First Amendment Day 2026: The Two-Way Mirror: Transparency on the UNC Campus

Public universities are subject to North Carolina’s public records laws and are expected to operate transparently. At the same time, universities increasingly face demands for disclosure from external actors, including legislators, media organizations and members of the public. This panel will explore a central question: When is transparency embraced and when is it resisted?

Drawing on recent controversies surrounding public records requests and the disclosure of course materials, the discussion will examine how transparency obligations are applied, who benefits from disclosure and what these debates reveal about governance, academic freedom and public accountability at a public university.