The Only Conservative & Libertarian Publication at UNC. Est. 1992

August 2020 Ad Conservandam, Libertatem Free With Postage

The Only Conservative & Libertarian Publication at UNC. Est. 1992. The Shame of the University BRYSON PISCITELLI p.5

Freshman Advice Traditions & Orgs STAFF p.3, p.7-10

Can BLM Succeed? Welcome TERTULLIAN p.16 Greek Life & The Abolish Movement to Carolina? HERMANN THE CHERUSCAN p.11 Stop America Shaming KRISTINA PERJAR p.13

It's Okay To Feel Robbed DEVIN LYNCH p.15 August 2020 Virtus, Libertas, et Scientia Free With Postage

The Only Conservative & Libertarian Newsmagazine at UNC. Est. 1993. A Letter to Freshmen STAFF p.1

The Shame of the University BRYSON PISCITELLI p.2

Can BLM Succeed? Welcome ANONYMOUS p.3 The Absurd Anti- Greek Movement to Carolina? HERMANN VON CHERUSCI p.4 Stop America Shaming KRISTINA PERJAR p.5

Robbed of Our College Years DEVIN LYNCH p.5

Shouting NCU! Dear Readers, Freshmen!An open letter from our Editor-in-Chief, Bryson S. Piscitelli, on the state of Write,our Publication Review, and Pontificate, our University. Manage Social Media, Draw, Design, & Edit for

Dear Readers, This first week of classes did notCR look like how any of us wanted it to look. We pray for things to return to relative normalcy soon, so that Freshmen can still one day walk under the Davie Poplar standing tall, see Morehead’s bell tower capping Wilson’s dome, go to their first Fraternity party during Rush week, and take that first sip from the Old Well. Even though we are online for this semester, I am still fortunate to be able to welcome you all in some form or another— Freshmen and returning Tar Heels alike— to the University of North Since 1992,Carolina. the For whateverCarolina reasons: Review years of arduous has publishedscholarship, excellent as the abilities lone in voicethe arts, of conservative and libertarianathletic thought prowess, familyat the tradition, University or even the of lucky North mistake Carolina of an admissions at Chapel committee, Hill. we To no one’s have all found ourselves inside the metaphorical gates of this place aptly called the Southern surprise, as Partthe of rest Heaven. of the publications at UNC have gotten ‘woker,’ more profane, less trustworthy, and As generally you eventually more walk through monolithically halls and quads, left-leaning,between the façades we adorned have with remained the only voice of reasonnames at of oldgreat CaroliniansNCU. and great Americans, I urge you to think of your place in the continuum of human events. You walk the same paths, sing the same alma mater, as a Our writersPresident emeriti of the United have States, gone a Vice on President, to work governors, and publishcountless Senators in such and prominent organizations as TheCongressmen, Washington founders ofExaminer, Universities; great The military American generals, Rhodes Spectator, scholars, Pulitzer The Daily Caller, Prize winning authors, even the inventor of Pepsi. From now on, your mention of attending The Daily Signal,UNC Chapel The Hill Dispatch will garner instant and prestige. The ButWashington with this prestige Free comes aBeacon burden: the. Some have even published in responsibilitysaid organizations to respect the great while alumni still who students forged the history at the of our University. University and CRour alumni have Country; to act in a way becoming of a scholar at an institution built on the ideals of Virtue, attended top Liberty,law schools and Knowledge. and worked in some of the most reputable organizations in America; places likeNot everyone the U.S. sees the House world in ofthis Representativesway, however. Our ‘Welcome, a U.S.to Carolina?’ District edition Court , the comes as the situation on campus and throughout the whole country is getting more serious. North CarolinaThis summer Supreme has seen Court ‘social justice’, the tighten John its Williamfatal grip on every Pope institution, Foundation and cancel , and the Ameri- can Enterpriseculture Institute is approaching (AEI) Jacobinism, to inname the main a asfew. scores of corporations commit millions to Marxist causes, buildings are renamed, statues toppled, traditions tarnished, and people fired The Reviewor expelled is a forpublication the slightest inclination based ofin ‘problematic’ the true, behavior. old-school We understand intellectual in this spirit of academia; buckingclimate, the it orthodoxy takes more than withcourage a to lively, dissent against and theoften mob. Consequently,controversial, we are professionending of ideas. We challenge ourthe longstanding ever-tightening policy of refusing norms anonymous of campus submissions. debates You will findas manyin this first seek to silence free edition of 2020 a fitting sign of the times: two of our five featured articles are anonymous or speech by policingwith a pseudonym. ‘problematic’ language and thoughts. Whether you’re So conservatives, too right-leaning welcome to four for years Trump, of walking a onhardcore eggshells. Forcenter-left those on the leftliberterian, a who picked up (or clicked on) our publication, give us a try. Part of going to a top university monarchist, orshould just bereally considering despise ideas outside how your progressivism typical lane, and you and usually woke won’t culture get anything has tarnished our country and ourremotely campus, conservative we butinvite from us.you So evento join though our it’s notteam a normal of welcome,free-thinking I’m again writers. Our honored to say: Welcome to Carolina. Lux Libertas! publication offers a club steeped in enlightenment philosophy, American history, Chapel Hill lore and traditions,Bryson Piscitelli and political expertise, all while reaching an audience of over 19,000 undergraduatesEditor-in-Chief as our magazines are placed in University Library racks, plus our long-established social media presences and alumni network. We are seeking writers, journalists, web designers, cartoonists, graphic editors, social media gurus, and aspiring financial managers.To apply, please email Editor-in-Chief Bryson Piscitelli at spiscit@ live.unc.edu,or [email protected]. P.S. Yes, we take anonymous submissions.

1 CAROLINA REVIEW August 2020

SEX WORK ISN'T REAL WORK. IT'S REAL CRIME.

PROSTITUTION AND SOLICITATION ARE ILLEGAL IN NORTH CAROLINA, as is NOT REPORTING ONLYFANS INCOME TO THE IRS.

Keep our State clean. Report known offenders with a 3949-A Form on the IRS website, or by contacting your local Police. August 2020 Virtus, Libertas, et Scientia FreeAugust With Postage 2020 Virtus, Libertas, et Scientia Free With Postage

The Only Conservative & Libertarian Newsmagazine at UNC. Est. 1993. The Only Conservative & Libertarian Newsmagazine at UNC. Est. 1993. A Letter to A Letter to Freshmen Freshmen STAFF p.1 STAFF p.1

The Shame of The Shame of the University the University BRYSON PISCITELLI p.2 BRYSON PISCITELLI p.2

Can BLM Can BLM Succeed? Succeed? Welcome ANONYMOUSWelcome p.3 ANONYMOUS p.3 The Absurd Anti- The Absurd Anti- Greek Movement Greek Movement to Carolina? HERMANN VON CHERUSCIto p.4 Carolina? HERMANN VON CHERUSCI p.4 Stop America Stop America Shaming Shaming KRISTINA PERJAR p.5 KRISTINA PERJAR p.5

Robbed of Our Robbed of Our College Years College Years DEVIN LYNCH p.5 DEVIN LYNCH p.5

Shouting NCU! Shouting NCU! Dear Readers, Dear Readers, Freshmen! Freshmen!An open letter from our Editor-in-Chief, An open letter from our Editor-in-Chief, Bryson S. Piscitelli, on the state Bryson S. Piscitelli, on the state Write, Review, Pontificate, of Write,our Publication Review, and Pontificate, our University. of our Publication and our University. Manage Social Media, Draw, Design, & Edit for Manage Social Media, Draw, Design, & Edit for

Dear Readers, Dear Readers, CR This first week of classes did notCR look like how any of us wanted it to look. We pray This first week of classes did not look like how any of us wanted it to look. We pray for things to return to relative normalcy soon, so that Freshmen can still one day walk under for things to return to relative normalcy soon, so that Freshmen can still one day walk under the Davie Poplar standing tall, see Morehead’s bell tower capping Wilson’s dome, go to their the Davie Poplar standing tall, see Morehead’s bell tower capping Wilson’s dome, go to their first Fraternity party during Rush week, and take that first sip from the Old Well. Even first Fraternity party during Rush week, and take that first sip from the Old Well. Even though we are online for this semester, I am still fortunate to be able to welcome you all in though we are online for this semester, I am still fortunate to be able to welcome you all in some form or another— Freshmen and returning Tar Heels alike— to the University of North some form or another— Freshmen and returning Tar Heels alike— to the University of North Carolina. For whatever reasons: years of arduous scholarship, excellent abilities in the arts, Carolina. For whatever reasons: years of arduous scholarship, excellent abilities in the arts, athletic prowess, family tradition, or even the lucky mistake of an admissions committee, we athletic prowess, family tradition, or even the lucky mistake of an admissions committee, we have all found ourselves inside the metaphorical gates of this place aptly called the Southern have all found ourselves inside the metaphorical gates of this place aptly called the Southern Part of Heaven. Part of Heaven. As you eventually walk through halls and quads, between the façades adorned with As you eventually walk through halls and quads, between the façades adorned with names of great Carolinians and great Americans, I urge you to think of your place in the names of great Carolinians and great Americans, I urge you to think of your place in the continuum of human events. You walk the same paths, sing the same alma mater, as a continuum of human events. You walk the same paths, sing the same alma mater, as a President of the United States, a Vice President, governors, countless Senators and President of the United States, a Vice President, Governors, countless Senators and Congressmen, founders of Universities; great military generals, Rhodes scholars, Pulitzer Congressmen, founders of Universities; great military generals, Rhodes scholars, Pulitzer Prize winning authors, even the inventor of Pepsi. From now on, your mention of attending Prize winning authors, even the inventor of Pepsi. From now on, your mention of attending UNC Chapel Hill will garner instant prestige. But with this prestige comes a burden: the UNC Chapel Hill will garner instant prestige. But with this prestige comes a burden: the responsibility to respect the great alumni who forged the history of our University and our responsibility to respect the great alumni who forged the history of our University and our Country; to act in a way becoming of a scholar at an institution built on the ideals of Virtue, Country; to act in a way becoming of a scholar at an institution built on academic integrity, Liberty, and Knowledge. the free interchange of ideas, and advancing the wellbeing of North Carolina. Not everyone sees the world in this way, however. Our ‘Welcome to Carolina?’ edition Not everyone sees the world in this way, however. Our ‘Welcome to Carolina?’ edition comes as the situation on campus and throughout the whole country is getting more serious. comes as the situation on campus and throughout the whole country is getting more serious. This summer has seen ‘social justice’ tighten its fatal grip on every institution, and cancel This summer has seen ‘social justice’ tighten its fatal grip on every institution, and cancel culture is approaching Jacobinism in the main as scores of corporations commit millions to culture is approaching Jacobinism in the main as scores of corporations commit millions to Marxist causes, buildings are renamed, statues toppled, traditions tarnished, and people fired Marxist causes, buildings are renamed, statues toppled, traditions tarnished, and people fired or expelled for the slightest inclination of ‘problematic’ behavior. We understand in this or expelled for the slightest inclination of ‘problematic’ behavior. We understand in this climate, it takes more than courage to dissent against the mob. Consequently, we are ending climate, it takes more than courage to dissent against the mob. Consequently, we are ending our longstanding policy of refusing anonymous submissions. You will find in this first our longstanding policy of refusing anonymous submissions. You will find in this first edition of 2020 a fitting sign of the times: two of our five featured articles are anonymous or edition of 2020 a fitting sign of the times: two of our five featured articles are anonymous or with a pseudonym. with a pseudonym. So conservatives, welcome to four years of walking on eggshells. For those on the left So conservatives, welcome to four years of walking on eggshells. For those on the left who picked up (or clicked on) our publication, give us a try. Part of going to a top university who picked up (or clicked on) our publication, give us a try. Part of going to a top university should be considering ideas outside your typical lane, and you usually won’t get anything should be considering ideas outside your typical lane, and you usually won’t get anything remotely conservative but from us. So even though it’s not a normal welcome, I’m again remotely conservative but from us. So even though it’s not a normal welcome, I’m again honored to say: Welcome to Carolina. Lux Libertas! honored to say: Welcome to Carolina. Lux Libertas!

Bryson Piscitelli Bryson Piscitelli Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief

Dear Readers 2

SEX WORK ISN'T REAL WORK. SEX WORK ISN'T REAL WORK. IT'S REAL CRIME. IT'S REAL CRIME.

PROSTITUTION AND SOLICITATION ARE ILLEGAL IN PROSTITUTION AND SOLICITATION ARE ILLEGAL IN NORTH CAROLINA, as is NOT REPORTING ONLYFANS NORTH CAROLINA, as is NOT REPORTING ONLYFANS INCOME TO THE IRS. INCOME TO THE IRS.

Keep our State clean. Report known offenders with a 3949-A Keep our State clean. Report known offenders with a 3949-A Form on the IRS website, or by contacting your local Police. Form on the IRS website, or by contacting your local Police. In this Issue...

5 The Shame of the University Bryson Piscitelli 7 The Storied History of UNC

9 Conservative Organizations

11 Greek Life and the Abolish Movement Hermann the Cheruscan 13 Why you always hatin’? Stop America Shaming. Kristina Anastasia Perjar 15 It’s Okay to Feel Robbed Devin Lynch 16 Can Black Lives Matter Succeed? Tertullian 21 Cheers and Jeers

Our Website suggestions. Letters to the Editor should be submitted via Check for new updates at carolinareviewonline.org email to [email protected] or mailed to our permanent address. Carolina Review reserves the right Donations & Subscriptions to edit letters for length, clarity, and vulgarity. Please keep To become a subscriber to Carolina Review, give a gift, or letters to the editor below 1000 words. Not all letters will change your subscription address, contact us at be printed. Include your name, year in school, major, and [email protected] hometown. Professors should include their department. Address: Carolina Review Join the Staff 282 Frank Porter Graham Student Union Carolina Review always needs new writers, reporters, UNC-CH Campus Box 5210 photographers, cartoonists, web designers, and layout Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-5210 editors. Please contact Carolina Review at carolinare- [email protected] to find out more about our next Letters to the Editor staff meeting and how you can become a part of the Carolina Review welcomes your comments, criticisms, and Review. CONTACT US CONTACT

Editor-in-Chief: Bryson S. Piscitelli Graphics and Layout by Bryson Piscitelli Staff Writers: Lydia Comer, Nicole Divers, Gray Hurley, Zach Kosnitzky, Devin Lynch, Kristina Anastasia Perjar, Skylar Teague News Editor: Maha Butt

Editors Emeriti: Charlton Allen, founder; Nathan Byerly, Bill Heeden III, Scott Rubush, James Bailey, Steve Russell, Matt Rubush, Deb McCown, Adam Herring, Fitz E. Barringer, Brian Sopp, Taylor Stanford, Ashley Wall, Bryan Weynand, Nash Keune, Zach Dexter, Anthony Dent, Alex Macey, Chase McDonough, Kelsey Rupp, David Ortiz, Frank Pray, Alec Dent, Jesse B. Oliver. Special thanks to the Collegiate Network, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, and the Carolina Liberty Foundation

LEGAL: Carolina Review is a recognized student group at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a 501(c)(3), nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. This issue was paid for, at least in part, by student activity fees. All inquiries, letters, and donations should be mailed to 282 Frank Porter Graham Student Union, UNC-CH Campus Box 5210, Chapel Hill North Carolina 27599-5210. Please email [email protected] for more informa-

3 CAROLINA REVIEW August 2020 Freshman Advice UNC, and vice versa. So in Colo- rado there stands an identical hall The Alma Mater to Phillips, equally out of place. Hark the sound of Tar Heel voices Ringing clear and True Connectcarolina Singing Carolina’s praises Most go through their entire four Shouting N.C.U. (N! C! U!) years at Carolina without ever As a General Rule, truly figuring it out. Neverthe- Hail to the brightest Star of all when back on campus, less, it is how we register for Clear its radiant shine do anything but stay in your classes (not by running around a Carolina PRICE-LESS GEM, dorm room. gym full of registration booths as Receive all praises thine. your parents might recall) and in order to successfully do so, we [The Unsung part:] have three pieces of advice: First, First Year Seminars PLAN AHEAD! Waiting until the ‘Neath the oaks thy sons true last minute is a good way to get Not only are these a great way to hearted 8:00 AM classes. Second, USE meet friends because of their small Homage pay to thee THE SHOPPING CART! Same size, but something we all wish we Time worn walls give back their as the first point, with the caveat knew was that there are scores of echo that if you only choose the classes first year seminars that give a great Hail to U.N.C. you want, you probably won’t get number of Gen-Ed requirements. them. Third, USE YOUR TAR Take them while you can! (After Though the storms of life assail us HEEL TRACKER and COURSI- this year, you can’t) Still our hearts beat true CLE. Coursicle.com is a free web- Naught can break the friendships site that shows Gen Eds, i.e. the formed at things you need to graduate, which Dear old N.C.U. you should use to choose classes. The Old Well Phillips Hall

We can say with confidence that This is a good story to tell your the first sip from the Old Well on friends. Not only does Phillips FDOC (First Day of Class, pro- look like a high school from the nounced ‘Eff Dock’) does indeed 1950s, and the inside of it is a give good luck and, when the sip poorly-lit maze, but the color of is done properly, a 4.0 GPA for the brick is like nothing else on the semester. Make sure you get campus. There is a special reason in line early— we recommend a for its oddly-colored brickwork: few hours before your first class if legend says that when it was built possible— because people like to in 1919, the contractor was build- take pictures. ing an identical building at the University of Colorado, Boulder, where the building are of red brick. CU Boulder accidentally received the construction materials for

Table of Contents 2 The Shame of the University

BRYSON SCOTT responded to the events surround- Snapchat stories exploded in wild PISCITELLI ing the shortest in-person semester discomfort. “I am so embarrassed Editor-in-Chief Sophomore in Carolina history. to be a UNC student rn.” was a Contemporary European It all started the moment common accompaniment. For a Studies & PWAD Major from Raleigh, NC that reopening was planned. Cam- brief moment, the sky was fall- pus activists staged a so-called ing— UNC had become the only UNC has a crisis on its ‘die-in,’ a trademark leftist tactic school in the world to reopen, and hands, there is no denying it. The where agitators sprawl themselves it was experiencing something we University administration has about to attract attention to a ‘all knew would happen:’ closing undeniably failed its responsibility politically-contrived circumstance because they hadn’t heeded the to maintain a safe, scholarly, and they assess as lethal. To sum up warning of our motley activist honorable learning environment the event, dozens lay across the class as Scripture. for students. In fact, it has failed lawn of Polk Place in a manner In an age of perfor- its obligation to the State of North unbecoming of functioning adults. mance-based institutions, of Carolina (the University being After the little media attention had postmodernism, and hedonism; of created by the State) by facilitating subsided, the students packed their a ‘kinder, gentler America,’ and of such a rotten SNAFU. And looking bags and eventually took their mis- ‘going to college to have a good at the end of the day, it is a plain givings to the social media-sphere. time;’ of bold rejections of truth old embarrassment. Here not just the most energized and tradition, it is often difficult to I am not talking about the activists aired their grievances, recall that there is more to one’s University’s botched re-opening. but a vast swath of the milquetoast university studies than the content If you browsed social media in left-leaning student body was of lecture powerpoints, department any capacity during the leadup ignited with a frightening melodra- head emails about social justice to FDOC, during the twilight ma. initiatives, and a trim college logo week of classes, and then after the They complained, they in the LinkedIn ‘education’ sec- announcement to re-commence moaned, they decried ‘the man’— tion. In other words; that even in online instruction, you were no the oldheads of administration. the worst of circumstances, there doubt greeted by one of the most As national newsmedia headlines is a genuinely good, even altruis- embarrassing displays in recent were once again graced with the tic reason for administrators and memory: how our fellow students letters ‘UNC,’ Instagram and university leadership to attempt to

5 CAROLINA REVIEW August 2020 reconvene on-campus attendance. of oversized cinder blocks that are immaturity and irreverence. What And I am certainly not referring to the Student Union, Student Stores, I am talking about is the crisis of sultry rendezvouses with internet Ram’s Head, and Davis; having vulgarity. strangers or infuriatingly wasting never once encountered this his- No, our shame is not that the time of those in line for the Old torical dimension that for so long we tried to re-open during a time Well by taking fifty pictures with was what it meant to attend UNC. of unprecedented uncertainty and your friends for Instagram. Of this dimension, that invaluable stopped with an abundance of There is something about thing the University leadership so caution. Our shame is not that the in-person attendance in Chapel Hill shamefully keeps lost, the words of university knew of the obvious that cannot be replicated by even Thomas Wolfe express most ele- potential for outbreaks. Our shame the most successful Zoom call. gantly in Look Homeward, Angel. is that we laugh at the thought of What I am referring to is the phys- educating the student body about ical fabric, the architecture, the an- “In this pastoral setting a young the achievements of alumni as we thropological topography of cam- man was enabled to loaf comfort- scrub their names from buildings. pus; the in-person traditions and ably and delightfully through four Our shame is that the student body history that make UNC one of the luxurious and indolent years. There is petulant and callow, and devel- world’s most incredible academic was, God knows, seclusion enough ops its political resolves through institutions. It is the metaphysical for monastic scholarship, but the the writhing mass of emotion-driv- splendor of being on the grounds rare romantic quality of the atmo- en communication that is internet of the oldest public university in sphere, the prodigal opulence of activism. Our shame is that the America— of walking through air Springtime, thick with flowers and Daily Tar Heel was once a great thick with the ghosts of ten thou- drenched in a fragrant warmth of student newspaper but now ignores sand great men, beside the ancient green shimmering light, quenched the shocked protests of a prodi- buildings once adorned with thick pretty thoroughly any incipient gious editor-in-chief-emeritus for beards of ivy, between buildings rash of bookishness. Instead, they political diversity. Our shame is that housed, educated, and heard loafed and invited their souls or, that the student newspaper ‘serves orations of Presidents. Stop by the with great energy and enthusiasm, the students and community’ by Old Well on a muggy August night promoted the affairs of glee-clubs, publishing hard profanity in its and you might just be able to make athletic teams, class politics, headlines. Yes, the university has a out the apparition of Kemp Plum- fraternities, debating societies, ‘clusterf*ck’ on its hands. But it’s mer Battle strolling the grounds of and dramatic clubs. And they not the one the Daily Tar Heel is the University he salvaged from talked--always they talked, under talking about. It’s how far we’ve years of destitution. Walk towards the trees, against the ivied walls, fallen, how historically irreverent Franklin Street and hear in quick assembled in their rooms, they and ignorant we are, how childish succession the raucous yeas and talked--in limp sprawls--inces- we’ve become. nays echoing from Person Hall as sant, charming, empty Southern Publishing disgusting a young man shouts, ‘I move to talk; they talked with a large easy profanity in a headline for effect is split the Debating Society!’, Pres- fluency about God, the Devil, and nothing less than a stain on our ac- ident Polk telling a just-graduated philosophy, the girls, politics, ath- ademic community, our University, J. Johnston Pettigrew of his new letics, fraternities and the girls--My and our State. I would call on the commission as a professor at the God! how they talked!” DTH to admit mea culpa and apol- U.S. Naval Observatory, and Gov- I do not fault the University ogize for a lapse in judgement, but ernor Vance speaking to a crowd of for trying to re-open with exceed- given how they gleefully accept- war-weary but perseverant North ing caution during a global pan- ed a spot with the National Press Carolinians. Nothing saddens me demic with always-shifting agreed Club to boast of their headline, it is more than the fact that a student statistics and safety procedures. In safe to say they are beyond ability can spend the majority of their fact, I am proud of the administra- for self-awareness. Without other time here between South Cam- tion for its effort despite its ulti- options, I call on the University to pus— dorms that should not even mate failure. What I am ashamed condemn the Daily Tar Heel for its exist— and the amalgamated heap of is our real crisis: the crisis of reckless behavior.

Featured Article 6 The Storied History of UNC

The University of North still stands, and with it stands the the namesake of one of the most Carolina at Chapel Hill (simply the legend that if respectable full-ride University of North Carolina until the tree falls, scholarships in the 1963) is the oldest public univer- the University United States. The More- sity in the United States, founded falls with it. head-Cain scholarship in 1789. UNC has since been (Adminis- was in fact endowed by the nucleus of North Carolina’s tration has John Motley Morehead great literary, athletic, artistic, and accordingly III, the grandson of scholarly achievement, but most fastened a John Motley Morehead, importantly the mother of most all large support pictured. Grandfather her great statesmen, industrialists, cable to the Morehead was a wealthy authors, historians, military heroes, tree) This alumnus of UNC, 29th and as of late, athletic superstars legend has so Governor of the State, and even astronauts. So how successful- and is known as the did the campus go from a patch ly ingrained ‘Father of Modern North of wilderness in the ‘village of itself in the Carolina.’ During his Chapel-Hill’ to one of the world’s psyche of the University that gubernatorial tenure he expanded top universities? In this article we several of the tree’s ‘progeny’ have public schooling and built rail- celebrate the storied history of old been grafted and planted on cam- roads and canals, ending North ‘NCU,’ pus, and in November of 2017 Carolina’s reputation as the ‘Rip something the poplar was the subject of an Van Winkle State.’ not very unsuccessful a terrorist attack, Executives popular on where a bomb was stopped by The most nationally-recog- campus Professor Daniel E. Reichart. nized political alumnus is certainly anymore, Davie, an alumnus of Princeton James Knox Polk, the popular but some- University, placed the corner- President during the Mexican War thing we stone of Old East in 1793 in who fulfilled his campaign pledge believe a full masonic of only serving one still invalu- ceremony (most term in the White able. of the Founding House. Polk was not Fathers, and the only executive, The many of the however. Sitting as Founder University’s Vice President after William Richardson Davie, founders were the 1852 election a founding father of the United Freemasons), which was William Rufus States and veteran of the Revo- is today commemo- DeVane King, the lution, introduced a bill to create rated by a plaque on only VP to be inau- the state university while he was the building— the gurated on foreign a member of the NC House of oldest state univer- soil; Cuba. Commons in 1789. When scout- sity building in the Many governors of ing out locations for the campus, nation. the state are alumni: legend says that he tied his horse A Motley Band of Morehead of course, to a poplar tree in what is now Mc- Moreheads others like William Miller, John Corkle Place, and declared he had One of the University’s Branch, David Lowry Swain, Wil- found the spot. Today the poplar best-known names is Morehead, liam Alexander Graham, Charles

7 CAROLINA REVIEW August 2020 Manly, Zebulon Vance, John mountain east of the Mississippi: Thomas Wolfe, whom William Ehringhaus, Charles B. Aycock, Mitchell, who was also a Presby- Faulker called the greatest talent of William B. Umstead, O. Max Gard- terian minister, was of course the his generation. Despite dying tragi- ner and others; most with names winner, naming Mount Mitchell. cally at age 37, Wolfe is considered recogniz- Clingman, a former stu- one of the greatest Southern au- able around dent of Mitchell’s at UNC, thors of all time; his most famous UNC cam- challenged his work being Look pus. findings, and Homeward, An- Science & attempting gel, a semi-bi- Christen- to prove his ographical novel dom measurements, with a fictitious A Mitchell fell depiction of an number of to his death. alternate UNC the Uni- Clingman was in the town of ‘ versity’s a multi-talent- ‘Pulpit Hill.’ alumni and ed fellow as As a Tar Heel professors well: while a yourself, you are have been Congressman among the lucky influential and Senator he few to be able to in the realms of religion and the was called ‘The Prince read Wolfe’s cel- natural Sciences. The former in- of Politicians,’ but he ebrated writings cludes Reverend Joseph Caldwell, became one of the few men to have and intimately know the fantastical the first President of the University, ever been expelled from the U.S. settings described. Another Pulitzer for whom the Caldwell obelisk Senate upon the secession of North Prize winning author was alumnus is dedicated on McCorkle place. Carolina from the Union. Clingman and UNC professor Paul Green, au- Caldwell is buried beneath the thereafter served as a Brigadier thor of In Abraham’s Bosom. One quad at an unknown location. Other General in the Confederate States of the more contemporaneously import- Army, another title shared by noteworthy alumni is Shelby Foote, ant min- several alumni. After the war author of The Civil War: A Narra- isters he explored the tive, a 1,200,000 include mountains; Cling- word military Fran- man’s Dome, the history trilogy. cis L. highest mountain Foote achieved Hawks, in Tennessee, national celeb- a nation- is named in his rity after his ally-re- honor. main role in Ken nowned Another im- Burns’ 1990 preach- portant figure in documentary er, who science was UNC The Civil War. com- mathematics pro- That’s all piled the fessor Archibald we’ve got for docu- Henderson, who now, but rest mentation of U.S. Navy Commo- worked with Albert assured this is dore Matthew Perry’s opening of Einstein on his research only a topical Japan. of the Theory of Relativity. He was slice of Chapel Hill lore. In future For the latter: Thomas La- also the personal biographer of editions we’ll bring you more of nier Clingman and Elisha Mitchell George Bernard Shaw. the storied history of UNC. were both explorers in Appalachia. Literary Figures The men had a rivalry to see who History’s best known could find and prove the tallest Tar Heel in literature is certainly

College History 8 Conservative Organizations

Note from the Editor: Dues: $20 women better understand conser- Adapted from an article originally published by Staff Writer emeritus Will Chairman: Eli Grossman vative philosophy, NeW offers an Rierson in the 2016 Welcome to Carolina alternative to third wave feminism. edition. All information is as accurate as possible but relies on respective organi- Young Americans for Liberty Started last school year, the UNC zations’ heellife pages. For best results, (YAL) - Though it is nonpartisan, chapter has already been named contact known members. YAL is known as the home of col- one of the best and fastest growing lege libertarians. Part of a national chapters in the country. College Republicans (CRs) - Affil- structure and a state convention, Dues: $10 iated with the College Republican YAL at UNC offers a great deal of President: Nicole Divers National Committee and networking and helps students bet- the North Carolina Federation of ter understand classical liberalism. Christians United for Israel College Republicans, UNC Col- The UNC YAL chapter often fea- (CUFI) - Christians United for lege Republicans is a chapter of tures guest speakers and displays Israel is dedicated to educating the oldest youth political structure in the Pit, once making national college students about interna- in the country. Often called “The headlines for hosting adult film tional abuse against the nation of Best Party on Campus,” UNC star and Duke student Belle Knox. Israel. CUFI supports the existence GOP holds Monday meetings fea- If you think that taxation is theft of Israel, a secular state for Jews turing guest speakers and events and will never forgive Trump for and Goyim alike, instead of a two- each month ranging from political- that bump stock ban, YAL is for state solution or dominance of ly-themed parties to elite network- you. Islamic governments in the region. ing opportunities. An important Dues: n/a CUFI hosts speakers on campus function of the CRs is supporting President: Maverick Doane and has conferences in the US and Republican candidates and cam- Israel. paigns, which the group does by Network of Enlightened Women Dues: n/a volunteering in the Chapel Hill (NeW) - NeW is a great club for President: Sarah Taylor community and deploying across conservative young women to join. the region to get-out-the-vote and Focused on networking, profes- Students for Life (SFL) - SFL is help staff Republican Party events. sional development, and helping the premier organization for pro-

9 CAROLINA REVIEW August 2020 life students. SFL is known for its ranch in the mountains above Santa Conservative Political Action Con- demonstrations against abortion Barbara, California. YAF confer- ference (CPAC) - When it comes and helping local mothers in need. ences include speeches from rock to political conferences, CPAC is With SFL, you have the opportu- stars of conservatism like Gover- the granddaddy of them all. The nity to attend the annual March for nor Scott Walker, Stephen Moore, conference, held each Life in Washington, DC in January. and Senator Marco Rubio, dinner year around late February or early Dues: $5 programs and VIP meet and greets. March, is hosted by the American President: Amy Lawson YAF conferences can be pretty far Conservative Union and boasts a away at times, but travel waivers variety of big name sponsors and Tar Heel Rifle and Pistol Club are available. speakers. At CPAC, college stu- (THRPC) - Do you enjoy shoot- Cost: ~$25 per conference regis- dents can hear from presidential- ing firearms with your friends, or tration level speakers and rub elbows with would like to safely learn how? other well known politicos at the Are you looking to take a con- Leadership Institute (LI) - LI Gaylord National Convention Cen- cealed carry class? THRPC offers has been teaching conservative ter in National Harbor, Maryland all of those things and more. The activists the secret to winning near Washington, DC. The bulk of club visits local shooting ranges grassroots campaigns since 1979. this conference runs from Thursday each month, as well as volunteer- With its headquarters in Arlington, to Saturday and is attended by over ing in the community. This club Virginia and field representatives 10,000 conservatives and libertari- is officially non-political, but at a working across the nation, LI is ans. UNC College Republicans and place as anti-gun as UNC, you’ll well equipped to hold dozens of YAL members have been known to no doubt find some like-minded trainings for thousands of people drive up together and share hotel individuals. each year. Students can take af- rooms at reduced rates for the long Dues: $30, plus range fees. fordable trainings on how to run a weekend. Co-Presidents: Madison Wright political campaign’s youth outreach Cost: ~$200 for lodging and reg- and Luke Golden movement, public relations, donor istration, this rate is often lowered relations, and more. LI is known through club provided subsidies. UNC Fly Fishing Club - Part of for its weekend-long trainings full Trout Unlimited’s 5 Rivers College of great content and all-inclusive outreach program, and one of the prices. only clubs for sportsmen at UNC. Cost: ~$50 per conference regis- They promote and teach fly fishing tration to develop a conservation ethic. Of course a technically nonpartisan Intercollegiate Studies Institute organization, but you don’t see too (ISI) - ISI was once run by William many fly fishermen drinking soy F. Buckley, Jr, the founding father lattes, if you catch our drift. of the modern American conser- Dues: $20 vative movement. ISI stresses President: Rusty Ranso learning the tenets of liberty and freedom by studying the US Con- Events stitution and political philosophy. Young America’s Foundation ISI conferences are held through- (YAF) - YAF is a student organiza- out the year, though membership tion directly descended from Presi- in the organization is required for dent Ronald Reagan’s youth move- attendance. If you’d like to become ment and founded by the great a member of this organization, the William F. Buckley. YAF holds quickest way is through writing for weekend conferences all over, the Carolina Review here at UNC. but some of its best take place at Cost: ~$10 per conference, free if Rancho del Cielo, Reagan’s horse you join the Carolina Review

Organizations 10 Greek Life and the Abolish Movement HERMANN odds with the University’s fraternity. THE CHERUSCAN diversity and inclusion policy. While I cannot speak for 18 BC – 21 AD PWAD & This accusation is either false, sororities, I will unequivocally Roman History Major or equally applicable to dozens state that non-white males are not from Magna Germania of student organizations, majors, at a disadvantage when trying and sports teams. According to its to join an NIC fraternity, ceteris Over the last few months, website, UNC wants to “[create] paribus. Not that I believe this anti-Greek activists from across conditions to ensure the equitable accurately characterizes any UNC the nation have created Instagram educational and social benefits fraternity, but in the current cam- pages urging the abolishment of of diversity… for undergraduate pus climate, even a fraternity full the Greek system in their respec- graduate and professional students, of racists would be glad to take a tive schools. It is unclear whether faculty and staff…” Even presup- black member as a defense against members of a single nationwide posing inherent benefits to diversi- accusations of racism. In reality, organization run these pages, but ty (of race, gender, and sexuality), just as most white men are reluc- they all operate in more or less does a diverse campus not satisfy tant to rush NPHC fraternities, the same format, even sharing this requirement? Must all student most black men are reluctant to fonts and templates for their posts. organizations also be as diverse as rush NIC organizations. No doubt, While Greek life has been the the student body? media portrayals of racist fraterni- target of many campaigns over the If we answer yes to the ty men do little to convince black years, Abolish is unique in its lofty second question, then NIC (North men to rush NIC fraternities. ambition of abolishing all (histor- American Interfraternity Confer- So, does this mean the Abolish ically white) Greek life, and in its ence) Fraternities and NPC (Na- movement is simply mistaken? span across several universities. tional Panhellenic Conference) Not at all. Not only are Greek My goal is to highlight Sororities, which are historically organizations exclusive in certain several major flaws of the Abolish white, are actually less problematic respects, but their raison d’être is movement, and to demonstrate its than their “diverse” counterparts. to form a group of students who philosophy as thoroughly leftist. NPHC (National Pan-Hellenic adhere to a particular archetype. This is not to say a conservative Council) fraternities and sororities, The exact nature of this archetype might not take issue with some which are historically black, are varies between schools, chapters, aspects of the Greek system. Given far more ethnically homogeneous, and time periods, but Greek insti- media coverage of sexual assault i.e., less diverse, than their histor- tutions are enduringly anti-egali- and dangerous hazing practices ically white counterparts. While tarian and value the organization in fraternities, it might even be there is little available research on and its members over outsiders. tempting to sympathize with the the subject, every NPHC and IFC Reform will never suffice for left- Abolish movement; however, in fraternity member I know would ists, because they are fundamental- attempting to prevent students agree with this assessment. Even ly opposed to social hierarchy and from joining voluntary social orga- though racism is regarded as much freedom of association. nizations, the Abolish movement more prevalent in the 1970’s, a reveals itself as distinctly anti-free- 1974 study of six Southeastern What Would Abolishing Greek dom. universities including UNC actual- Life Accomplish? ly found that all Universities in the At a public university like Diversity and Inclusion study had at least one black male Chapel Hill, it is legally infeasible Anti-Greek activists com- in an NIC organization, while not a to abolish Greek life. Although pri- monly claim that Greek life is at single white male was in an NPHC vate schools have successfully rid

11 CAROLINA REVIEW August 2020 campuses of Greek life in the past, left-leaning leave the Greek sys- whomever they please, an essential there are still legal barriers in the tem, while those who remain are principle of the Greek system. All way. After two court cases, Har- unconcerned with the demands of apologies will be met with derision, vard was recently forced to rescind the former. If a school were some- for the Greek system is irreconcil- sanctions on students who joined how to abolish all fraternities and able with left-ideology. single-sex organizations including sororities, the results would be sim- final clubs, fraternities, and soror- ilar but more extreme. Membership “The Panhellenic and IFC systems ities. Interestingly one of these is might decline, but the school would simply pit women against each the recent controversial Supreme have no oversight over the actions other to fight for the attention of Court decision Bostock v. Clayton of now-underground fraternities. “higher tier” frats, especially when County, where the court ruled that Just as the Abolish movement has it comes to holding mixers.” businesses could not discriminate disproportionately affected women –Anonymous, via UNC Abolish. on the basis of sexual orientation or (at least two Duke sororities have There is certainly a social transgender status. voted to de-charter, zero frater- hierarchy in the Greek system, The court reasoned that, nities), so too would abolishing some of it corresponding to reality, “when an employer fires an em- Greek life. some of it contrived. If you cannot ployee for being homosexual or stomach this, you are better off not transgender, it necessarily inten- From the Horse’s Mouth joining. If a hierarchy is really so tionally discriminates against that In lieu of a conclusion, I present degrading, shouldn’t the Abolish individual in part because of sex. annotated quotes from various folks be content in having saved Second, the plaintiff’s sex need Abolish posts: themselves? not be the sole or primary cause of the employer’s adverse action.” “To insinuate that your fraternity “Naturally during rush, we like and Unexpectedly, this reasoning also was a safe space, welcoming you accept people with whom we have applies to a college that wishes after your exclusion from the gay commonalities. The very purpose of to prevent students from joining community, ignores that the Greek Greek organizations is to surround single-sex organizations: since the system has historically and still yourself socially with similar peo- policy applies to males who wish does ostracize other gay students, ple. The system itself is designed to to join all-male organizations, but especially those who do not share prevent diversity. It’s human na- not females, and females who wish traditionally masculine interests, ture.” – Duke Abolish to join all-female organizations, such as sports and fishing.” Could not have said it better but not males, it is also deemed –Duke Abolish myself. To the Abolish movement, discriminatory. In addition to legal The Abolish movement the exercise of civil liberties is only barriers, there is the oft-cited donor is not against homophobia. It is tolerable so long as it is conducive problem. 75% of UNC’s donor against a traditionally masculine to social equality. I encourage the money comes from fraternity culture. It is against traditionally reader who agrees with this sen- alumni, most of whom are strongly masculine men congregating with timent to join the Abolish move- opposed to the abolishment of their like-minded men. ment; for those who still believe fraternities. With so much money in non-trivial civil liberties, I hope hostage, it is unlikely any univer- “One #Blacklivesmatter post isn’t this article has served its purpose. sity in a similar situation would enough. Signs outside your home ban fraternities at the behest of an saying ‘We stand with you’ that Instagram campaign. So far, the come down 3 days later aren’t abolish movement has been most enough. One apology post isn’t successful in convincing individual enough. Performative activism isn’t students to drop, and in some cases, enough. UNC IFC and Panhel must convincing entire organizations to be abolished now.” –UNC Abolish voluntarily de-charter. But what Nothing will be enough as does this accomplish? The students long as Greek organizations main- and organizations who are the most tain their right to associate with

Featured Article 12 Why You Always Hatin’? Stop America Shaming. KRISTINA Republic of Moldova and lived the unacceptable injustice African ANASTASIA PERJAR under the communist regime of Americans were facing. Even in Staff Writer Senior the former Soviet Union for most the desperate situation they Advertising/PR & of their lives there. From a very found themselves in, many indi- Communications Major from Hickory, NC young age, my dad developed an viduals protesting still wore blue infatuation with the United States jeans and sneakers— something 1 July 2020 and all it stood for. He watched both my parents could only dream I wrote this one year ago every American movie and mar- of having. Some even drove cars in 2019. At the time, I could never veled at the fact that many had or had their own homes, but most have guessed what the state of the their own house… with a car… importantly, they had the right nation would be in just one year. and a garage… and a job. Some- and ability to protest against their It’s true, we are passing through thing, at least, to call their own. He government to bring change in much more suffering, fear, and un- inhaled all the American circumstances and laws they were certainty. But our nation is strong classic novels and listened to all unhappy with. because we are strong. We must the music. Later, when he married Life is all about perspec- begin searching for wisdom and my mother, as they drifted tive. A situation may look ex- truth, looking at the world through into sleep, he would say, “Imagine ceedingly different from just two lenses that are not broken. we make it to America and have different viewpoints. Either way, kids who speak a different I do not intend to downplay the 4 July 2019 language. Imagine owning a car African American experience, Recently, I saw a few of or a house. Imagine we both have nor exaggerate the difficulties in my Instagram friends post an jobs. Imagine an abundance my parents’ lives. I simply wish article on their stories called “How of food…” My mom would shush to reveal the beauty of America to Celebrate the 4th of July When him as every hair raised on her amidst the chaos; the change that America Is a Constant Disappoint- skin. Just the thought of such a was produced as a direct result ment.” thing was incredibly terrifying, yet of the struggle of the margin- Before I comment on this, pleasantly overwhelming. alized. So, when I hear people I should lead with a story that will On television, the Soviets make statements like “America allow you to understand the lens would air anti-American propa- is a Constant Disappointment,” through which I view the United ganda, showing everyone under I can’t help but ask the question States of America—a lens that not the Communist regime how terri- “how?” Maybe because America is many have the privilege to look ble America was during its peak of a country where people can open- through. I should also say that black injustice and the civil ly trash their homeland, those in I am not a politician… I am not rights movement. My dad distinct- power, and even their friends with even someone with weight to my ly remembers watching riots and no consequences. Maybe because name. I am simply the daughter protests led by African it’s a country where it’s possible to of two immigrant parents who has Americans. As the Soviet Russians be the child of parents who have seen firsthand the damages of hate, narrated the scenes he was watch- nothing yet still have the possibili- imbalance, and poverty through ing, calling America dangerous, ty to become the greatest in what- systems such as socialism, com- unruly, and filled with inequalities, ever or whomever you decide to munism, and a my dad saw something complete- be. Or maybe because America is lack of basic freedoms. ly different. He read between the a place where those unhappy with My parents were both born lines as he watched riots led by their situation can petition, protest, and raised in the Soviet Socialist individuals taking a stand against and rally to be heard; becoming

13 CAROLINA REVIEW August 2020 catalysts for transformation in any will be better equipped to draw circumstance. a more complete conclusion. My You see, disappointment parents always taught me to and America cannot be synony- pray for and bless those in power. mous. I can say this with certainty Dr. Martin Luther King himself because the heart of the United proved that this is the most effec- States is found in the people—in tive and virtuous way to make a you. In those who stand up for difference. So, love others and be what they believe in. Those who do kind. Realize that if no human is not rest until they bring justice to perfect, it is therefore impossible the marginalized. Even historical for the world or a nation to be per- precedent shows us what Ameri- fect. Remember, you—the Amer- ca is truly made of. Rescuing the ican citizen— are the rhythm to weak; sending food and medical which America’s heart beats. You care to foreign countries needing as an American citizen it during crises like WWII; and have endless potential and are the investing in nonprofit, missionary key ingredient in establishing jus- work like no other country does are tice for all with dignity and just a few examples that showcase integrity. the greatness of the United States. Perhaps the greatest instances in which America has shown its true heart lie within its difficulties and injustices like racial discrimination, the Trail of Tears, the Chinese Ex- clusion Acts, Japanese internment camps, the use of atomic bombs, the Civil war, the Jim Crow era, the wars in Vietnam and Iraq… the list goes on. These events are tragic, horrible mistakes, but the resilience of America in its relentless pursuit to continually improve and include all in its prosperity is what perpetu- ally sets America apart. Even now, as this nation passes through times where there are difficult decisions to be made, I am confident that the United States will remain noble and continually establish justice for all. So, a final thought I would like to leave you with as you continue navigating through life is to always proceed in any situation by being aware of your surround- ings. Know the facts and do your research. Don’t believe what the media says—look at everything from above. After, you

Featured Article 14 It’s Okay To Feel Robbed DEVIN LYNCH who utilized campus housing as an on. College students are nothing Staff Writer escape from abusive households or if not adaptable, and we’ll find Junior Computer Science Major home insecurity are suffering more new ways to have fun and succeed from Charlotte, NC than anyone. academically in the coming weeks. But we shouldn’t be afraid to ad- We’ve all seen the emails. We’re missing out on more than mit that by locking down campus UNC wants everyone to know just parties and sending thousands of students that keeping students safe from UNC can hardly pretend home, the university administra- COVID-19 is their top priority. that those of us remaining in tion has stolen something very real But aside from vague statements Chapel Hill are first-class students. from us — not just a vague idea about mental health resources, Without full access to Davis, Wil- of what a “college experience” they’ve utterly failed to address son, and the dozen other depart- should look like, but our agency students’ very real concerns about mental libraries on campus, our as young adults. For now, though, how social life on campus can academic resources are severely let’s cross our fingers, hope for the continue. limited. Of the classes that still best, and party twice as hard next hold office hours, the online for- semester. We’re too young to be living in mat means they’re essentially just fear an optional review session for the College was supposed to entire class rather than an opportu- be the best four years of our lives. nity for individualized discussion We’re here to enjoy ourselves with the world-class professors we while shaping our own futures. have at UNC. And there’s nothing wrong with Returning to normal re- acknowledging that university bu- quires us to be more vocal about reaucrats high on moral superiority the absurdity of the university’s have stolen that from us. They lockdown, as well as the self-im- say we’re selfish for wanting to posed restrictions on Greek life. socialize, but isn’t it just as selfish With the availability of multiple to force everyone to suffer over a online-only options like Carolina virus that’s virtually harmless to Away, anyone who started the most college students? year on campus knew the risks of The fall semester should staying. If we didn’t want college be an opportunity for students to life, with all the benefits and risks make new friends, try new things, that come with it, we would have and get a feel for what it means to stayed home. But the Universi- be in college. But they’ll never get ty administration’s response to this time back. Instead, freshmen outbreaks on campus was to treat arrived on campus desperately us like children who didn’t under- hoping for anything close to a real stand what we were getting into. college experience, only to be sent home less than two weeks lat- We’ll get the old normal back er — potentially exposing family Still, I’m optimistic. Keep- members who are more vulnerable ing campus locked down will only to illness. Meanwhile, students get more unpopular as time goes

15 CAROLINA REVIEW August 2020 Can Black Lives Matter Succeed? TERTULLIAN enjoy broad support when polled Postmodernists in academia have 155 – 240 AD individually, and the more general made this worse by providing Religious Studies Major from Carthage idea that policing practices need to critical race theory to the activist change is supported by 80 percent class as a galvanizing and com- or more of the public. Contrast this prehensive ideology to proscribe As a practitioner of the with polling in the 1960s which a caustic and divisive course of English language, it is incumbent showed that the now-widely-laud- action regarding almost every el- upon me to define my terminolo- ed Civil Rights Movement and the ement of society past and present. gy. For the purposes of this essay, peaceful protests associated with Second, the messaging utilized by Black Lives Matter (BLM) will it did not gain the support of a ma- BLM activists creates unnecessary refer not to the Marxist organiza- jority of the country until the end difficulty in the movement gaining tion of that name that has pledged of the decade, even as individual even broader appeal than it already to destroy the nuclear family and reforms such as the Civil Rights enjoys. the like. Instead, I shall use BLM Act of 1964 were popular at the When a movement finds itself as a good shorthand way to refer- time of their passage. tied by public perception or ac- ence the peaceful demonstrators Presently, the only ideas tual proximity to destructive or who have flooded the streets of relating to BLM which do not poll unseemly forces in society, it is most major American cities, in the well are defunding, or eliminating incumbent upon that movement wake of the death of George Floyd and replacing police departments to emphatically disavow and in Minneapolis, Minnesota involv- (an idea which has as much a distance itself from those forces. ing an officer of the Minneapolis supermajority of disapproval as Many who have supported BLM Police Department, to protest acts the idea of police reform has a or marched recently in favor of of police brutality, support some supermajority of approval), and its goals no doubt are of the opin- kind(s) of police reform, and raise destructive acts such as looting, ion that President Trump should awareness of disparities Black vandalism, and physical vio- have, in 2016 and 2017, been more Americans, on average, face in the lence. In summary, the majority energetic and unequivocal in his United States today. of American opinion recognizes denunciations of the alt-right to Achieving the goals of the legitimate grievances of black ensure that he excised them from the BLM movement after many Americans, favors reforms to try to his populist political movement. millions of Americans viewed the solve these problems, and opposes The same logic applies to BLM, as disturbing video of the Floyd death radicalism and violence. peaceful protestors take the streets is not quite so difficult a project as Why then, is the tension regarding to protest injustice while oppor- self-aggrandizing activists might these issues so palpable, the public tunists loot, organized extremists have you believe. According to discourse so vitriolic, and the vandalize, and both looters and various pollsters, between 67 and mob-like descent on opponents of extremists engage in violence in- 77 percent of the American pub- violence and defunding the police cluding arson, assault, and murder. lic supports the protests. Around so passionate on the part of opin- Are peaceful protestors themselves 70 percent of Americans do not ion-shaping elites and employ- at fault for the rioting? No, those believe the killing to be an, “iso- ers? The answer is twofold. First, peacefully demonstrating are not lated incident,” and instead see decadent elites in popular media responsible for these criminal acts, it as indicative of larger racial and in governance have fostered but, as a matter of messaging and problems. Implementing better polarizing rhetoric for decades, not seizing the moral high ground in use-of-force training for officers, only on race, but on most issues the minds of the public, it would more community policing, elimi- in order that they might ride the be of inestimable benefit and no nating no-knock warrants, banning public’s heightened emotions to cost whatsoever for peaceful activ- chokeholds when lethal force is electoral victory or recognition ists to publicly and emphatically not justified, and other reforms of their supposed personal virtue. condemn the destruction of homes,

Featured Articles 16 businesses, and lives perpetrat- for black American equal treatment have a peaceful and orderly state ed by violent actors in our cities. or simply as another piece of the of affairs so that reforms may be Some have decried violent criminal rhetorical arsenal. This would have enacted to bring about a just soci- behavior, and are to be commended won some more goodwill and also etal situation, and if the purpose of for their responsibility and moral shaken many away from the idea uttering, “No Justice, No Peace,” consistency in this stressful time, that the good faith activists under is to excuse disorder, then it seems but a more unified message on the BLM banner were attempting that a negative feedback loop is this point from activists would be to be exclusive in their choice of being created wherein there will an unalloyed good both for their moniker. Instead, we now have a be no peace in any event, so there movement and the social fabric of situation where two otherwise fine will be no incentive to become this country. and innocuous phrases are hurled more just. Practically, this makes it There are several rhetorical mis- at one another as retorts when they hard for the sane and moral center takes that have been made by BLM should work in unison. Unless to prevail, which it must if the two activists that have led to needless one subscribes to the (also quite extremes of anarchy and an unjust division and wasted valuable public Trumpian) idea that any publicity status quo are to be resisted. conversations by taking bandwidth is good publicity, it should not be “Hands Up; Don’t Shoot,” away from discussing effective hard to recognize that this semantic is another phrase that has taken public policy solutions and allow- stumbling block is counterpro- on a life of its own among BLM ing wedges to be driven into the ductive to achieving the tangible activists. It originates from the movement’s messaging. Let us goals of police reform and a redress 2014 shooting death of Michael consider the most striking exam- of the disadvantages many black Brown in Ferguson, Missouri ples. Americans must contend with to by Officer Darren Wilson, in the The very phrase, “Black Lives try to get ahead. aftermath of which protestors, Matter,” seems an appropriate One of the favorite phras- claiming that Brown had tried to starting point for this analysis. es of many activists opposed to peacefully surrender to the officer, Prima facie, it is a moral statement perceived injustices is, “No Justice, chanted the phrase in the course of of truth. Yes, black lives should No Peace.” In its most charitable their demonstrations. The problem matter to us. However, it does also interpretation, this slogan posits here is that the slogan’s version happen to be the name of a group that the reason activists will not of events is untrue. A grand jury founded by neo-Marxists that, if cease to protest is because there convened that year in Ferguson one reads its full platform, can remains injustice which they are decided not to indict Officer Wil- hardly be said to be an organization obligated to vocally oppose. This son, and the US Department of that represents true justice, equal meaning is perfectly reasonable, Justice under then-Attorney Gen- treatment, or morality. Should peo- and indeed is in line with the fun- eral Eric Holder conducted its own ple be able to separate these two damental principles of the United investigation and released a report meanings of the phrase? Yes, in the States, namely the rights, “peace- in 2015 stating that Wilson act- same way the Trumpian, “America ably to assemble, and to petition ed appropriately, only fired upon First,” can be separated from the the Government for a redress of Brown in self-defense, and that pre-WWII isolationist Nazism-am- grievances,” as outlined in the First the officer’s version of events was bivalent movement of the same Amendment to the US Constitu- credible based on forensic evi- name. But serious-minded BLM tion. It is concerning, however, dence and legitimate eye-witness activists missed a major opportuni- to hear more strident elements of accounts. Utilizing, “Hands Up; ty when the statement, “All Lives activism, as well as opportunistic Don’t Shoot,” in protesting injus- Matter,” started to become popular looters and vandals masquerading tice does a grave disservice to the as a retort to the movement. Instead as activists, seemingly wield the cause of pursuing justice and racial of condemning this phrase, which phrase, which has taken on a some- reconciliation because it is based also communicates a prima facie what respectable place in the Amer- on a falsehood. It is an easy point truth, they should have seized it for ican zeitgeist, to justify violence. In to refute, and if the BLM move- their own movement, either adopt- this application the slogan becomes ment wishes to persuade people ing it as the name of the movement a contradiction. It is necessary to to support it, it will have a much

17 CAROLINA REVIEW August 2020 to support them, it will have a but America must take her prob- much simpler time if it sticks to the lems as she finds them and there truth. Beyond this pragmatic point, will hopefully be some good done it is also deeply wrong to place against the backdrop of chaos and Michael Brown’s name next to uncertainty which prevails over our the names of those who have been society today. unjustly killed such as Tamir Rice, Breonna Taylor, Philando Castile, or Eric Garner. When there are, tragically, as many truly innocent victims of illegitimate violence as there are, there is no reason to dilute the call for justice with fab- rications. To stand for what is right must be to stand for what is true. The forgoing criticisms of how BLM demonstrators have carried themselves notwithstand- ing, this author is fairly confident in predicting that the movement will succeed in pushing for certain police reforms. The US Congress and many state governments are considering reforms such as banning chokeholds, mandating bias training, and reforming qualified immunity, among other items. Some local governments have inad- visably reduced police department funding and the Minneapolis City Council is taking the extreme step of trying to disband the Minneapo- lis Police Department and replace it with an as-yet-undetermined mode of order. Public opinion favors making some changes to law enforcement, but it is unlikely that all measures proposed will be implemented, as there are interests in opposition to some of them and activists may not have considered their full implications. Most of the reasonable measures are likely to make it through though and have some effect for the better. It is un- fortunate that this movement comes along at such a tenuous time, as more comprehensive and effective measures could probably be taken in a less polarized environment,