Heel Talk

On this episode, host Evely Forte chats with DTH University Desk Editor Maddie Ellis about the University's first week of in-person classes for some of its undergraduate courses. University Desk Reporter Cameron Myers-Milne also discusses pop-up testing sites for COVID-19 at cluster locations on campus. Episode hosted by Evely Forte and produced by Praveena Somasundaram. Supervising producers are...

On this episode, host Evely Forte chats with DTH Editor in Chief Anna Pogarcic about whether the UNC System BOG Silent Sam committee had any role in the two settlements with the Sons of Confederate Veterans. DTH Assistant Sports Editor PJ Morales also talks about the UNC-Duke basketball game. Episode hosted by Evely Forte and produced by Praveena Somasundaram. Supervising producers are University...

On this episode, host Evely Forte chats with University Desk Reporter Kelly Kendall about the University's COVID-19 vaccine rollout. DTH Sports Editor Jared McMasters also talks about the UNC-Duke Rivalry as the basketball game between both teams approaches. Episode hosted by Evely Forte and produced by Praveena Somasundaram. Supervising producers are University Desk Editor Maddie Ellis, Digital M...

On this episode, host Evely Forte chats with University Desk reporter Maydha Devarajan about the fraternity drug ring scandal near UNC, Duke and Appalachian State University. Twenty-one people — many of whom were members of various fraternities — were arrested for their role in distributing and selling drugs. They also talk about the implications of University sanctions against greek life organiza...

On this special episode for the first day of UNC classes, host Evely Forte chats with University Desk reporters Heidi Perez-Moreno and Rachel Crumpler about what re-entry for students will look like this spring semester. They also talk about the University's new COVID-testing program and technology being used for its implementation. Sports editor Jared McMasters previews the spring season for UNC...

On this special episode for the last day of UNC classes, host Evely Forte chats with University Desk Assistant Editor Anna Neil about what went wrong for the University this fall semester and how it is planning differently for the spring. They also talk about what next semester may look like for students. Sports Editor Brian Keyes previews the UNC men's and women's basketball season. Episode hoste...

The UNC Board of Governors has made over $800,000 in contributions to Republican candidates. University Desk Senior Writer Kyle Ingram talks to Host Evely Forte about these contributions and the implications such contributions have for UNC System institutions. University Desk Staff Writer Jennifer Tran also talks about how students spent Election Day, and the days following. Episode hosted by Evel...

Data Editor Michael Taffe talks about salient voter trends in different demographic groups and whether those trends are expected to impact the election tomorrow. University Desk Assistant Editor Anna Neil talks about what University administrators are saying about the spring semester.  Episode hosted by Evely Forte and produced by Praveena Somasundaram. Supervising producers are University Desk Ed...

Producer and Assistant Online Editor Praveena Somasundaram talks to Host Evely Forte about Carolina Housing's media relations policy and whether the policy violates the First Amendment rights of RA's. Senior writer Cynthia Dong talks about how international students are being impacted by the remote nature of classes this semester. Episode hosted by Evely Forte and produced by Praveena Somasundaram...

Fans were allowed back into Kenan Stadium on Oct. 10 for the UNC v. Virginia Tech game. Host Evely Forte talks to Co-Photo Desk Editor Morgan Pirozzi about what it was like to cover the first in-person game of the year. University Desk Editor Maddie Ellis talks about new COVID-19 testing offered by the University for students as part of its pilot program for testing next semester. Episode hosted b...

This is the third episode of our three-episode series on preliminary spring planning. To finish off the series, host Evely Forte held a round table discussion with student leaders to gauge their thoughts on shortcomings of the fall semester and their expectations of the University for the spring.  Featured on this episode: Jorren Biggs, Black Student Movement Outreach Coordinator; Eleanor Murray,...

On the second of a three-episode series on preliminary spring planning, host Evely Forte talks to assistant online editor Praveena Somasundaram about the University's Campus & Community Advisory Committee — that met for the first time last Tuesday. Selected by Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz, the committee is made up of 26 members and 3 co-chairpersons from different groups across campus. Episode host...

With the fall semester well underway, many are already wondering what the spring semester will entail. University desk reporter Kate Carroll talks to Host Evely Forte about the planning process the University is implementing for the upcoming semester and how it differs from the preparation that took place for the fall. Episode hosted by Evely Forte and produced by Praveena Somasundaram. Supervisin...

The 2020 UNC Football Season officially began with UNC playing Syracuse this past Saturday, kicking off the Atlantic Coast Conference's 10 conference games for the season. But with all the uncertainty that's led up to this game, one question that's on the mind of many: What will this season look like?  Host Evely Forte chats with DTH Sports Editor Brian Keyes to talk about what many deem a quintes...

Jurisdiction. Though the University transitioned to remote class delivery, many students have stayed in the Chapel Hill area. And now that UNC has shut down its residence halls, all eyes are on students who have stayed in off-campus housing. For the 20th episode of Heel Talk, host Evely Forte talks to assistant online Praveena Somasundaram and University Desk staff writer Sara Raja about how the U...

Confusion. That's what many students say they experienced last week after an initial post on the University's registrar's webpage detailing the pass/fail option for the fall semester was taken down. But last Thursday, UNC Provost Bob Blouin announced in an emailed message to the campus community that the pass/fail option would be made available for all undergraduate courses as an alternative to ea...

Today, marks exactly two weeks since the first day of classes began for all undergraduate students on campus, yet a lot has changed since then. On this episode of Heel Talk, host Evely Forte chats with University Desk Editor Maddie Ellis and Assistant Online Editor Praveena Somasundaram to break down University decisions from the past few weeks that have most impacted the semester and to share the...

Host Evely Forte chats with DTH reporters Cynthia Dong and Isabella Sherk to discuss new technology on campus — some of which has raised concerns about data privacy and others that are being used to determine community compliance relating to social distancing rules on campus. Tune in to learn more about the new technology UNC plans to use on campus this semester. This episode was co-edited and co-...

With the start of the fall semester today, many students are adapting to the realities of university life amid a global pandemic. The Daily Tar Heel's Editor-in-Chief Anna Pogarcic spoke to Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz in an exclusive interview last Thursday. She asked him about his worries for reopening campus, what protocols exist for students who contract the virus and what the potential consequ...

On July 16, the Board of Trustees decided on an official policy to rename buildings on UNC's campus. This follows the BOT decision in June which rescinded its 16-year self imposed moratorium on renaming buildings. Host Evely Forte spoke to incoming Sports Editor Brian Keyes to understand what this policy means for UNC's campus. Evely also spoke to Summer University Desk Editor Maydha Devarajan to...

On July 6, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced changes to temporary exemptions for students on F-1 and M-1 visas taking online classes in the fall because of the pandemic. Under the exemptions, students who are taking an entirely remote course load are not allowed to remain in the country, and if they do not leave or take measures like transferring to another school with in-person c...

As the fall semester rapidly approaches, many housekeeping and facilities workers have questioned the practicality of implementing safety guidelines for on-campus operations. For example, part of the community standards expected of housekeeping staff involve disinfecting "high-touch surfaces," like restrooms and elevator buttons, four times a day, which some say is not possible. This episode is th...

Many UNC faculty members, professors and teaching assistants are petitioning UNC administration to guarantee that no instructor will be required to teach in person during the fall 2020 semester because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other concerns. Host Evely Forte spoke to DTH reporter and incoming assistant copy editor Sasha Schroeder and incoming assistant online editor Praveena Somasundaram to u...

The Board of Trustees members voted on June 17th to lift a 16-year ban on renaming buildings, monuments and landscapes on UNC's campus. To better understand what this moratorium meant, how this decision will affect the University moving forward and how campus leaders are responding, host Evely Forte spoke to summer university desk editor Maydha Devarajan and former DTH reporter Hannah McClellan. R...

In light of the movement — regarding racial equity and police brutality toward Black Americans — taking place across the United States, University and UNC student leaders are grappling with ways to continue the national conversation and progress made once school starts in the fall. To better understand what impact the movement will have on the upcoming semester, host Evely Forte spoke to incoming...