? Fall 2000: N.C. voters need to approve the $3.1 billion higher education bond referendum because “enrollment is climbing” and “As it is now, some universities are forced to turn away qualified students.” Source: “North Carolinians for Educational Opportunity” (the campaign for the bond referendum), in its “Frequently Asked Questions” section.

? Sept. 15, 2000: the bond referendum “is not as much about bricks and mortar as it is about providing opportunity for your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and fueling the economy of North Carolina.” ? Source: UNC President Molly C. Broad, The News & Observer.

? Nov. 2, 2000: Without the bonds, “our universities will be forced to deny admittance to many qualified North Carolina students.” ? Source: N.C. Community College Faculty Association president Jim Davies, N&O.

? Nov. 13, 2000: “With their votes on November 7, our citizens affirmed that higher education in this state must continue to open the doors of opportunity for their children and grandchildren, as it has been done for generations past. We pledge to honor this enduring faith.” ? Source: UNC Pres. Broad and H. Martin Lancaster, president of the N.C. Community College System, joint statement

Today:

UNC-Chapel Hill will welcome more out-of-state students, beginning next fall.

The university’s Board of Trustees agreed Thursday to implement a controversial plan that was passed this summer as a special provision in the state budget. The law gives students who don’t live in North Carolina in-state status if they have full scholarships. Consequently, those non-North Carolinians won’t count against the UNC system’s 18 percent limit on out-of-state freshmen.

UNC-CH leaders said Thursday that the additional out-of-state students will increase the academic quality of the student body. Because of the heavy competition for a small number of seats, out-of-state applicants tend to have extraordinarily high test scores and grade-point averages.

“Our goal is to capture more and more of that incredibly high-end population,” Chancellor James Moeser told trustees.

Screw you, N.C. ? your kids aren’t smart enough. Your parents, after all, were dumb enough to fall for our bond campaign, and the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree …