Point on Civil War slavery halts course before final day

Community college officials have canceled the final class of a Civil War history course in which instructors taught that slaves were happy in captivity.

"We would never intentionally set up any class that is offensive to anyone in our community . . . and obviously this class has done that," said Larry K. Linker, president of Randolph Community College. "Therefore, we are going to step back and take a close look at it . . . and at our process of approving courses."Linker's decision to cancel Thursday night's final class of "North Carolina's Role in the War for Southern Independence" came one day after members of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights announced plans for a public meeting about the course.