Ruby Sinreich, Orange County Blogger

Brooke Cochran

Welcome to OrangePolitics - the online home for progressive perspectives on Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough, and the rest of beautiful Orange County. This statement is on the front page of a nationally recognized website on the politics, life, and community of Orange County, North Carolina. For Ruby Sinreich, OrangePolitics.org, is more than just a blog, it is a way of life.

“I have been involved in local issues for a long time,” said Sinreich. “As an undergrad at UNC I helped a friend get elected to a local office and joined the Chapel Hill Transportation Committee.”

Graduating in 1993, Sinreich remained in Chapel Hill to be active in the politics and progressive life of Orange County. Sinreich saw an opportunity to create a way for the citizens of Orange County to understand current issues and be active within their community. She saw a desire in the people to have a voice and, through her blog, she gave them that voice.

“Chapel Hill is a very progressive city, there is not a simple right-wing or left-wing mentality,” said Sinreich. “I started this blog in 2003 as a way for people to see the progressive issues. I wanted to create an activists and progressive blog so people can know the issues and be active with them.”

Initially, the entire blog was managed and authored solely by Sinreich. If any one wanted to post on the blog or make a comment on an existing blog, Sinreich had to first give permission. At the end of 2007 Sinreich switched to new blogging software that allowed OrangePolitics to have a community of authors. With the new software people have the ability to express their opinion on any issue they want. 

One of the biggest issues in Chapel Hill is new growth of the town and the relationship between the University of North Carolina and the town of Chapel Hill. As more students and people move into Chapel Hill, the housing prices continue to rise.

“Growth is the most challenging because so many people want to live here and the people who already live here, even if they have only been here a week, do not want it to grow,” said Sinreich.

The most pressing issue on the town and university relations is the possible development of Carolina North, a satellite campus of UNC.  Carolina North could potentially be 900 acres, which is bigger than UNC is now. This has caused a great deal of debate for years. Sinreich is very passionate on the issue but because she is UNC alum as well as an active member of the town, she sees the delicate issue from both sides.          

“It is now about how we build it not whether we build it...it will be built,” said Sinreich.  

A great deal of OrangePolitics blogs have been devoted to this topic. As UNC continued to develop plans for Carolina North, they created an advisory board with only a couple town members involved. “This caused major problems because the townspeople felt they had no say in this huge development,” said Sinreich. To help with this problem Sinreich continued to blog on the issue to give people a voice so they could share their opinions and feelings.

Recently the town and UNC entered into a “development agreement” and are actually working together well. UNC has promised to be open with the development plans and Chapel Hill’s Chancellor acts as a positive mediator between the two entities.

Sinreich initially thought that the audience of OrangePolitics would consist of progressives and activists. Interestingly, the main audiences are elected officials and reporters.

“The audience is why OrangePolitics has such great influence within the town,” said Sinreich. “Many reporters look to the blog to see the current issues in the city. The blog carries great weight over what issues are addressed within the town and town officials.”

As Sinreich continues to talk about the issues of Orange County her passion for her town is clear. Sinreich devotes a great deal of her life to raising awareness of the local politics and giving her townspeople a voice. Sinreich receives no pay for her work on OrangePolitics, she does not write for the pay, she writes for the people and her town.

“I do not get paid for this blog, there are no ads and I seldom get donations, said Sinreich. “If I do they do not even cover the hosting costs. I do not care though. This blog is for the people, so they know the issues around them.”

Students Give Back

Students Help Community

Town and Gown relations are bridged through the students of Colorado State University. 160 students from several campus organizations decided to join together and volunteer their time to help elderly residents with yard work. Yards, gutters, and windows were all cleaned at the homes of the many elderly who needed help. The residents were overjoyed with the help the students gave them.

Boone and Appalachian find peace

Boone vs. Appalachian

Finally, after two years of disputes and arguments over expansion to a proposed education building, and town and gown relations Boone and Applachian State University have reached an agreement. The town decided to re-zone the area and give a section of the zoning to the university to build. The university agreed to be open in their plans and discuss them with the town.

Residents Can Experience University for a Day, Scranton, PA

College for a Day

University of Scranton is welcoming local residents for a day of lectures and food. The participants get to enjoy a full breakfast and lunch on campus and listen to top professors give lectures on everything from best-sellers to DNA discovery.  This day gives residents a way to see the university and cultivate learning and thinking in their area.

Carolina North Committee Controversy

Carolina North Controversy

Carolina North is a massive development that is in the works for UNC. The satellite campus will potentially be 900 acres and is causing a great deal of dispute between Chapel Hill and the university. UNC has its own Carolina North Committee while the town has the Horace WIlliams Citizens Committee. A former mayor of Chapel Hill, Kenneth Broun, was recently appointed to be the chairman of a new "leadership advisory committee for UNC. The town wants more say and the school wants their campus.

Towards a Vision of a Vibrant Urban Campus Integrated with the Surrounding Neighborhood

Urban Campus and Local Neighborhoods

Harvard just announced plans of new construction over the next 30 years that will be nearly 10 million square feet. Harvard had purchased numerous buildings which sat vacant for years. Finally the plan for the new urban campus is beginning and the expansion of the town is in fact accepted by the townspeople. The town and the school are working together to develop  "a vibrant urban campus that integrates with the surrounding neighborhood and the creation of new housing, new jobs, and a variety of new attractions (stores, museums, parks, etc.) that will make the campus and community more liveable and interesting."

CSU students give back to their community

CSU serve Fort Collins Community

2000 students, 200 projects
April is national volunteer month and CSU used it as a perfect opportunity to serve its local community. It began with the idea of getting students out, in and around Fort Collins. More than 2000 students were involved this past April with over 200 project sites. The event was held from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on the April 18. The projects ranged from social service and medical organizations, to city, county and state agencies and local neighbors. 

Fort Collins City welcomes students of Colorado State

Colorado State University Welcome

As the new school year begins the community of Fort Collins wants to welcome back students but also remind them of their duty as members of the community. CSU students and long-time residents of Fort Collins are teaming up to visit local neighborhoods and student housing to remind students to respect city ordinances. They are also cooperating on developing a bike safety course from the local police to educate students on safe cycling.

University of Iowa and Iowa City join to decrease high-risk drinking among students

Drinking limitations

High-risk drinking is becoming a great issue among students in the University of Iowa. UNiversity leaders are increasing alcohol training and are providing alcohol safety courses for all incoming freshmen. The Iowa City mayor and city councilors are also doing their part to reduce the supply of alcohol. They have even changed zoning laws to limit the number of alcohol outlets downtown.

Student housing causes issues with city

student housing woes

Noisy parties, vandalism, and property damage are just a few of the complaints associated with the off-campus housing boom in Oshawa, Ontario. When the university experienced a massive increase in growth so did off-campus housing. The issue is that the local people who live in the city pay a great deal of property taxes and do not want to deal with the constant disruptions. Oshawa council is trying to find ways to fix this issue.

UTA and Arlington strive for a unified relationship

UTA and Arlington 

UTA and Arlington have had a distinctly separate relationship for many years. Currently leaders are joining forces to blur that line and implement a master plan known as "College Town, UTA". Creating a college town it is the university that has the most influence over the development, expansion, and design. UTA is one of Arlington's largest employers and has extensive economic impact. If the university and the city can work together the college town will be extremely influential.

UMD students help city achieve a new from of energy

UMD for clean energy

College Park residents have viewed the university's students as a group that does not care about the city. Yet surprisingly the students are the ones who developing new, innovative ideas for environmental policies. Students take active roles in the community they are involved in and are encouraging green and environmentally beneficial alternatives to the way the city is run.

Yale's New Haven

Yale's community

Yale is working closely with the city of New Haven to bring new growth and development to the vibrant city. The focus is on economic development, new housing, developing a vital downtown, and supporting good public education for the children of the city.

town and gown united for improvement

town and gown united for improvement

Both the university and local officials of Chapel Hill unite to develop much needed bike lanes, sidewalks, and turn lanes that have been in the making since 1998. Yet this has not come without struggle, the university "reluctantly" agreed to the improvements.

Fraternity and Sorority contributions

I think that if town and gown issues are discussed in any length, fraternity and sorority involvement must also be examined. A major part of each greek society, at least at the University of Georgia, is philanthropy contributions. Philanthropies are a very important part of the greek society and many pride themselves on how much they give back to the society through their fundraisers and philanthropic contributions. Organizations such as ugaMiracle and Heros are run primarily by Greek societies and raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for these causes. ugaMiracle is the philanthropy for Phi Mu, a sorority at the University of Georgia, and has expanded to become a campus wide organization to benefit Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

Each sorority and fraternity has its own philanthropy they sponsor and donate generously through out the year to their specific cause. 23 percent of the students at UGA are members of a greek society. The Greek Society even has a Greek Life office at the university to handle all greek issues, events, and encourage positive influence from its members.

Even though in many cases the greek society strives to be positive influences within the campus and community, they also are known for hazing, excessive drinking, and parties that often have very negative impacts on the community.

Despite the negative sides to the greek societies, philanthropically speaking, they do help contribute a great deal of money and support to good causes.

New Treatment Plant in 2012

New Treatment Plant for University of Georgia

Here is an article I found relating to the post I published earlier on the smells of College Station and East Campus. Apparently the smells have gathered a wide range of attention and the plan is to end the smells by Feb. 12 of 2012. $175 million worth of sewer upgrades are being done across the Athens area to double capacity and better the water quality for the Athens area. UNfortunately locals must suffer the smells until then.

Reducing Occupancy limit in PA

Reducing Occupancy limit in PA

Apparently the University of Georgia is not the only college that is lowering the occupancy limit in local single-family homes.

Universities Are Essential to Recovery

Universities Are Essential to Recovery

As the recession continues to effect most of American's Universities prove to be an important factor for recovery. Universities help local businesses to grow, put money back into the economy, and provide needed research for the society.


As said by C. D. Mote, Jr.- President, University of Maryland,
Universities: "Prepare students to compete for quality jobs; deliver economic development far beyond campus; position states to compete for the jobs, businesses, and partnerships recovery will bring."

Smells of East Campus

If anyone has driven on College Station Road or been on the loop around Athens Perimeter they have noticed the outrageous smells seeping through the closed windows of the moving car.  It seems that construction is at a halt because the smell has been around for months effecting all who drive, or walk, through the contaminated area. The problem is not the University's but the city's, however, students are the main ones who suffer as the smells consumes the East Campus area.

When will the smells stop and how is the University responding to the prolonged sewage plant problem?

Town and Gown improvement

Best Practices-Town and Gown Association


Amazingly the Clemson Joint City-University Advisory Board, (JCUAB) officially formed a non-profit corporation, the International Town & Gown Association.  


This association is to improve relations between universities and city members and give aid to city council members, university board members, and local officials to encourage local residents and students to better the community and each other.

UNC wants to expand...is this the end of an airport?

Carolina North

UNC is looking to develop "Carolina North", an 8 million square foot research campus located near the Horace Williams Airport. There is serious discussion on the new campus because the airport is currently still working.

Chapel Hill-Bill Storm resigns

Chapel Hill-UNC

Town and Gown issues are found in every college town, some relationships are beneficial some negative. In the case of Chapel Hill Town Councilmember Bill Storm, the hard work he has contributed to "public transportation, affordable housing, and UNC growth" will be missed.

Where is UGA on this list?

Clearly the town-gown issue is a common phenomenon throughout the nation but certain colleges and universities are taking large steps to better the community relationships. The link below displays the top 25 colleges and universities that are doing the most to improve relations amongst the university and the town. In the cases here there is not a struggle for power between the town and college or attempts to get the most real estate from the town simply to better the university. These schools recognized a need to connect with their community and were rewarded for their success. Unfortunately UGA is not on this list but if UGA uses these schools as an example, the town-gown issues in Athens will greatly improve.


Nation's Top 25 "Best Neighbor" Colleges and Universities

Town and Gown across the nation

Town and Gown issues are not limited to the confines of Athens-Clarke County and the University of Georgia. Many other college towns have noticed the divide between the college and the locals and are seeking ways to bridge the wide gap. The University of Pennsylvania is even offering incentives for employees to live in the local town and is trying to contract local business for university jobs to spur growth and mutual success.

Penn and Drexel show the way on town-gown issues

Conflicting lives

Amazingly Athens-Clarke County is one of the poorest county's in the nation, according to the Athens Banner Herald report. The U.S. Census Bureau stated that 28.7 percent of Clarke County residents lived in poverty in 2007. This means that Clarke is the poorest county in Georgia and is tied for fourth-highest poverty rate among mid-sized counties nationwide. Athens Banner Herald: Clarke Poverty Rate gives a detailed account of the poverty facts and the state of the Athens community.

It is amazing how the University of Georgia is teaching thousands of students to strive for better lives and to work hard to be successful everyday when all around the university are people who struggle to make the monthly bills. Why is this issue not being addressed more often? And if it is, then why is there not more said about this issue? Is the high poverty rate at all related to the university's existence within the town of Athens?


Another link to visit to see the drastic poverty issue within Athens is: Athens Poverty Rate.

Ordinance leads to evictions for several students - News

Ordinance leads to evictions for several students - News

Property disputes between Athens and the University of Georgia heighten as students get evicted from their homes off-campus homes.

Multiple students were evicted from their homes based on the ordinance that states that it is illegal for two or more people from different families living in the same house.

Interestingly the evicted students claim they did not have loud parties at their houses or disrupt the area. The issue came when locals from the town complained to the city and asked for the students to be evicted.

One of the students, Koon, stated: "I don't think the law is just," he said. "It's very discriminatory, towards college students especially."

This brings up another issue: is this truly discrimination against the school. What are the grounds for this ordinance? And why is there such a division between the citizens of Athens-Clarke County and the students of the university?

What really is town and gown?

College towns are infamous for the bustling stores, over crowded bars, and more pizza places than bathrooms. Colleges and universities bring a great deal of economic push to the cities and towns they are in, but not without problems. It is obvious that where there is such a large university, there will be some issues within the town, whether property rights, zoning laws, or simply the number of college-aged kids that have invaded the town. But how great are these issues? What problems seem to occur most often? Who really has the power; the city, or the university?


It seems that colleges somehow mold the town to become one with the university. Take the University of Georgia for example, can you really think of UGA without the image of Athens along with it? What about the University of North Carolina and Chapel Hill, or the University of Auburn and well... Auburn. Each of these universities are so tighly knit with the town that the boundries between the two may at times seem unclear. Many students believe that the only reason the town or city actually exists is due to the college, while many of the "townies", as they are known by the students, think that at times the college is invading to much on their lives. 


This blog seeks to reveal the truth about the real issues between the town and gown. Where do the big problems arise and how does it affect the students as well as the locals.