“We are quicker to anger, we let anger drive too many of our interactions,” Bruni said. “There’s a culture that’s taking hold wherever everybody is taking inventory over what their slights are. They’re turning minor slights into major crises. They’re looking for someone to blame. They’re looking for someone to punish. That’s the story of our politics.”

Bruni explores this concept in his New York Times bestseller “The Age of Grievance,” and, on April 9, spoke of how society got to this place and how it can move past it, in a sold-out James P. Elder Lecture in ������Ƶ’s Whitley Auditorium, part of the 2025-26 ������Ƶ Speaker Series.

Bruni served at The New York Times for more than 25 years as a White House correspondent, the Rome bureau chief, the paper’s chief restaurant critic and op-ed columnist. He is the author of five New York Times bestsellers.

Assistant Professor of Political Science and Public Policy Dillan Bono-Lunn welcomed the audience Thursday night, before Charlotte Pfabe ’27, a communications fellow and “ENN Tonight” anchor, introduced Bruni.��The James P. Elder Lecture series was first endowed by former students of the popular professor and mentor. An��estate gift��from Elder in 2021 doubled the endowment of the speaker series, ensuring it will endure for future generations.

Polluted media landscape

In his address, Bruni discussed three ways Americans got to the “age of grievance,” the first being the “polluted media landscape.” This landscape is something Bruni knows intimately after working for The New York Times. As more media outlets exists, along with social media, Bruni says that “nobody is living in the same reality.”

“Truth itself has become a marketplace with lousy merchants,” Bruni said. “There are no more gatekeepers when it comes to the information that’s put out.”

To combat this issue, Bruni says, there needs to be continuous discussions with young people about what is happening on social media and the “lopsided” role of information and whether “they are using social media or it is using them.”

Micro-climates of exclusivity

Another reason Americans have moved into the “age of grievance,” Bruni says, is because of “micro-climates of exclusivity,” how everything from entertainment, travel, dining, etc. has incorporated levels of tiering, mainly based on how much one pays. Bruni says this “pecking order” has existed for a long time in society, but has moved into “every facet, every corner of our lives.” Bruni says social media only makes the issue worse.

“There are all of these peep holes into how other people are living, and they present a very, very warped view that leads people to feel left out and resentful,” he said. “Social media platforms are engines of envy.”

But Bruni says people don’t have to buy into these micro-climates and instead focus on “civic care”: how people are taking care of society around them.��

Primed for disappointment

The third reason Bruni says Americans have moved into the “age of grievance” is because they have become more pessimistic, noting that a minority of Americans now believe their children will do better than them in life.

“We’ve all become catastrophists in front of our children. We’re just so primed for disappointment,” he said. “If I believe that tomorrow is certainly going to be darker than today, if I believe everything is going to hell, then I no longer have a collaborative relationship with you.”

Though he says all hope is not lost, people should avoid activities like “doom scrolling,” where you continuously look at negative news updates on social media, and get out of a cycle of pessimism.

“We need to start talking in a more realistic fashion about whether that pessimism is warranted,” said Bruni. “So much of it is not about the world being worse, it’s about expectations and a shortfall of expectations.”

The key, Bruni says, to get out of this “age of grievance,” and not “feel terrible all the time,” starts with perspective.

“Each of us (needs) to decide not to be that person who always sees things the most darkly, who is primed for offense, who is spoiling for a fight and is looking for people to be angry,” he said. “Because the way a culture changes is with each of us, and then our friends, and then our friends’ friends, and then we actually have enough people to make a difference and have a better America.”

On April 4,�� the ������Ƶ Engineering Club, Phoenix Racing Club and the Department of Physical Therapy brought the Go Baby Go Initiative to ������Ƶ’s campus for the first time. Founded in 2012 at the University of Delaware, Go Bo Baby is a national initiative that modifies ride-on toy cars to meet the individual physical needs of young children who experience mobility challenges.

Six young children zipped across the pavement in brightly colored toy cars, laughter trailing behind them. These weren’t ordinary rides; they had been carefully reimagined by those same students inside, transformed into custom vehicles designed just for the kids who drove them.

The collaborative effort between the ������Ƶ Engineering Club, Phoenix Racing and the Department of Physical Therapy brought the Go Baby Go Initiative to ������Ƶ’s campus for the first time. Founded in 2012 at the University of Delaware, Go Bo Baby is a national initiative that modifies ride-on toy cars to meet the individual physical needs of young children who experience mobility challenges.

Julianna Millett ’26 spearheaded ������Ƶ’s effort with fellow engineering majors Diego Hernandez ’26 and Abigail Johnson ’27, after learning about the program through their Tikkun Olam Makers Fellowship. The TOM Fellowship Program is a nine-month international program that supports campus leaders, students and faculty in leading “communities” of students who use their engineering and design skills to co-create TOM Solutions for problems faced by people with disabilities, the elderly and the poor.

“For a lot of children, this is their first mobility device. Insurance isn’t going to cover a mobility aid because kids grow so fast,” said Millett. “With this car, it’s giving them almost a first experience of having some autonomy over their movement.”

On Saturday, engineering students adapted the car’s gas pedal to be a button on the steering wheel so the children could drive the car more efficiently, and physical therapy students helped adjust five-point harnesses so the children could also ride comfortably.

Sirena Hargrove-Leak, professor of engineering, views this work as an extension of ������Ƶ’s Engineering Design for Service course, where students work in small teams to design devices for systems that aid a local community client.

“Now it becomes an extracurricular engagement for students who are really motivated by that type of work to be able to continue it, and it connects them to a much larger organization,” said Hargrove-Leak. “It’s international and several other institutions of higher education are part of this, so just having that connectivity with other people who are doing similar work and moving it into the extracurricular space broadens and deepens that experience.”

Rebekkah Manning’s 4-year-old son, Henry has cerebral palsy and works regularly with the Department of Physical Therapy. Manning says Henry has not been able to play like other children his age due to his condition.

“A lot of options are not open to him. Even the rides at the city park are not adaptable and accessible,” she said. “It’s discouraging to try to be the mother and father of a child who wants to play, and he can’t.”

Henry was fitted into his car on Saturday while his father controlled the driving through a remote control, and Henry was also able to use the steering wheel button to drive.

“It is a dream come true because it’s something that we realized that we couldn’t do with Henry unless we had help,” said Manning. “When he got in, he got a little bit nervous, and everybody was watching, but then after a few laps here, did you see his smile grow? And he started interacting more. So, it is definitely a confidence builder.”

Carrie McCollum heard about the Go Baby Go program through their family’s physical therapist at Cone Health, who is an ������Ƶ alum. McCollum’s daughter BillieAnn has cerebral palsy, and while her older brother had driven her in his toy car, McCollum says it’s safer and better for BillieAnn to now drive her own.

“I hope to see her getting outside more often,” said McCollum. “We live on a farm, we have plenty of open space for her to move around on, but the wheelchair does not go well on gravel or rough terrain. I hope that this will be a way for her to drive around and see things out in our yard and on our farm.”

Hargrove-Leak says while this experience has been beneficial for the families involved, the students and her find it rewarding as well.

“It is so fulfilling to be able to serve as a mentor for these students,” said Hargrove-Leak. “I have just enjoyed watching them grow as servant leaders, using their knowledge and skills to help other people. That’s always been my dream as an engineering educator, to try to encourage students to use what they’re learning for good in the world.”

This event is sold out.

Journalist and bestselling author Frank Bruni will deliver the Elder Lecture on Thursday, April 9, at 6:30 p.m. in Whitley Auditorium.

Bruni is the author of five New York Times bestsellers including “The Age of Grievance,” a dive into why Americans are so angry. He makes the case that Americans conflate legitimate causes and petty complaints, creating a condition of constant self-victimization. People obsess over how they’ve been wronged and who to blame, which poses a threat to American democracy, rather than choosing to focus on civil, productive dialogue and constructive action.

“The Beauty of Dusk” is a memoir detailing Bruni’s adjustment to the sudden loss of vision in one eye and the acceptance of the reality that the same fate could befall the other at any moment. It earned rave reviews from people and publications including Oprah Winfrey, Katie Couric, People magazine, The New York Times and The Washington Post.

The first openly gay op-ed columnist at the Times, Bruni is a recipient of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association’s Randy Shilts Award for his career-long contributions to the LGBTQ community and the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Newspaper Columnist. A Pulitzer Prize finalist in feature writing, he is the Eugene C. Patterson Professor of the Practice of Journalism and Public Policy at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy.

Kari Taylor ’09 will be transitioning from her current role in the President’s Office to a new position as ������Ƶ’s Deputy Chief Integration Officer, based in Charlotte. Beginning June 1, Kari will play a pivotal role in ������Ƶ’s integration efforts, bringing the relationship-building expertise, collaborative efforts and strategic vision she has demonstrated through her extensive leadership at ������Ƶ.

An ������Ƶ alumna who earned both her undergraduate degree and MBA, Kari joined the President’s staff in 2018 and has been instrumental in amplifying campus engagement through innovative strategies and meaningful initiatives, such as the 1923 Commemoration, fostering trust and building community.

Director of New Student Programs Emily Krechel will transition to the President’s Office as Deputy Chief of Staff for Campus Engagement and Strategic Initiatives, also effective June 1. Emily joined the ������Ƶ community in 2017 and holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education from UNC Greensboro, where her research focused on equity and student success, and her career includes leadership roles at UC Berkeley, Earlham College, and now ������Ƶ.

As co-chair of the university’s Mentoring Initiative Design Team and former chair of Staff Advisory Council, Emily is a dedicated advocate for meaningful relationships on campus and embodies our commitment to student-centered excellence. Her deep belief in our mission, passion for student development, and proven ability to build transformative programs make her an outstanding addition to our team.

“These transitions reflect the strength of ������Ƶ’s leadership pipeline and our commitment to positioning talented colleagues where they can have the greatest impact,” said President Connie Ledoux Book in an email to the university community. “Please join me in congratulating Kari on her new opportunity and welcoming Emily to her expanded role.”

In a survey of 800 North Carolina adults conducted from March 13 to 20, 2026, 70% said they have heard a “great deal” or “some” about Cooper, compared to just 35% who have heard the same amount about his Republican opponent, Michael Whatley.

Whatley, who formerly served as chair of the Republican National Committee and the North Carolina Republican Party, remains largely unknown to registered voters. Nearly two-thirds of respondents (62%) said they have heard “only a little” (33%) or “nothing” (29%) about him.

When asked about their overall impressions, 48% of registered voters viewed Cooper favorably and 34% unfavorably. For Whatley, 25% of registered voters viewed him favorably, 34% unfavorably and a plurality of 41% hold a neutral opinion.��

Election fairness and administration

Looking ahead to the fall mid-terms, the poll highlights a striking drop in public confidence regarding the integrity of the national vote count. Only 38% of North Carolinians said they believe this year’s election will produce a fair and accurate count of the votes cast nationwide.

While only 21% explicitly said the count will��not��be fair, a sizable 41% of voters said they are “unsure.” This represents a significant decline in confidence from an ������Ƶ Poll conducted in August 2024, when 48% believed the count would be fair and accurate, and 32% were unsure.

Despite this growing uncertainty, North Carolinians fiercely oppose the idea of the federal government taking over election administration. When asked if election administration should remain a state government responsibility or change to a federal responsibility, 63% of residents said it should remain with the states. Only 12% support nationalizing voting processes, while 25% are unsure.

The preference for state-run elections crosses party lines: 79% of Democrats, 56% of Republicans, and 53% of Independents all agreed that state governments should retain primary responsibility for election administration within their borders.

“While the U.S. Senate race continues to take shape around a major gap in voter familiarity with the candidates, a broader story emerging from the 2026 election is how North Carolinians view the electoral process itself,” said Jason Husser, director of the ������Ƶ Poll. “North Carolinians are increasingly anxious and uncertain about whether the national vote count will be fair, even more than they were in the contentious 2024 election. Yet, most voters do not see federal intervention as the solution. Rather, we measured a strong, bipartisan consensus that election administration belongs in the hands of the states.”

Regarding the partisan balance of power, voters currently show a slight preference for Democratic control of Congress. Forty percent of respondents favored Democratic to control of both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2026 elections, compared to 35% who preferred Republican control.

State approval ratings and policy issues

The poll also surveyed North Carolinians on state leadership and several hot-button policy issues:

• Approval Ratings:��Democratic Gov. Josh Stein received a positive job approval rating (43% approve, 27% disapprove). By contrast, the North Carolina General Assembly earns lower marks, with just 21% approving of the legislature’s job performance and 37% disapproving (42% are unsure).
• Data Centers:��As technology infrastructure expands globally, 44% of residents said they would oppose the construction of a large data center in their local community, compared to 24% who would support it and 32% who were unsure.
• Concealed Carry Permits:��The General Assembly has recently considered allowing concealed carry of handguns without a permit. A clear majority of North Carolinians (56%) said they oppose removing the permit requirement, which currently involves a fee, safety training and a background check. Only 30% supported removing the requirement. These numbers reflect slight change from a that found 54% opposed to removing the requirement.
• Healthcare:��A large majority (68%) said they are “very” or “somewhat” concerned that federal government cuts in health care spending might make it harder for them to get the care they need. Furthermore, 47% of respondents grade the U.S. healthcare system with a “D” or “F,” while 30% give it a “C.”
• Economy: Opinions about the North Carolina economy remained virtually unchanged compared with the September 2025 ������Ƶ Poll, with 29% giving the state’s economic condition an “A” or “B” and 71% giving it a “C,” “D” or “F.”

Poll Methodology

Access the poll topline and methodology at:��. The survey was developed by the ������Ƶ Poll and fielded by the international marketing and polling firm YouGov as an online, web-based survey, self-administered with online panels. Between March 13 and March 20, 2026, YouGov interviewed 928 North Carolina adults aged 18 and older. These respondents were then matched down to a sample of 800 to produce the final dataset.

The matched cases were weighted to the sampling frame using propensity scores based on age, gender, race/ethnicity, years of education, and home ownership. The margin of error for this poll (adjusted for weights) is +/-4.43%.

About the ������Ƶ Poll

Established in 2000, the ������Ƶ Poll conducts national and North Carolina surveys on issues of importance to voters and residents. Information from these polls is shared with media, citizens and public officials to facilitate informed public policy making through the better understanding of citizens’ opinions and attitudes. The poll is fully funded by ������Ƶ and operates as the neutral, non-biased information resource.

The ������Ƶ Poll is a charter member of the��, a program created by the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) in 2014 to educate polling firms on ways to better share how they collect and interpret their information. The ������Ƶ Poll’s voluntary participation in this initiative signifies a willingness to clearly state in its reports how questions were asked, in what order, who funded the poll and then conducted it, and a definition of the population under study, among other details.

The article was published in “Action in Teacher Education,” by Associate Professor of Education Heidi Hollingsworth, Associate Professor of Education Lisa Buchanan, Abigail Maclean Wilson ’21, Felicia Robinson ’21, and William S. Long Professor and Professor of Education Jeffrey Carpenter.

The research focuses on the impact of a course-based community asset mapping project on undergraduate students’ capacity for identifying and understanding assets within communities surrounding specific schools.

“Action in Teacher Education is a journal that I find relevant to my work in the undergraduate Teacher Education and M.Ed. programs here at ������Ƶ, and I have attended and presented at the ATE Annual Meeting conference in the past, so it was exciting for our article to be recognized in this way,” said Heidi Hollingsworth, associate professor of education, and one of the authors. “Huge thanks to my co-authors who were integral in the conceptualization and implementation of the project and the analyses that led to this publication.”

“The best part of this multi-year project was working with faculty colleagues and graduates. It is an honor write together and to share this award with them,” said Lisa Buchanan, associate professor of education and one of the authors.

Sponsored by the Robert Schuck Fund, this award recognizes and promotes exceptional research that makes a substantial contribution to the improvement of teacher education. Established in honor of Robert F. Schuck, the award reflects his enduring commitment to rigorous scholarship that strengthens the field. Through this recognition, ATE seeks to encourage research that advances teacher education, supports the national and international dissemination of impactful findings, and expands the knowledge base that informs our profession.

About the Authors

Heidi Hollingsworth��is an associate professor of education at ������Ƶ. Her research focuses on teacher preparation that involves policy and advocacy, community-based learning, academic service-learning, community asset mapping and study abroad.

Lisa Buchanan��is an associate professor of education at ������Ƶ. Her research in teacher education is focused on preservice and in service teachers’ beliefs and decision making, social studies education and the use of children’s literature and media to teach difficult topics.

Jeffrey Carpenter��is a professor of education at ������Ƶ. His research focuses on self-directed and collaborative teacher learning.

Abigail Maclean Wilson ’21��graduated from ������Ƶ in 2021 with a major in elementary education and a minor in early childhood education. She recently spent two years in Zambia working with a university ministry.

Felicia Robinson ’21��graduated from ������Ƶ in 2021 with a major in elementary education and a minor in African and African American studies. She is an educator and a program assistant for the Intercultural Learning Certificate Program at ������Ƶ.

In a survey conducted by the ������Ƶ Poll, nearly two-thirds of North Carolinians (62%) opposed sending a large number of U.S. ground troops into Iran, with only 16% expressing support. The strong opposition spans political affiliations, including 85% of Democrats, 62% of Independents and a 42% plurality of Republicans. Only 27% of Republicans favored a large troop deployment in Iran, with 31% unsure.

The survey of 800 North Carolina adults was conducted from March 13 to 20, 2026. The poll’s margin of error is +/-4.43%.

Beyond the prospect of ground troops, a majority of the poll respondents (51%) opposed current U.S. military involvement in Iran overall, compared to 30% who supported it. When asked about President Donald Trump’s military actions since January 2025, 52% of respondents said he has “gone too far” in using military force abroad, while 32% said he has done about what is necessary.

Looking ahead, 44% of North Carolinians said they expect that Americans will be less safe one year from today as a result of recent military actions in Iran, compared to 29% who said Americans will be more safe. In addition, 58% of North Carolinians said the president should be required to get Congressional approval before taking military actions like those recently seen in Iran and Venezuela.

“North Carolinians are showing clear hesitation about further military escalation,” said Jason Husser, director of the ������Ƶ Poll. “The strong opposition to deploying ground troops, coupled with the bipartisan desire for Congressional oversight, signals significant public anxiety about the long-term safety and direction of U.S. involvement abroad.”

Assessing Trump’s job performance and the administration

President Donald Trump’s approval rating in the state continues to face a widening gap. In this poll, 35% of North Carolinians approved of the job he is doing as president, while 55% disapproved. In March 2025, the gap was much narrower, with 42% approving and 45% disapproving.

Approval ratings for key administration figures are strongly correlated with perceptions of President Trump. Vice President JD Vance received a 34% approval rating with 45% disapproving. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stood at 34% approval and 38% disapproval, while Secretary of Defense (Secretary of War) Pete Hegseth held 30% approval and 46% disapproval ratings.

The U.S. Congress got the worst approval rating among measured institutions, with 64% disapproving of the job Congress is doing, compared with just 11% who approved.

Economic grades and tariff impacts

More than half of North Carolinians (55%) said the national economy has gotten worse since President Trump took office last year, with only 20% saying it has gotten better and 25% saying it has stayed about the same. When asked to assign a letter grade to the national economy, 47% gave a grade of “D” or “F,” while just 20% gave an “A” or “B.”

Commenting on their own financial situation, 53% said they have experienced a negative impact from the Trump administration’s tariffs on goods imported from other countries. This represents an increase from September 2025, when 46% reported negative impacts. Only 12% in the latest poll said the tariffs have had a positive impact personally.

Views on ICE and local law enforcement

On immigration enforcement, 52% of respondents held a negative overall impression of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), compared to 33% who viewed the agency positively. Democrats (87%) and Independents (61%) expressed overwhelmingly negative impressions of ICE while 68% of Republicans had a positive impression.

Poll respondents were split on whether state, county and local law enforcement agencies should assist federal ICE officers in enforcing federal immigration laws. In this poll, 41% said local agencies should assist, while 38% said they should not. Support for local assistance has dropped five points since September 2025, when 46% were in favor.

Poll Methodology

Access the poll topline and methodology at:��. The survey was developed by the ������Ƶ Poll and fielded by the international marketing and polling firm YouGov as an online, web-based survey, self-administered with online panels. Between March 13 and March 20, 2026, YouGov interviewed 928 North Carolina adults aged 18 and older. These respondents were then matched down to a sample of 800 to produce the final dataset.

The matched cases were weighted to the sampling frame using propensity scores based on age, gender, race/ethnicity, years of education, and home ownership. The margin of error for this poll (adjusted for weights) is +/-4.43%.

About the ������Ƶ Poll

Established in 2000, the ������Ƶ Poll conducts national and North Carolina surveys on issues of importance to voters and residents. Information from these polls is shared with media, citizens and public officials to facilitate informed public policy making through the better understanding of citizens’ opinions and attitudes. The poll is fully funded by ������Ƶ and operates as the neutral, non-biased information resource.

The ������Ƶ Poll is a charter member of the��, a program created by the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) in 2014 to educate polling firms on ways to better share how they collect and interpret their information. The ������Ƶ Poll’s voluntary participation in this initiative signifies a willingness to clearly state in its reports how questions were asked, in what order, who funded the poll and then conducted it, and a definition of the population under study, among other details.

These photos highlight key moments from the month, captured by staff in the Office of University Communications.

������Ƶ Day

������Ƶ’s 13th annual ������Ƶ Day saw a record-breaking amount raised thanks to the generosity of alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students and friends.��Over the course of 24 hours, supporters made��6,214 gifts, raising a record-breaking��$3.58 million, with each gift being an investment in the experiences that define an ������Ƶ education.

Carnegie Concert

The ������Ƶ Wind Ensemble took the stage on March 11 at Carnegie Hall in New York City, marking the first time an ensemble from the university performed inside the world-renowned venue.

Connecting with Queens

Activity related to the merger between ������Ƶ and Queens University of Charlotte continues to expand this spring with recent efforts focused on campus visits, external outreach and community engagement.

Administrators and staff from Queens University of Charlotte traveled to ������Ƶ for a day of meetings and tours, the integration team members from both organizations met on the ������Ƶ campus, and admissions leaders welcomed counselors from across the country for a joint fly-in experience that included both campuses.

Roots & Horizons

The Spring Dance Concert, “Roots & Horizons,” drew inspiration from the Akan concept of Sankofa, meaning “to go back and get it,” which emphasizes the importance of learning from the past to move forward. The production featured works by all women choreographers, including ������Ƶ faculty and guest artists, performed by ������Ƶ students.

‘We should do better’

In The Baird Lecture on March 12, part of the ������Ƶ Speaker Series, techno-sociologist Zeynep Tufecki spoke to the threats posed by artificial intelligence and how college students can be at the forefront of a solution.

“Don’t let anybody tell you this is so big that we can’t do anything, because we have always done this,” she said. “We just can do it better. We should do it better.”

A WEekend of wellness

The second Women of ������Ƶ WEekend brought together the ������Ƶ community for two days focused on connection, inspiration and transformation. The event centered around the six dimensions of well-being within HealthEU: community, emotional, financial, physical, purpose and social.

Held on March 13 and 14, the WEekend included information sessions with experts on a variety of topics, including a fireside chat with Joy Bauer, nutrition expert from the TODAY Show.

������Ƶ student Rony Dahdal ’26, and his brother, alumnus��Rafi Dahdal ’24 G’24��were highlighted in a The Assembly article chronicling their family’s journey from war-torn Syria to North Carolina in search of educational opportunity.

The story, details how the Dahdal family’s commitment to learning endured despite the dangers of civil war and the challenges of rebuilding their lives in the United States.��

After fleeing Damascus in 2012 amid escalating violence, the Dahdal family settled in North Carolina, where education remained central to their long-term goals.��Rafi Dahdal is��an ������Ƶ graduate through the Accelerated 3+1 Dual Degree Program in business administration and business analytics. He has gone on to serve as a Youth Trustee for the university.

At ������Ƶ, Rony Dahdal has distinguished himself as a Lumen Scholar and Goldwater Scholar, conducting innovative research using LiDAR technology to explore noninvasive ways to detect vital signs — work aimed at improving health outcomes through emerging technologies.

“I felt so encouraged to continue research because I’ve seen my parents value higher education,” said Rony. “It was very hard to deal with as a little kid, but I look back on it now, and I’m grateful.”