Policy Watch (July 7)

• "COVID-19 and the Human Experience: An Anthropological Perspective", UNCG News (July 7)

• "Fayetteville State to offer free testing for COVID-19", The Fayetteville Observer (July 7)

• "ECU AD Jon Gilbert: 270 COVID-19 tests, 15 positive results", WITN (July 7)

• "How Closely Should Students Be Spaced? At One Campus, 3 Feet Quickly Becomes 6", The Chronicle of Higher Education (July 1)

• "Faculty Concerned About Reopening UNC System Campuses", Capital Tonight  (June 30)

• "ECU faculty, graduate students sign petition about reopening plan", WCTI (June 29)

• "ECU faculty speaks out on university’s return to campus plan", WNCT (June 29)

• "'On the front lines': UNC facilities workers consider costs of fall return to campus", The Daily Tar Heel (June 28)

• "ECU's reopening raises concerns", The Daily Reflector (June 28)

• "NC legislature passes a bill protecting universities from COVID-19 tuition refunds", The News & Observer (June 26)

• "System may not refund housing if students are forced to move out, UNC-G contract says", The Daily Tar Heel (June 23)

• "UNC System students protesting policy that could deny housing refunds for COVID-19 closures", North Carolina Policy Watch (June 20)

• "Fayetteville State University cancels homecoming due to COVID-19 outbreak", The Fayetteville Observer (June 18)

• "Bad news for Aggies and the Ramily: No homecomings at N.C. A&T or Winston-Salem State this fall", The News and Record (June 18)

• "Large events curtailed for fall 2020 at WCU", Smoky Mountain News (June 18)

• "Amid Praise and Concern, UNC Reopens Research", The Local Reporter (June 17)

• "University Employees Question Plans To Reopen Campuses", WUNC (June 16)

• "Vague reopening plans are forcing UNC staffers to choose between their jobs and their health", North Carolina Policy Watch (June 11)

• "'This is something that's killing people’: Instructors petition for fall teaching options", The Daily Tar Heel (June 8)

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Op-Eds written by UNC System workers:

• "Op-ed: UNC furloughs international graduate workers amid coronavirus pandemic" by Smita Misra in The Daily Tar Heel

• "After Cruise Ships and Nursing Homes, Will Universities Be the Next COVID-19 Tinderboxes?" by Katie Mack and Gavin Yamey in Time

• "Open letter on COVID-19 from UNC Chapel Hill tenured faculty to undergraduates" in The Charlotte Observer

• "Five reasons why we all should reject in-person instruction", by Julio Gutierrez in The Daily Tar Heel

• "Faculty appeals to UNC system leaders – don’t risk lives to reopen campuses" by Belle Boggs, NCSU Professor in The News & Observer

• "College Leaders Must Explain Why—Not Just How—to Return to Campus" by Kevin McClure, UNCW Professor in EdSurge

• "Faculty and Students Shouldn’t Have to Risk their Health for a University’s Bottom Line" by Paul Isom, NCSU Lecturer in The News & Observer

• "UNC has poor record of protecting Black and minority workers" by David Brannigan, UNC-CH Groundskeeper in The Daily Tar Heel

• "Bringing College Students Back to Classrooms During COVID-19 is a Mistake" by Katie Mack, NCSU Professor on Medium

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Stories on NC education and labor organizing in the time of COVID-19:​

• "Op-Ed: If Local K-12 Schools Are Moving Online, So Should Universities", Indy Week (July 24)

• "Reopened Raleigh private school reports positive COVID-19 case. Monday was first day.", The News and Observer  (July 23)

• "A recent survey showed that undergraduates are largely willing to wear masks while they’re on campus, but less likely to physical distance or avoid large gatherings", The Well (July 14)

• "Duke signs amicus brief supporting lawsuit against new ICE visa rules", The Duke Chronicle (July 13)

• "My school made the right choice this year on college football", The News & Observer (July 10)

• "New ICE policy “particularly insidious and cruel,” say international students, forced to choose between visas and health", The  Duke Chronicle (July 10)

• "NC’s top Republican just mandated in-person school next month. That’s reckless.", The New & Observer (July 9)

• "When bigoted and boneheaded meet: Trump’s awful new policy on foreign college students", The News & Observer (July 6)

• "‘Is this the day I’m going to get COVID?’ As NC workers return, who keeps them safe?", The Charlotte Observer (July 3)

• "NC AFL-CIO president: Five things NC legislators must do to move the state forward", The News & Observer (June 9)

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National media coverage

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Coverage of UNC System workers and students:

• "UNC begins testing as coronavirus cases spike, while N.C. State switches to virtual classes", The Washington Post (August 20)

• "North Carolina State Becomes The Latest Major University To Drop In-Person Instruction For The Fall, But With A Wrinkle", Forbes (August 20)

• "Anger, Confusion, and Resignation as Chapel Hill's Campus Rapidly Empties", The Chronicle of Higher Education (August 20)

• "What happened at UNC-Chapel Hill?", The Washington Post (August 20)

• "How Covid-19 United the Higher-Ed Work Force", The Chronicle of Higher Education (August 19)

• The college covid-19 mess: It was all so predictable", The Washington Post (August 19)

• "Colleges grapple with coronavirus as students return", The Associated Press (August 18)

• "Shutdown, Repeat", Inside Higher Ed (August 18)

• "As schools struggle to return during coronavirus pandemic, UNC-Chapel Hill suspends classes one week in", The Washington Post (August 17)

• "UNC-Chapel Hill pivots to remote teaching after coronavirus spreads among students during first week of class", The Washington Post (August 17)

• "UNC Pulls the Plug on In-Person Fall. Will Other Campuses Follow?", The Chronicle of Higher Education (August 17)

• "Colleges' best-laid coronavirus plans quickly come undone", Politico (August 17)

• "Outbreaks Drive U.N.C. Chapel Hill Online After a Week of Classes", The New York Times (August 17)

• "UNC-Chapel Hill reverses plans for in-person classes after 130 students test positive for Covid-19", CNN (August 17)

• "UNC-Chapel Hill goes to remote learning after 135 COVID-19 cases within week of starting classes", NBC News (August 17)

• "UNC abruptly halts in-person classes after coronavirus outbreak on campus", CNBC (August 17)

• "UNC-Chapel Hill fall semester going online amid COVID-19 outbreaks, one week into classes", USA Today (August 17)

• "Less Than A Week After Starting Classes, UNC-Chapel Hill Reports 4 COVID-19 Clusters", NPR (August 16)

• "UNC has four Covid-19 clusters less than a week after starting classes", CNN (August 16)

• "Another COVID-19 cluster reported in UNC-Chapel Hill housing", Associated Press (August 15) 

• "Taking COVID-19 Plans to Court", Inside Higher Ed (August 13)

• "‘I can’t teach when I’m dead.’ Professors fear COVID-19 as college campuses open", The LA Times  (August 13)

• Video: UNC-Chapel Hill Professor Jay Smith's Interview with Kate Bolduan, CNN (August 11)

• "UNC-Chapel Hill launches in person despite coronavirus crisis", The Washington Post (August 11)

• "UNC campus workers file lawsuit, say work conditions unsafe", Associated Press (August 10)

• "Campus workers sue UNC university system, cite unsafe conditions due to pandemic", USA Today (August 10)

• "COVID-19 Roundup: UNC Won't Budge on Reopening", Inside Higher Ed (August 7)

• "Its Local Health Department Urged a Virtual Fall. UNC Is Reopening Anyway.", The Chronicle of Higher Education (August 5)

• "Lessons in Leverage in the Time of Coronavirus", Inside Higher Ed (August 5)

• "‘The kids will forget’: Custodians, housekeepers and other support staff brace for college reopenings", The Washington Post (August 4)

• "Faculty to Students: Stay Home", Inside Higher Ed (August 3)

• "UNC-Chapel Hill Faculty To Students: We Can't Safely Return To Campus", NPR (August 2)

• "UNC Tenured Faculty Tell Students to Stay Home Amid COVID Concerns: 'It Is Not Safe for You to Come to Campus'", The Chronicle of Higher Education (August 1)

• "Its Plan Is Risky, Its Community Is Vulnerable, and Cases Are Surging. Why Is This University Reopening?", The Chronicle of Higher Education (July 31)

• "UNC System Faculty and Staff Prepare Lawsuit to Delay Opening", The Chronicle of Higher Education (July 31)

• "Pandemic Workplace Protections Divide Congress", Inside Higher Ed  (July 30)

• "The New College Drop-Off", The New York Times (July 29)

• "More Than 6,600 Coronavirus Cases Have Been Linked to U.S. Colleges", The New York Times (July 29)

• "Colleges plan for virus testing, but strategies vary widely", The Washington Post (July 26)

• "‘Clear as mud’ housing refund plans irk college students", The Washington Post (July 24)

• "What Do College Students Think of Their Schools’ Reopening Plans?", The New Yorker  (July 11)

• "N.C. Protects Colleges From Pandemic-Related Lawsuits", Inside Higher Ed (July 9)

• "North Carolina pauses voluntary football workouts after positive COVID-19 tests", ESPN (July 8)

• "Ivy Cancelation, UNC COVID Tests Ominous Signs for Fall Season", Sports Illustrated (July 8)

• "Colleges Block Housing Refunds Due To Coronavirus", Forbes (July 8)

• "Mounting Faculty Concerns About the Fall Semester"​, Inside Higher Ed (June 30)

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Op-Eds written by university workers outside the UNC System:​

• "UNC fiasco reveals truth about reopening colleges" by David Perry, University of Minnesota Senior Academic Adviser in CNN

• "The CDC Is Wrong: Testing is essential for colleges to reopen safely", by Carl Bergstrom, University of Washington Professor inThe Chronicle of Higher Education 

• "College Is Worth It, but Campus Isn’t" by Susan Dynarski, University of Michigan Professor, inThe New York Times

• "Colleges Are Deluding Themselves" by Michael Sorrell, President of Paul Quinn College in The Atlantic 

• "Expecting Students to Play It Safe if Colleges Reopen Is a Fantasy" by Laurence Steinberg, Temple University Professor, in The New York Times

• "There is no safe way to reopen colleges this fall", by Shweta Bansal, Colin Carlson, and John Kraemer, Georgetown University Professors, in The Washington Post

• "I’m a college professor. Here is what I think about college preparations for the coronavirus this fall." by Daniel Drezner, Tufts University Professor

• "The Risks When Colleges Reopen: In response to Op-Eds by college presidents and professors, readers analyze whether proposed measures to open safely are likely to work.", The New York Times

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Stories on higher education labor organizing in the time of COVID-19:​

• "Even with the administration’s about-face on international student visas, enrollment is still set to plummet", The Washington Post (July 14) 

• "Government Rescinds Plan to Strip Visas From Foreign Students in Online Classes", The New York Times (July 14)

• "Three Arizona Teachers Shared A Classroom. They All Got COVID-19, And One Died.", Buzzfeed News (July 13)

• "Unions Back Universities’ Lawsuit Against ICE Visa Rule (1)", Bloomberg News (July 13) 

• "New International Students To U.S. May Hit Post-WW2 Low", Forbes (July 13)

• "The Truth About What Happens Next for Colleges", The Atlantic  (July 12)

• "At fraternities, an alarming spike in cases", The Seattle Times  (July 11)

• "The Technology 202: Tech to contain coronavirus on college campuses sparks fresh privacy concerns", The Washington Post (July 10)

• "Covid-19 outbreak reported in 15 fraternity houses at University of Washington", The Washington Post (July 4)

• "As young people drive infection spikes, college faculty members fight for the right to teach remotely", The Washington Post  (July 1)

• "A Ph.D. Student Simulated a Day in the Life of a Covid 19-Era Campus. It Went Viral, but It Wasn’t Pretty.", The Chronicle of Higher Education (July 1)

• "Housekeepers and custodians, fearful as campuses reopen, demand more protection from their schools", The Washington Post (June 30)

• "Trying to Make Sense of a Fluid Fall", Inside Higher Ed  (June 24)

• "What if students won’t wear masks in class? Professors want assurances that universities will enforce a mandate.", The Philadelphia Inquirer (June 17)

• "Many colleges are bringing students back to campus this fall. Why some faculty are very concerned.", The Washington Post (June 16)

• "Faculty Want a Say in Whether They Teach Face to Face. The Conversation Is Not Going Well.", The Chronicle of Higher Education (June 9)

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Scholarship

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• "On Borders and Academic Freedom: Noncitizen Students and the Limits of Rights", by Abigail Boggs, Wesleyan University Professor

• "Beyond "High-Risk": Statement on Disability and Campus Re-openings", Accessible Campus Action Alliance

• "Simulating COVID-19 in a University Environment" by Philip Gressman, University of Pennsylvania Professor, and Jennifer Peck, Swarthmore College Professor

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