Press release
from Office of the Governor
Gov. Bev Perdue today ordered state flags to be lowered immediately to half-staff on all state facilities in honor of former University of North Carolina System President William, Friday, who died this morning at age 92. Funeral arrangements are pending. All North Carolinians are invited to join in this tribute.
Dr. Friday was a beloved icon in North Carolina who presided over the UNC System, 1956 to 1986. The AP described it as a period that included desegregation, challenges to free speech and the creation of a 16-campus state university system. Enrollment began to surge during his tenure, setting the stage for major expansions and battles over tuition increases in the years since he retired.
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.