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Articles by Mary Blake Nobles
Satire: In loving memory of biscuits (2003-2025)
Opinion The UNC bench celebrates a 3-pointer made by UNC senior guard RJ Davis (4)during the men’s ACC quarterfinal basketball game against Florida State at the Capital One Arena on Thursday March 14, 2024. UNC won 92-67. Editorial Board Member Apr 1, 2026, 10:00 AM On a January afternoon, a wave of anticipation overcame fans in the Dean E. Smith Center. Graduate guard RJ Davis sank a free throw to advance the Tar Heels to their 99th point in a thriller against Boston College.
Column: This patchwork quilt of a team just might embody “Carolina Basketball”
Opinion Editorial Board Member Dec 1, 2025, 1:40 AM The jumbotron in the Dean E. Smith Center can’t help but make me miss the glory days. Highlights of championship-winning teams flash on the big screens, captivating fans before the starting lineup is announced.
Column: The Democrats can come back through competence
Opinion Oct 14, 2025, 1:41 PM Over the last two election cycles, the Democratic Party’s prospects have soured considerably, losing a federal government trifecta to Republicans and losing the popular vote for the first time in 20 years. In response, there have been competing views among Democrats as to how best to respond.
Column: Dear Democrats, stop being 'Republican Lite'
Printing news. Raising hell. Since 1893. Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 Newsletters Latest print issue Zohran Mamdani speaks at 32BJ SEIU Thursday, July 30, 2025 in Manhattan, New York. Photo courtesy of Barry Williams/New York Daily News. Last week, The New York Times published an article reporting the Democratic Party’s major loss of ground between the 2020 and 2024 elections. Thirty states track voter registration by political affiliation.
Column: Despite DOGE’s best efforts, equity cannot be left behind
Printing news. Raising hell. Since 1893. Sunday, March 16, 2025 Newsletters Latest print issue In his address to Congress on Tuesday, President Donald Trump championed his executive actions, taking time to applaud the efforts of the new Department of Government Efficiency and its head, Elon Musk — the unelected bureaucrat determined to oust the government’s unelected bureaucrats.
Column: LA wildfires are sparking a discussion on prison labor. It's long overdue.
Printing news. Raising hell. Since 1893. Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 Newsletters Latest print issue As unprecedented wildfires rage in Southern California, many eyes are on the people on the front lines of disaster relief — incarcerated firefighters. Over 1,100 responding firefighters are California inmates.
Column: With veto power back, N.C. Democrats have restored a safeguard against Republican extremism
Printing news. Raising hell. Since 1893. Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024 Newsletters Latest print issue The results from statewide elections tell a clear story about Republican dominance: North Carolina voters are over it. Pending a recount for the Supreme Court race, Democrats have nearly finished their series of wins in statewide races, flipping the lieutenant governor and superintendent of public instruction offices and retaining the governor, attorney general and secretary of state offices.
Column: Vote all the way down your ballot - and know why you’re doing it
Printing news. Raising hell. Since 1893. Monday, Oct. 28, 2024 Newsletters Latest print issue If someone were to ask you who you’re voting for, your mind would naturally go to a presidential candidate. It makes sense — it’s the most high-profile race in the country, and with that comes the most publicity through news stories, debates and incessant ads. It’s also the reason why so many people feel their vote is useless.
Column: Apply the 'veil of ignorance' to inform your vote
Printing news. Raising hell. Since 1893. Monday, Oct. 7, 2024 Newsletters Latest print issue Imagine a scenario where you have a strong grasp of politics, economics and other factors that inform your voting decisions. You have the ability to shape the kind of society you want to live in. The catch is, you don’t know anything about your identity, blocking your knowledge of how you might be treated in this society. This is the veil of ignorance, a thought exercise devised by philosopher John Rawls.
Column: Social media marketplaces are ruining user experience. Don’t buy in.
Printing news. Raising hell. Since 1893. Monday, Sept. 23, 2024 Newsletters Latest print issue Like it or not, social media is an increasing presence in our lives. More and more, it shapes the way we speak, dress, consume information and even buy things. At the top of the hierarchy of influence, particularly for young people, is TikTok, whose shop feature just turned a year old.
Column: Don't ditch the Dean Dome - leave it accessible for students
Printing news. Raising hell. Since 1893. Monday, Sept. 9, 2024 Newsletters Latest print issue It’s the first home game against Duke in the new-and-improved Dean E. Smith Center, and UNC drains a buzzer-beater shot. Students scream and sprint out of the stadium in a frenzy, booking it for Franklin Street. All they have between them and celebrating the sweet rivalry win are three short, uphill miles on Raleigh Road. Seems pretty practical — right?
Column: Thank you Gov. Cooper for highlighting Kamala Harris’ record
Printing news. Raising hell. Since 1893. Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024 Newsletters Latest print issue On the closing night of the Democratic National Convention, Gov. Roy Cooper brought his A-game. His speech, the last before Vice President Kamala Harris officially accepted her presidential nomination for the Democratic ticket, brought a much-needed take on Harris’ record.
Paris Olympics showed big strides in women’s sports coverage - let’s keep it going
Printing news. Raising hell. Since 1893. Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024 Newsletters Latest print issue The 2024 Paris Olympics breathed life back into the games. The previous Olympics in Tokyo were defined by the pandemic; empty crowds and isolated athletes stripped much of the excitement that is typical of the competition. This summer, arenas roared with cheers, viewership rose, social media discussions were sparked and athletes' joy returned.
Column: Artists promote overconsumption. Don't buy into it
Printing news. Raising hell. Since 1893. Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 Newsletters Latest print issue It seems in the music world, if you want to be a fan, you better pay up. Sure, you can support your favorite artists by streaming their songs, but if you really want to be a fan, be prepared to shell out hundreds of dollars on merchandise and concert tickets. At least, that’s what artists are hoping their fans will do. It’s written all over the products they sell and the prices they sell them for.
Column: Abolition is the only justifiable solution to the death penalty
Printing news. Raising hell. Since 1893. Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024 Newsletters Latest print issue In the United States, cruel and unusual punishment is alive and well, and Alabama’s most recent maneuver around lethal injection sets a dangerous precedent for the justice system. On Jan. 25, Alabama made history by using nitrogen gas as a method of capital punishment. It was the first time the method was used — not just in the United States, but in the entire world.
Column: Dear Anson Dorrance, after 45 seasons, it's time
Printing news. Raising hell. Since 1893. Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023 Newsletters Latest print issue It’s a good rule of thumb not to call a game until the final whistle. Anything can happen. But sometimes it is reasonable to make a prediction and get your hopes up. Take the UNC women’s soccer team's shocking loss to BYU in the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament, for example. It’s 3-1, North Carolina, and there’s 10 minutes left in the game. Seems like a win.
Column: The CLE requirement only increases student disinterest
Printing news. Raising hell. Since 1893. Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023 Newsletters Latest print issue In August 2022, UNC introduced a new curriculum, IDEAs in Action, to the dismay of many members of the class of 2026. With the change to the general education curriculum, new required classes were tacked on, including First-Year Seminars and the fan favorite, College Thriving. Along with these changes came a new requirement: Campus Life Experience.
Column: Stop making your favorite artists hate you
Printing news. Raising hell. Since 1893. Monday, Oct. 9, 2023 Newsletters Latest print issue “I have a favor to ask you: will you put your phones away?” Phoebe Bridgers of supergroup Boygenius asked her fans before she sang the ballad “Letter to an Old Poet” this past Sunday. She’s been asking this of fans since the group's summer tour. I heard this monologue during the group’s Sept. 30 performance at All Things Go Music Festival.
Column: When it comes to politician accountability, the bar is in hell
Printing news. Raising hell. Since 1893. Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023 Newsletters Latest print issue It should be a no-brainer to be against corruption, but apparently, this is not the case in Washington. Sadly, but unsurprisingly, the recent indictment of Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) seems to be a rare case of politicians having a spine. The indictment documents, released Sept. 22, include photographs of alleged bribes that were recovered in the Menendez house.
Editorial: The NCAA wants student-athletes' revenue, not well-being
Printing news. Raising hell. Since 1893. Monday, Sept. 11, 2023 Newsletters Latest print issue The NCAA can cut its whole ‘caring about players’ mental health’ act, because it’s not fooling anyone. There’s no need to waste anyone’s time. It’s clearer than ever that it’s all about the money and a mission to restore power. And Tez Walker is collateral damage. Walker is caught in the middle of the NCAA’s mess of transfer policies and NIL and its desperate attempt to correct them.
Column: Why the USWNT’s World Cup Loss Means Progress
Buy Photos Vlatko Andonovski, Head Coach of USA, talks to Crystal Dunn before the extra time during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match between Sweden and USA at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on Aug. 6, 2023, in Melbourne / Naarm, Australia. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images/TNS) It was 1991 in Guangdong, China, and 12 teams had something to prove. The United States Women’s National Team was one of the frontrunners for the first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Column: Transparency from our politicians should not be a luxury
I spend too much time on TikTok. I lose track of time scrolling through 15 second videos are often not useful. My “For You" page consists of light-hearted and informal videos from a younger age demographic. One of the last things I would expect to see is a comprehensive video from a representative from my state. But that’s exactly what Rep. Jeff Jackson (D-N.C. 14th) is doing. And it’s getting everyone’s attention.
Column: UNC was not in the men’s NCAA Tournament, and I’m okay with that
When I heard that for the first time since 2010, the North Carolina men’s basketball team failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament, I made up my mind that I would not watch a second of it. If my team wasn’t playing, I did not care. In a matter of four days, I was sitting on my couch watching every minute of the first round. I realized that I could either wallow in the reality that the Tar Heels missed March Madness or I could watch the teams that made the tournament.
Column: Future environmental disasters must be stopped
Buy Photos Ohio EPA and EPA contractors collect soil and air samples from the derailment site on March 9, 2023, in East Palestine, Ohio. Cleanup efforts continue after a Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals derailed causing an environmental disaster. Thousands of residents were ordered to evacuate after the area was placed under a state of emergency and temporary evacuation orders. Photo Courtesy of Michael Swensen/Getty Images/TNS.
Column: The NIL policy is saving college basketball
Following UNC men's basketball's most recent NCAA title in 2017, there has been a shift in the culture of North Carolina's team, as one-and-dones began to plague the team year after year. As a result, North Carolina's squads in recent years never meshed with underdeveloped players, leaving behind a fragmented, dysfunctional team. Enter the NIL policy in June 2021.
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