NC State is starting a pilot program with the Department of Defense, also known as the Department of War, projected for Fall 2026. Several NC State students expressed concern regarding the program.

The program is a two-semester interdisciplinary course developing military protective gear. 

The Nubian Message interviewed many students, but they were fearful of expressing their concerns. Many students rely on the university for financial, job and educational assistance. Therefore, all interviews are anonymous.

A graduate student in the College of Sciences was one student afraid to speak up due to depending on the school to pay their tuition, insurance and wages. 

However, they were still willing to discuss their issues with the program.

“They are wanting students to work on projects to help ‘war fighters.’ That help will just go to terrorizing citizens in whatever country America doesn’t like,” they said.

A student studying biological engineering shared similar thoughts, but said the program could be a positive collaboration. This student said, “I believe that NC State shouldn’t be in that partnership unless that partnership benefits the betterment of the world and not the selfish gains of the nation or those in charge of the nation.” 

The biological engineering student said that if the materials were used for decontamination services or a pandemic response, the student would be okay with the collaboration. Still, if it entailed harming another country or its people, they would not support it.

Another student studying genetics said the research is interesting; however, they see how the collaboration could put the university in a negative light.

The genetics student continued, saying that because of the unpopularity of the war — even though the program may have nothing to do with the warfare in Iran — it won’t sway public opinion on the collaboration.

Students also criticized the collaboration within the context of the ongoing Iran war, specifically. While NC State director of strategic communications and media relations, Mick Kulikowski, said the collaboration began prior to the war: students still expressed concern.

“Just because this was set up previously [to the Iran war] doesn’t mean that excludes them from acting now,” said the College of Sciences graduate student. 

“They could cancel the class or refuse to promote it. By putting its [the program’s] establishment ‘in the past,’ they are trying to shirk responsibility even though running it still shows their tacit support for this … They are still willing to partner with this administration’s DOD when through their leadership and actions have shown a lack of care for anything this University says it believes in,” they said.

The student studying genetics posed a question to the NC State administration: “Did you consider how unpopular this may be with how people feel towards the current administration and current war?”