In 2019, the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) began working with granular activated carbon (GAC) filters to reduce traces of Per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) in Wilmington drinking water. PFAS are man-made chemicals that have been used in consumer products such as household cleaners since the 1940s.

On Nov. 10, 1898, a crowd of roughly 2,000 members of the then Democratic party invaded the second floor of Free Love Hall, the building that contained The Daily Record, and set it on fire. The attackers swarmed the rest of the city, killing what some reports indicate to be 60-300 victims.

Conservation efforts are being made in the Pleasure Island area. The NC Land and Water Fund honored Freeman Park with a land grant of $4 million dollars this past month, and the money will go towards preserving wildlife and the upkeep of the Carolina Beach sanctuary.

When the Supreme Court repealed the long-standing abortion rights established by Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey in Dobbs v. Jackson at the end of June 2022, the discussion around abortion caught the attention of the country. Now, the legality of abortion is up to each state to determine for themselves, and as the midterms approach, students across the political spectrum at UNCW are determined to make their voices heard at the ballot box.

The voting process in North Carolina has begun to ramp up as the state prepares for its eventful election season. State and local governments are encouraging all individuals to register and cast their ballots.

On Sept. 27, 2022, UNCW’s Student Government Association unanimously passed a resolution vocalizing support for increased accessibility to childcare for UNCW’s students, faculty and staff. This resolution, coauthored by Student Body President Hannah-Valentina Horowitz and Student Services Chair Halie Walker, offers a first step toward on-campus childcare, a long-standing issue for UNCW.

In 2015, UNCW launched the "Like No Other" campaign intending to expand key elements that make the university unique for its students. With over 32,000 donors since the launch of the campaign, the school has reached its goal of $100 million, resulting in the most successful campaign in UNCW history. The promise to expand and enrich the programs does not stop there; UNCW will now be stretching the amount of the original campaign, with a new goal of $125 million.

UNCW’s annual Seahawk Safety Week is coming to campus on Sept. 26. It will host a variety of events that aim to educate students on topics ranging from healthy relationships to Title IX compliance.

Dr. Aswani K. Volety has been elected to be UNCW’s seventh chancellor and tenth leader overall. He was nominated by UNC System President Peter Hans during a Board of Governors meeting on May 26, 2022 after a rigorous nationwide search process that involved input from students, staff, faculty and alumni, as well as the Board of Trustees.

On Friday, April 22, Chancellor Sartarelli delivered his final address and 28th report to the UNCW Board of Trustees at their quarterly meeting. The chancellor’s retirement in June will end his nearly seven years of employment at the university, during which UNCW experienced the highest rate of growth in the UNC system. Sartarelli’s time as chancellor has been marked by both academic and economic successes as well as social backlash and controversy.

With no wetsuit, Nelson completed the swim against 12 mph winds, an incoming tide and 66 F ocean water with a total time of seven hours and four minutes. Wetsuits not only serve as a tool to warm the body in cold water temperatures, but also add a small amount of buoyancy which can greatly assist in open water swimming. All of these factors on top of the great distance Nelson covered in the water is hard to fathom, but Nelson simply said, “A recon Marine would rather die than quit.”

An ordinance was proposed in New Hanover County last month that aimed to deter homeless people from camping out on county property, including the Wilmington Public Library downtown. Sleeping would have been prohibited between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., and items left for more than two hours would be discarded. The ordinance initially included a $50 fine for violations, but this was soon removed. Violators of the ordinance could have been removed by law enforcement and prosecuted for trespassing, although government officials did state that this would be used as a “last resort.”

This year's midterm election carries uneasiness and uncertainty for future control in the House of Representatives. All 435 House seats are open for this year’s election, with each party seeking the needed 218 seats to gain a House majority. Recent redistricting controversies in the state have complicated the election even more.

Of the ten cases only one is listed as closed, while eight are under further investigation. In all cases except the closed one, the perpetrators were listed as known to the victims. The tenth case, which is the most recent, concluded because the assault took place outside of UNCW’s police jurisdiction, as it did not occur on campus. Despite this new information, though, the question of what UNCW resources are doing to address sexual assaults on campus is ongoing. Many students have worried for their safety this academic year as these unusual cases drew their attention to the issue.