Marty Kotis

Greensboro developer, restaurateur & street art patron. Conservative maverick fighting for property rights & reforming higher ed.

[Marty Kotis @mkotis]

In October 2024, I attended a UNC Chapel Hill @UNC event featuring Charlie Kirk @charliekirk11 and @VivekGRamaswamy, alongside then-Trustee (now State Auditor) Dave Boliek @NCAuditorBoliek and NC Senator Amy Galey @amyscottgaley. The program was organized by the @TPUSA_UNC Turning Point @TPUSA USA UNC Chapel Hill student chapter.

What struck me most was the tone. Charlie set the ground rules before Q&A, noting that while the audience was “a center-right, predominantly conservative” crowd, all voices would be heard and respected.

He said:
“Do not interrupt, do not boo. If somebody says something you disagree with, please show respect to people that might have different views.”

That call for civility was honored throughout the evening. Students asked tough and often controversial questions — about housing affordability, higher-ed costs, the Electoral College, free speech, foreign policy, immigration, even Trump University and AIPAC. Both speakers answered in real time. It was not a monologue; it was a dialogue.

Charlie reminded the audience of the American system:
“We’re first and foremost a collection of states. The states created the federal government… and today seven very diverse states determine the future of America, not just LA and New York.”

On morals and family life, he was clear:
“Children are a blessing from the Lord. Not an inconvenience.”

Vivek tied the night back to civic life in a way that resonates with UNC’s School of Civic Life and Leadership:
“If we’re going to require immigrants to pass a civics test and swear an oath of allegiance, then it makes sense for every high school senior to be able to pass the same civics test… replacing DEI indoctrination with actual civic education.”

He added:
“The least we could do is demand some skin in the game — that we know the basics about our country before somebody graduates from high school.”

The event reflected something deeper: the founding of the United States itself, forged through vigorous debate, moral conviction, and a shared commitment to civic principles. Our students showed that they can disagree, push back, and challenge ideas without losing their composure or the dignity of the conversation.

Whatever one’s politics, Charlie Kirk’s emphasis on courage, respect, and the American promise is worth carrying forward. UNC should always be a place where ideas are debated vigorously but respectfully, and where civic knowledge is treated as essential to leadership.

[The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill @UNC]

A new fund honoring John Preyer ’90, former member and chair of the #UNC Board of Trustees, will support visiting scholars at the School of Civic Life and Leadership.

Learn how the fund will create a continuing impact at the school https://t.co/4YDKhlstsJ

[Marty Kotis @mkotis]

@foxxforcongress That’s great news! Thank you so much for your public service!

[Senator Berger Press Shop @SenBergerPress]

RELEASE: Sen. Berger Files The DAVE Act, to Root Out Government Waste and Increase Efficiency #ncga #ncpol https://t.co/6jsUgC0bLP

[Marty Kotis @mkotis]

@Digitaldoes Top right with blue dot.

[Marty Kotis @mkotis]

@jarobinson1 Absolutely. Cut the unnecessary red tape and the associated cost.

[Marty Kotis @mkotis]

Go outside and see the Moon and Venus tonight!

[Virginia Foxx @virginiafoxx]

Ready to keep winning.

[City of Greensboro @greensborocity]

Greensboro stands united in mourning and support for @GSO_Police . We honor the life and service of Officer Michael Horran and hold his family in our thoughts and prayers during this tragic time.

Consider donating to the GoFundMe campaign in his honor: https://t.co/YWuV31anRd

[Marty Kotis @mkotis]

@WoodyWhite5 @wunc @JohnHoodNC @WoodyWhite5 - As a voting member of the UNC CH Board of Trustees - I strongly disagree with @wunc ‘s decision. Actions like this erode the public’s trust in higher education and the media and will likely result in less public tax dollar funding. They should reverse course asap!

[Marty Kotis @mkotis]

@OdellCleveland @billgoebel

[Marty Kotis @mkotis]

I was on a podcast last Wednesday talking about how unless there’s an off-ramp for the Ukraine/Russia war - things could escalate to tactical nuclear warfare.

https://t.co/IkNgsdscoV

[Marty Kotis @mkotis]

“I think Putin is the sort of person that, you know, he's in a fistfight and he's losing, he's going to pull out a knife. He's in a knife fight, he's losing, and he's going to go get a gun.

I think that that could escalate to tactical nuclear weapons. And, you know, then that pulls us in, it starts to get global. We've got to figure out when we're in these wars, how they're actually going to end.”

[Marty Kotis @mkotis]

Impressive

[Elon Musk @elonmusk]

Another Falcon launch
https://t.co/hrsIMXGxYf

[Marty Kotis @mkotis]

DOGE departments would be great to implement at the state level as well! @RealJeffZENGER @SteveJarvisNC

[Elon Musk @elonmusk]

All actions of the Department of Government Efficiency will be posted online for maximum transparency.

Anytime the public thinks we are cutting something important or not cutting something wasteful, just let us know!

We will also have a leaderboard for most insanely dumb spending of your tax dollars. This will be both extremely tragic and extremely entertaining 🤣🤣

[David Decosimo @DavidDecosimo]

Universities must be places where we can speak freely & think deeply across our greatest divides & most difficult challenges. No university is more deeply committed to this vital mission than @UNC. I'm proud to announce UNC School of Civic Life & Leadership's inaugural symposium.

[Marty Kotis @mkotis]

@newsobserver's @koriedean details the complexities of Chapel Hill's Investment Fund and our board of trustees discussion of the misconceptions some folks have about its operation and calls for #divestment. #HigherEd #UNC https://t.co/Lke7hoxnlj

[WUNC @wunc]

In the one year since a professor was killed at UNC-Chapel Hill, university officials have changed how they train for and respond to an active shooter on campus, reports @batkinson2501.

https://t.co/okSFrjuXJu