The News and Observer today
chronicles, once again, the debate going on in Rocky Mount in regards
to bringing North Carolina Wesleyan into the UNC system. Just a small
refresher – Rocky Mount business leaders and politicians believe
changing the status of the small private college into a public
university, to be known as UNC-Rocky Mount, would help the area’s
economy. A budget provision of $50,000 was included into the budget to
pay for the study.
A few observations from the article and debate:
- The article says that the budget appropriation may not be enough.
However, one consultant told UNC leaders that for about $25,000 more
they could get a survey that would basically tell them what they wanted
to hear if they had their mind already made up on the issue. UNC
President Erskine Bowles said the system would be open in the study and
there is no reason to believe that they would not, but this could be
something to keep in mind when the study is completed. - How many times do we have to hear the phrase “Third World” in
reference to eastern North Carolina? In the article Tom Betts, a
retired Rocky Mount businessman uses the line that others used during
the legislative session, when he said,”Unfortunately, there are parts of Eastern North Carolina that are almost like a Third World country.”
Really? Something tells me there are people who live in countries like
Ghana where health care is nearly 50 years behind modern technology
would love to live in eastern North Carolina. It’s an absurd comparison
to make.
