Today the Raleigh News and Observer reported on Civitas’ request for Gene Nichol’s emails and other public information in accordance with §132 of the North Carolina General Statutes. Nichol heads the Center for Poverty at UNC. Apparently we have upset some of his colleagues and they have complained to the media. We at Civitas wrote on Nichols and the Poverty Center before he penned a hateful piece about Governor McCrory in which he essentially called him a racist. We wrote about the center back in 2012 and have written blog posts concerning the center and Nichol.
The piece by writer Jane Stancill was even-handed, but the most troubling line came at the end: “When asked whether the Civitas probe would curtail his commentary, Nichol said: ‘I’m too old for that. I try to avoid being bullied by thugs, so I don’t think I’ll change.'”
So Nichol can’t pass by an opportunity to call someone a name. In this case he called me a “thug.” If this is what passes for civil discourse in the university, we really are in trouble. Civitas will not back down and the folks at UNC and the law school should not hold themselves above the law. The rank-and-file state employees know that everything they do is a matter of public record; those in academia making six-figure salaries should be smart enough to know that.
And all the name-calling in the world doesn’t change the facts.
Ending with a quote from one of my favorite books, Animal Farm by George Orwell:
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
Well, here you go again, Art Pope. your attempts at limiting free speech are going to backfire on you this time as they always do. YOU are the thug and the citizens of north Carolina are tired of you and Koch-powered [expletive].
It appears the people’s republic of chapel thrill just cannot get enough of Gene—-fits right in with Tom Ross. It seems just a little bit of Gene goes a long ways with other leading Universities.
Nichols is not new to personally attacking or making allegations against those who question, in order to make himself appear as the “victim.” He has yet to understand he is not worshiped and his views are not idolized by all. Unfortunately UNC did not learn the first time the Nichols, both he and his wife, were “educating” students. Controversy is not his curse is it creation.
Expected diatribe from a liberal when cornered. Do you have a date for the requested information?
Another Saul Alinsky tactic to revert to name calling in order to avert attention. We need to be more aggressive with the left and use Alinsky’s tactics against them.
http://vimeo.com/80353414
This video is from the David Horowitz Restoration Weekend. He introduces Ben Shapiro, a conservative warrior familiar with these tactics of the Left and dedicated to using them to discredit and vilify them as they have done so successfully for decades, an experience they’ve yet to experience. The Left is expert at this. Conservatives are not and have proven themselves to be intimidated into obsequious, politically correct ramblings that are frankly laughable if not so pitiful. Conservatives need their own attack dogs. Shapiro is one. We need many more. You can’t “make nice” with verbally abusive bullies.
Nichols is a screwball, plain and simple, he should be hospitalized for the mentally insane.
I can understand him not liking it (I dont care that he doesnt like it, but I can understand the reaction)…. but I fail to see what kind of argument could be presented to “not” turn over such documentation….
He’s an employee of the taxpayer, no? Subject to such sunshine rules?
How is “we dont like your motives” even a relevant point at all? Citizens and citizen groups can only request documents if the government approves of the requester’s “motives”? Geez, the nonsense levels are up there…
If he doesnt care for being subject to these rules, pretty sure he’s free to be employed elsewhere where they dont have those kinds of rules… *shrug*
Good job Civitas :)