UNC system board committee confirms move to eliminate DEI

The UNC System Board of Governors – All Republican appointees who oversee policy at all 17 UNC system campuses across the state, including five public HBCU’s – is poised to approve a policy that would eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion employment positions and regulations throughout the system.

That would follow a vote April 17th where the board’s Governance Committee voted to approve the policy, and recommend it to the full 24-member board at its May meeting.

If the full board ratifies the committee recommendation, it would take effect immediately, with certification from campus chancellors required by September 1st.

The committee passed the policy recommendation unanimously, and without discussion, reportedly in five minutes. Students who wanted to be in attendance at the committee meeting were not allowed, which may have been in violation of state law applying to public meetings.

After the committee vote, a UNC – Chapel Hill spokesman issued a statement saying the school would “…review the policy change and work with the UNC System on implementation if it is adopted in May.”

“As the Board of Governors noted, equality of opportunity in education and employment is a long-standing commitment of the University of North Carolina as a core value in service to our vibrant and growing state, As part of that mission, UNC-Chapel Hill will continue to welcome people from all walks of life with a variety of experiences and perspectives who come here to learn, work and live.”

Students and faculty from across the UNC System, however, expressed concern that there was very little notice that eliminating DEI was on the committee’s announced agenda. They said they felt robbed not being allowed to be present to voice their opinions.

Gov. Cooper, a supporter of DEI, also expressed concern after the vote.

“Our diversity should be used to highlight our state’s strengths, not our political divisions. Republican legislative and university leaders who attack diversity at our public universities are failing in their duty to protect students while threatening our ability to recruit top scientists, researchers and innovators who power our economy.”

There’s a reason why the governor included “Republican legislative leaders” in his criticism.

Several weeks ago, Jim Blaine, UNC- Chapel Hill Board of Trustees member and former chief of staff to Senate Republican leader Phil Berger, told a committee meeting, “It’s my belief that it is likely that the Board of Governors or the state legislature will follow Florida’s path as it relates to DEI. this year.”
Agreeing with Florida’s move to eliminate DEI from its college campuses, Blaine added, “I think what I’ve seen, in my opinion, is that DEI creates and exacerbates problems on this campus and doesn’t solve them. So I hope that they do move forward in eliminating DEI. I think it’s the right thing to do.”

According to the conservative Carolina Journal, during its short session, which started April 24th and is scheduled to last until July 31st, the N.C. General Assembly is expected to “…pass legislation …that would restrict teachings on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at public schools across the state.
The anti-DEI sentiments don’t stop there.

According to NC Newsline, two members of the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees told the nonprofit news service that they will move to defund DEI from the school’s budget.

According to the story by NC Newsline reporter Joe Killian:

“I think the best way for the board to move forward is to advocate for the removal of all DEI funding from the UNC-Chapel Hill budget,” Trustee Dave Boliek, chair of the board’s Budget, Finance and Infrastructure committee, told NC Newsline. “I’m going to advocate that that be the case.”
Fellow trustee Marty Kotis, vice-chair of that committee, agreed.

“I believe DEI simply causes divisiveness,” Kotis said. “And the reason I think that is I’ve heard from a lot of people whose kids are applying to schools or who are applying for a job or applying to contract with various government entities and feeling like they’re being, frankly, discriminated against.”
Boliek, who is a candidate in the May 14 runoff in the Republican primary for state auditor, went further.

“I think this entire DEI effort has been one of, if not the most divisive things in higher education in modern history,” Boliek said. “It cuts against non-discrimination and I don’t see a return on the money being spent, in my experience. I just think those dollars can be used more effectively, for student wellness, for example, and for mental health challenges on campus, and repair and renovation of aging buildings.”

The move to eliminate DEI in colleges, private industry, and government programs was predicted after the U.S. Supreme Court last year struck down race from college admissions in an affirmative action case involving UNC-Chapel Hill.