I was gladdened to read the unfortunately named Luke DeCock’s piece in this morning’s paper. Without question, the Hole faculty’s silence is cowardly and indefensible. As I have noted previously, the only true “rogue” in Chapel Hill is history professor Jay Smith. He’s the only person there who gives a damn, apparently. He’s certainly the only one willing to stick his neck out and show that he gives a damn.
That said, I must correct a few items for the record. No, U*NC never “once stood for something more.” They’ve been at least as dirty as the average athletics program, going back forever. The examples are too countless to name. The Holes just flourished behind their curtain of false nobility for decades, thanks to protection from media, politicians, and most importantly – the lack of the internet, and then social media – to connect the dots, and establish a public record of stupid and/or corrupt people doing stupid and/or corrupt things. Sunshine is indeed a wonderful disinfectant. As the Holes are now finding out, though their national media (here’s looking at you, ESPN) and political protectors still exist. A big hat tip to the N&O for getting off that train.
Second, it’s long past time to stop worshipping at the altar of turncoat NC State alumnus Bill Friday. It should never be forgotten that he took every possible opportunity to deflect any blame from U*NC when the current scandals broke, and led the chorus of “time to move on” as more and more damning details entered the public domain. He sure as hell never did that for his actual alma mater, for sins far less egregious.
The myth of the “Carolina Way” is one of the most damnable lies of the last 50+ years. The real “Carolina Way” is to lie, bully, and cheat your way to athletic success, all academic and intellectual honesty be damned. Let the sunshine in, my friends.
