The Clue Phone Is Ringing at the University of North Carolina
The Raleigh, NC News and Observer seems disgruntled that Lawmakers oppose UNC reading plan:

In the middle of putting together a new state budget Wednesday, state House members attacked UNC-Chapel Hill officials over their plan to teach new students about a book on the Quran, Islam's holy scriptures.

The attack came during the second day of a marathon meeting of the House Appropriations Committee as members debated about 50 amendments to a proposed $14.3 billion budget plan.

Attack? Not very PC - how about chastise? In any case, someone cleverer than most of the legislators who commented for the article, arranged that:

By a vote of 64-10, the committee voted to add to the budget a measure barring UNC-CH from using public funds for its plan to teach new students about a book on the Quran unless it gives equal time to "all known religions."

The book, "Approaching the Qur'án: The Early Revelations" by Michael Sells, is required reading for about 4,200 incoming freshmen and transfer students this month. Alternatively, new students at UNC-CH may decline to read the book and write essays explaining their decision. Students are scheduled to discuss the book Aug. 19 in 180 small-group discussions.

Proving that he is not the sharpest tool in the drawer,

UNC-CH Chancellor James Moeser said the committee action "would cut at the very core of academic freedom and the First Amendment" and was rooted in a misunderstanding.

Let's see - all new students at a state run university are required to read a specific book about a specific religion or write an essay explaining why not and then explain themselves at a group grope. Doesn't sound like cutting off state funding for this bun fight imperils the 1st Amendment at all. Of course, they could always cover "all known religions".

While they were at it, the legislators also took a look at some other pork in the NC university system.

Another change the House committee made was to delete the state's $500,000 contribution to the Center for International Understanding. The money was transferred to a line item to fund vocational education supplies.

The center, which receives state and federal funds and private contributions, organizes trips for teachers, education policy leaders and elected leaders, including legislators, to countries such as Mexico.

Uh oh! Someone found the junket fund!

UPDATE - See the latest from August 9.