Author Profile

Nicole Divers

Nicole Divers is a research assistant for R Street Institute’s Competition Policy Team. She supports research efforts in areas related to COVID-19 spending.

Prior to R Street, Nicole interned at the Cato Institute’s Project on Public Opinion, where she assisted in the selection and editing of questions and responses. She also interned at the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal, publishing pieces on higher education policy and assisting scholars with their research.

Nicole graduated in 2020 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Political Science and Economics.

Articles by Nicole Divers

Federal Bill May Bolster Campus Free Speech, But Will it Go Anywhere?

Aug 27, 2021 · · Comments Off on Federal Bill May Bolster Campus Free Speech, But Will it Go Anywhere?

In recent years, American universities have come under fire for frequent mistreatment of speech on their campuses. Often, this mistreatment is a result of restrictive or ill-defined speech codes—policies that stifle any speech that would otherwise be protected in general society. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) has found in their annual speech … Continue reading “Federal Bill May Bolster Campus Free Speech, But Will it Go Anywhere?”

Did You Know? 13 UNC Entities Push Out Diversity Statements

Sep 10, 2020 · · Comments Off on Did You Know? 13 UNC Entities Push Out Diversity Statements

After the killing of George Floyd and the protests that followed, several departments at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have released statements on their intention to fight systemic racism. In a petition, alumni of the political science department want it to “make serious efforts towards re-constituting the graduate program towards a more … Continue reading “Did You Know? 13 UNC Entities Push Out Diversity Statements”

Did You Know? Students, Faculty Punished for Speech on Social Media

Aug 13, 2020 · · Comments Off on Did You Know? Students, Faculty Punished for Speech on Social Media

Fordham University student Austin Tong has found himself in hot water over a protest picture on Instagram. In it, he posed with a gun to commemorate the 31st anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre. The private university in New York City found that Tong’s post, as well as another where he criticized the response of … Continue reading “Did You Know? Students, Faculty Punished for Speech on Social Media”

Did You Know? More Open Seats at NC Colleges This Fall

Aug 6, 2020 · · Comments Off on Did You Know? More Open Seats at NC Colleges This Fall

Since COVID-19 hit, students have taken notice and altered their college plans. Some high school seniors are delaying enrollment until the pandemic has subsided, leaving universities with more openings. This year, according to data collected by Sean Mulholland, an economics professor at Western Carolina University, from the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), 10 … Continue reading “Did You Know? More Open Seats at NC Colleges This Fall”

No Housing Refunds Put UNC System Students in Tough Spot

Jul 13, 2020 · · Comments Off on No Housing Refunds Put UNC System Students in Tough Spot

Two UNC system schools, Western Carolina University and UNC-Greensboro, have announced that they will not offer students housing refunds if the university closes due to another COVID-19 outbreak. Both schools added an addendum to their housing contracts relieving them of liability should campus shut down again. The addendum states that “in the event of such … Continue reading “No Housing Refunds Put UNC System Students in Tough Spot”

Did You Know? The Decline of Free Speech Zones

Jul 2, 2020 · · Comments Off on Did You Know? The Decline of Free Speech Zones

The term “free speech zone” can be misleading. While the name implies a policy that promotes free expression, free speech zones do the opposite. They confine political demonstrations to a small, often secluded, area on campus and typically require students to get advance permission to demonstrate.  In Oregon, a pro-life group, Students for Life, filed … Continue reading “Did You Know? The Decline of Free Speech Zones”

Did You Know? What Makes Faculty Happy with Online Classes

Jun 25, 2020 · · Comments Off on Did You Know? What Makes Faculty Happy with Online Classes

The spring semester saw college campuses close and rush to remote instruction. With many schools planning to keep using remote classes in some form for the fall, their benefits need to be understood—as well as their costs. In a recent article published by Studies in Higher Education, Shelly Marasi, Brian Jones, and Janna M. Parker … Continue reading “Did You Know? What Makes Faculty Happy with Online Classes”

Did You Know? UNC’s Plan for Fall

Jun 11, 2020 · · Comments Off on Did You Know? UNC’s Plan for Fall

With campus scheduled to reopen in the fall, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill has released a preliminary roadmap outlining how they plan to mitigate the effects of COVID-19. Although the plan is not yet finalized, it covers four key aspects of university activity: fall schedule, class structure, health and safety, and campus operations. Fall … Continue reading “Did You Know? UNC’s Plan for Fall”