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The Daily Tar Heel

Board of Governors holds special meeting after House Bill 2 lawsuits filed

The UNC Board of Governors held a special meeting on Tuesday after lawsuits were filed by Governor Pat McCrory and the Department of Justice.

 “The purpose of today’s board meeting was to consult with our attorneys, concerning the pending litigation involving the Department of Justice,” Chairman W. Louis Bissette said. “We support all of the actions President Spellings has taken thus far in leading the University in responding to H.B. 2.”

President Margaret Spellings previously said the Board of Governors was in a difficult position, as state and federal government clashed over House Bill 2.

“We have obviously every interest in having this resolved as quickly as possible,” Spellings said.

Bissette said the Board was not taking action after the meeting.

“We don’t discriminate against anybody,” Bissette said. “Our anti-discrimination laws and policies are in effect as they have been for years and years and years. There has been no change in that and there will be no change.”

Spellings said there was no mention of federal funding in the complaint filed by the Department of Justice.

“We are certainly mindful that those funds, as well as financial aid and the $1.4 billion in resources that this university stewards, are essential to our operation, but at the moment this particular disposition is unclear,” Spellings said.

Spellings said the priority is to educate students and to abide by the law.

“We have said very clearly that these institutions want to be, are and have been supportive, welcoming places for every type of individual,” Spellings said.

university@dailytarheel.com

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