Let’s get a few things out of the way before we sink our teeth into this very sensitive issue. My opinions are my own, and in no way are wholly representative of Tar Heel Blog or my fellow contributors. I have lived in North Carolina my entire life, graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2014, and have a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University. So I hope I’m qualified enough to speak about this topic.
Let’s also get some facts out there. Silent Sam—which for the uninformed is a statue on UNC’s campus proper that memorializes UNC students who fought for the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War—was erected in 1913 by a group of alumni from the University as well as the United Daughters of the Confederacy.