UNC's New DC Office: A Louder National Voice

0:00UNC Chapel Hill is launching its first official office in Washington D.C. this week, a 10,000 square foot spot right by Capitol Hill. Chancellor Lee Roberts calls it Long Overdo, a hub for students, faculty, alumni, and lobbying efforts to boost the school's voice in national talks. The 12-year lease runs $800,000 a year, all covered by the University Foundation with zero state funds. It comes packed with a cafe, classroom, conference space, lockers, and rooftop access for visitors spending time in the Capitol. Roberts was shocked when he started that big peer schools like Duke already had D.C. bases and UNC's biggest alumni crowd now lives right there. Staff Saed will replace hotel lobby meetings with real FaceTime for faculty experts on Capitol Hill. Recently UNC ramped up in house lobbying, dropping $685,000 in 2025, triple the year before, amid cuts too. Research funding. They push on science grants, PLAID, ATHLEE Pay, visas, and more, plus outside firms

1:04help too. This spot opening Thursday links Chapel Hill straight to the power center, firing up talks on AI, rural health, whatever's hot, giving Tar Heels that. Outer National My Drop. Durham News Today, Powered by AI Bringing You What Matters.