Our Calls For Leadership

Over these past several months, we’ve talked a lot about taking action. Much of that has been focused on reaching out to your elected officials in Washington.

As we’ve gotten considerable feedback from members of the Coalition, it is clear you want more action from our leaders not just in Washington, but on Carolina’s campus and at the UNC System.

We understand that it’s a scary time for many on campus and in academia. But times like these are when leaders emerge. And Carolina has been fortunate to have its share of bold, visionary leaders. 

Frank Porter Graham was a champion for social justice and free speech, and Bill Friday’s dauntless leadership was key to winning many political battles, including defending students and campus speakers’ First Amendment rights at a fraught time in our history.

Carolina’s courageous leaders helped guide us to become one of the most prestigious, powerful academic institutions in the country.

We as a Coalition have power, too. 

At this crucial time for Carolina, we want to use that power to call for action in three ways:

1. We call on UNC System President Peter Hans to sign – and encourage all UNC System leaders to sign – the AAC&U “Call for Constructive Engagement” already adopted by over 500 university leaders across the country. This is a thoughtful, straightforward statement crafted in collaboration with university presidents and leaders in response to the “unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education.”
2. We call on UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Lee Roberts and his team to work closely with Association of American Universities (AAU) members to advocate for campuses and research funding during this time of crisis. Carolina should be a leader among universities and be actively organizing fellow AAU members to protect academic freedom as it’s under attack.
3. We call on the UNC Administration to fiercely defend international students on campus. Not only is it the right thing to do, it is a necessity for ensuring we are recruiting top international talent in the years to come. Students abroad are watching to see how campuses are reacting to unlawful crackdowns on their student visas. Carolina must lead in protecting international students who are lawfully studying on our campus. We risk losing future talent if we do not defend our students.

We have reasons to be optimistic about leadership at Carolina and the UNC System. But there has been too much silence, too much inaction and too much withdrawal during a time when we drastically need action, leadership and outspokenness. 

Our calls on leadership are not political nor controversial; they are simply the right thing to do as a positive first step in fighting back against those who want to do harm to Carolina and universities around the country.

We hope our leaders will answer these calls promptly.

Thank you, as always, for being part of this Coalition. These calls for leadership were based on your feedback. Please, keep your thoughts coming: contact@coalitionforcarolina.org