Last week,
Sara Pequeรฑo wrote about how UNC-Chapel Hill students rushed Franklin Street to celebrate Carolinaโ€™s win over Duke, even though thereโ€™s still a pandemic going on. Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz said the university is investigating the incident โ€œand will work with the authorities to pursue consequences.โ€

Our readers had thoughts.

โ€œSend all the students HOME to their parents,โ€ commented Facebook user AN ELLIS. โ€œSick of this crap.โ€

โ€œThe students at U.nC behaved recklessly at the beginning of the school year too,โ€ wrote MAMIEJANE G BURDICK. โ€œClasses were closed and campus shut down. So they do this again. Sad that narrowly defeating Duke basketball team causes them to endanger themselves and others. I hope they are safe but they may reap what they sew and who cares!โ€

โ€œFolks gotta celebrate,โ€ wrote BULL CITY POLITICAL NERD, adding a shrug emoji. โ€œDid anyone count masks?โ€

In other news, a poll from Elon University found that North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper is maintaining his popularity, with a 51 percent approval rating. That makes him more popular among North Carolinians than both Donald Trump and President Joe Biden.

โ€œHe has a really impressive track record in North Carolina elections, but I canโ€™t help but think that most of it boils down to luck,โ€ wrote Facebook user JOSHUA PATERNI. โ€œMcCrory and Forest weโ€™re both truly awful candidates. All Cooper really needed to do was avoid beating himself, a la Cal Cunningham.โ€

โ€œThe key to his success is moderation,โ€ responded MICHAEL DEBERRY. โ€œIt also helps that heโ€™s run against really awful opponents in both Governorโ€™s races.โ€

โ€œQuiet and competent can win,โ€ wrote CHUCK ALLEN.

Meanwhile, Raleigh reader DOUG JENNETTE took issue with some of the INDYโ€™s advertising partners.

โ€œFor a progressive newspaper that prides itself as a voice for disadvantaged communities, I find it tragically ironic that you feature two full-page cigarette ads (Lucky Strike & American Spirit) in each issue,โ€ Jennette wrote. โ€œTobacco causes 7 million deaths annually worldwide (480,000 in the US), with 80% of the 1.3 billion tobacco users living in low & middle income countries. Maybe the INDY philosophy just boils down to that articulated by an old-time NC bootlegger when asked why he did not drink: โ€˜Why son, you know moonshineโ€™s not made to drink. Itโ€™s made to sell.โ€™ย So, itโ€™s just business?โ€

For what itโ€™s worth: There is a mile-high wall separating the INDYโ€™s ad and editorial teams. Our free paper depends on advertisers to survive and pay our staff a living wage. If you want to help, please consider donating to the press club this year. You can find more information at indyweek.com/supporttheindy/indy-week-press-club/.