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SedjNl Editor: Cad^enne Pigg
cpigg^unca.ei:iu
Kneeling athletes
have the right
to protest police
brutality
CATHERINE PIGG
Opinion Editor
cpigg@unca.edu
Colin Kaepemick began his
peaceful protest against the police
brutality and oppression faced by
people of color by kneeling during
the national anthem on Aug. 14,
2016. His gesture became a head
line in many news sources and re
ceived a mixture of backlash and
support from fans.
His protest grew and became an
even bigger controversy within the
NFL. Kaepemick no longer plays
for the NFL but other players from
various teams decided to kneel
during the national anthem this sea
son in solidarity with the issues he
initially protested.
The probability of an unarmed
black resident being shot by police
is 3.49 times more likely than an
unarmed white resident, according
to a study by Cody T. Ross at the
University of California. This sta
tistic is an example of the injustice
these men protest when they kneel
during the national anthem.
President Tmmp tweeted the NFL
should fire any player who decides
to kneel during the national anthem.
To follow Tmmp’s ill advice would
simply be un-American.
These protests are protected by
the First Amendment. As Ameri
cans, these players and all citizens
have the right to peacefully protest.
To state they should not have the
right to protest is simply un-Amer
ican. Many Americans fought and
died for freedom, something this
country so proudly proclaims. Tell
ing people they cannot use this free
dom to choose to kneel is contradic
tory to our constitution, a document
held high by many Americans and
by the U.S. government.
Many of the critics of this move
ment within the NFL state kneeling
during the national anthem is disre
spectful to those who have fought
and died for this country. Some
critics not only tweeted or posted
their anger on Facebook, but went
as far as to set their football jerseys
or flags on fire.
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Resident and programming assistants open up about responsibilities
AURCDUnCED • j- i -i t i i J
AMBER MOSER
A&F Staff Writer
amoser@unca.edu
Whether moving away for the
first time or simply returning for the
semester, living in college dorms
can be very stressful for some stu
dents. There are people on campus
who do their best to provide a com
fortable and welcoming college ex
perience to resident students. These
individuals are known as resident
assistants and programming assis
tants.
According to sophomore wom
en, gender and sexuality studies
student Morgan Silver — who also
serves as a PA — there are differ
ences between being an RA and a
PA that are often misunderstood.
“I don’t get my own room,” said
Silver, a sophomore. “I run hall
council. I also get put on bigger
programs and focus on the whole
hall instead of just a part of it.”
Despite being in different posi
tions, RAs and PAs tend to work
closely with each other to ensure
the best and most inclusive experi
ences they can for residents in each
hall. Their efforts do not always pay
off, though. Recently, Silver’s new
est resident-board was vandalized
by unknown students, an act which
has become increasingly common
in resident halls.
Undeclared sophomore student
Harper Gande said this vandalism
is not necessarily a new develop
ment.
“It’s always been a thing,” Gan
de said. “Some students don’t nec-
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