On Wednesday, the Affirmative Action Coalition at UNC and its new branch, TransparUNCy, co-hosted a public forum where students could voice their demands in the ongoing search for UNC’s next chancellor.
During the forum, TransparUNCy co-founder Toby Posel gave an overview of the search process, University governance, the roles of the search committee, as well as proposed changes to diversity and inclusion policies that will be voted upon by the UNC System's Board of Governors in May.
The forum was then opened up to allow the approximately 150 students in the audience to speak about their hopes for the University's next chancellor.
The majority of the students who spoke said they did not want Roberts to be the next chancellor due to his lack of experience implementing policies on college campuses.
Some students also demanded a chancellor who supports the humanities, protects cultural spaces and communities on campus as well as one who advances issues students advocate for. Students also emphasized the importance of choosing a leader who supports diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives on campus.
UNC first-year Sydney Walker said she wants a chancellor who is invested in the future of the state, not just the University and its students.
“I really just want leadership that believes in their own stances enough to publicly say them and to engage with students and just people that disagree with them,” she said.
Students in the audience also raised concerns about interim Chancellor Lee Roberts’ personal connections to influential political donors — including former North Carolina Budget Director and conservative donor James Arthur “Art” Pope.
“[The] state legislature wields enormous authority influence over who sits on the BOG, who sits on the BOT, who is making these decisions with enormous consequences for your life and for students on this campus,” Posel said.
