UNC
I'm not even sure if this is a story, but it seemed interesting to me. It seems that UNC's new chancellor Holden Thorp was a partner with an RTP-based venture capital business that supports biotech start-ups. The chancellor had planned to continue his role there, but his brother Clay Thorp (who went to UNC with me) is the general partner there and felt it would be best to cut official ties.
Thorp is no longer a venture partner at Durham’s Hatteras Venture
Partners, says his brother, Hatteras general partner Clay Thorp. And
Holden Thorp’s equity stake in Hatteras has been put into a blind trust.
Clay Thorp says the decision was made as Holden Thorp took over the top spot at UNC on July 1.
“We decided mutually that it was best for him to have no formal role,” Clay Thorp says, “and to avoid any confusion.”
Holden and Clay Thorp still have informal discussions about science
and business, Clay Thorp says. But that’s as far as Holden Thorp’s
relationship with Hatteras goes.
Kudos to the UNC-CH Board of Trustees for rejecting a recent architectural plan for the inaugural building at Carolina North. It seems they felt the proposed design of the Innovation Center was not innovative enough to mark the entrance to the modern new campus which they plan to build in the northern heart of Chapel Hill. I was glad to see that the BOT has such high expectations for the building, but was a bit concerned about administrators' refusal to consider locating the building anywhere other than the grand entrance.
I still don't understand the logic behind UNC doing construction before completing the plan for the larger campus into which this building must fit. I really don't feel I can support any thing on that site until we see that it will be part of a commitment to use Carolina North to enhance Chapel Hill and not just UNC's bottom line.
The calendar is counting down the days remaining to register to attend the Inter-City Visit and Leadership Conference, at least in terms of being able to get the cheapest tickets and to be eligible for scholarship funds. Ann Arbor was chosen as this year's destination because of its perceived similarities to Chapel Hill, in both the populace and the problems they face. Are any OP'ers planning on attending this year? For those of you who went to Madison two years ago, do you feel like any real progress is made on these trips, or would community leaders be better off with a staycation?
Holden Thorp starts his new job tomorrow. I'm feeling very encouraged about his potential to establish a more collaborative relationship between the University and our local governments. I hope he will remember that neither can thrive without the other.
What advice do you have for him?
"Hannah Gage was chosen unanimously as chairwoman of the policy-making body of the state university system for the next two years. The founder and former owner of Cape Fear Broadcasting Company was elected to the board in 2001 and currently serves as chairwoman of the board's Committee on Personnel and Tenure, the group charged with formally nominating such high-ranking officials as UNC Chancellor-elect Holden Thorp following a university-led search."
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