Press release from the office of Sen. Martin Nesbitt, who represents Buncombe County

Nesbitt statement on potential Republican closure of UNC system campuses

Raleigh, NC –Today, Senate Democratic Leader Martin Nesbitt responded to reports that Senate Republicans are considering closing two UNC system campuses in their budget.

“The Republicans seem determined to destroy all the history of this great state. They have a new agenda for North Carolina and it does not include public education. This is just their latest idea since 2010 to dismantle the public schools and universities.

One of the major reasons for the greatness of our university system is its diversity – diversity of mission, background, and region. And for my entire tenure in the General Assembly, I have heard the Republicans threaten that diversity. From the time I arrived, they have talked about merging UNC Asheville with Western Carolina and there have been constant attacks on the historically black colleges and universities, which have proven to be vital economic engines and providers of affordable education in Central and Eastern North Carolina. Ultimately, this is about diversity of opportunity. Are we going to expand access to education and encourage innovation and job creation? Or are we going to shut down the economic engines that provide that opportunity? It would be a tragedy to close UNC campuses and North Carolina would be worse off for it,” said Senate Democratic Leader Martin Nesbitt.

Story on potential campus closures:
http://www.wral.com/unc-system-could-lose-campuses/12252716/