Employee Forum votes to support FEC resolution

At its Wednesday meeting, the Employee Forum voted to release a statement in support of the Faculty Executive Committee’s resolution and to embrace the UNC community affected by President Donald Trump’s executive order to ban immigrants from seven predominately Muslim countries.

The FEC resolution says the faculty stand with students, faculty and staff who might be fearful of their situation.

“We will do everything possible to defend every individual’s rights and to convey to those in power the value they bring to our common endeavor,” the resolution says.

What happened?

Bryan Andregg, forum member from the Gillings School of Global Public Health, read the resolution aloud and proposed the forum make a statement in support of the faculty.

The forum then approved the motion to draft the statement.

Who spoke?

Christine Greenberg, a forum member from the Study Abroad Office, said she supported the FEC resolution but was worried about a statement being too political.

"I think if we have a staff component then that, for me, would be a reason to speak out," Greenberg said.

Another forum delegate, Ricky Roach, from Energy Services, said he felt like a statement wouldn’t do any good. Roach was the only person who did not vote to support the statement.

Krista Prince, a delegate from the Department of Housing and Residential Education, said she feels it is important to let students know they are welcome and safe at UNC. Responding to Greenberg, she said she felt it was more important to give support than to worry about who exactly was affected.

"That just seems very narrow in scope in the grand scheme of things," Prince said. 

Why is this important?

Charles Streeter, chairperson of the Employee Forum, said a statement in support is important because what the Employee Forum carries weight with the rest of the UNC community.

"What we do and what we do not do has some bearing," he said. "I’m not saying politically, but when we do have influence, some of these things do matter." 

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