Damn you, UNC-Chapel Hill

Wilson Library, the old Graduate Library

Dear The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill:

I am an alumna, MA '86, PhD '91.

"I read the news today, oh boy."

UNC-Chapel Hill opened its door to students in 1795. Since that time, the university has worked hard for, deserved, and received the highest honors as one of original 8 public ivies.

Yet for as long as I can remember, UNC has admitted students (athletes) who could not do the academic work and propped them up. These students would never have been admitted were it not for the big money that has grown ever larger in NCAA sports.

That was bad enough.

Now I learn, the world has learned, that for almost two decades you have run "classes" that had no professors, no classroom, no attendance.

You have embarrassed me a very deep shade of red, made deeper by my anger. You have made my two degrees from Chapel Hill worth thousands of dollars less than  they were just Wednesday, before the news broke early Thursday morning.

Here's the deal: DO NOT EVER CALL OR WRITE to me with your hand out at fundraising time. Obviously, I have already paid, and you were already NOT in my will.

I loved that school and remember when Chapel Hill was "The Village of Chapel Hill." I received a good education there, but then again I did spend two years at MIT as a Visiting Scientist as part of my education. That experience certainly did not hurt.

I will keep my treasured memories of the school, the campus, the village, the people.

As for the several thousand dollars you just cost me, I will call and give you my snail mail address where you can send my check right away.

It's going to be some kind of Halloween this year, isn't it?

Sincerely,

Victoria Walker Massey, MA '86, PhD '91

The iconic Old Well

The most beautiful place to be in Autumn