Our request to the Board of Trustees (BOT) is that they focus their actions on what is good for UNC-Chapel Hill. Period. When making decisions ask, “is this good for Carolina” instead of asking if it is what some legislator or Board of Governors (BOG) member wants.
The BOT at each system institution is to be an advocate for that institution. At Carolina this doesn’t seem to always be the case. Some of our trustees seem to want to be conduits of information going from the General Assembly (GA) or BOG to Carolina. It should be reversed. Take the interests of Carolina to the GA and BOG. Be stronger and more forceful advocates for the things that Carolina needs to enhance and fulfill its opportunity and potential for the people of North Carolina. Stop micromanaging into affairs that are delegated to university administrators and faculty. Trust the people who have been chosen to lead UNC-CH and help make them succeed.
This request is emphasized in this video from our co-founder Roger Perry.
“We would like them to be stronger and more forceful advocates for the things that Carolina needs to enhance and fulfill its opportunity and potential –whether that’s faculty compensation [or] the multifaceted issues of academic freedom and autonomy for the administration. But also, to learn and become educated about the university and to get into a comfortable place in terms of leadership and…[whatever] they can provide that is of the greatest benefit.
In addition to [being advocates, our governing bodies need to be]…counsel to the chancellor and provost, supportive and laudatory of the faculty, and engage the state in promoting the really enormous benefit that Carolina brings to the state. Generally, [they should become] a more positive influence and put aside and…behind them their partisan ideology and recognize that what Carolina is and what it does is… teach,…research, discovers,…and transmits knowledge, information, and benefit to the people. And, it really isn’t, as often portrayed by some folks, the boogeyman of dark, deep, liberal ideology that some people fear. It simply doesn’t happen. There’s not enough time for that. Our faculty and students are engaged in so much more important, interesting and more vital [work]. …Close scrutiny tells you that that’s what goes on here and that’s what should go on here. There should [be] a platform that makes that even easier to do.”
What can people do to support the Coalition for Carolina’s efforts?
“I think that there are a number of things that people can do to help in this effort.
First and foremost is to join the coalition. Second is to use your power at the ballot box to support candidates who believe in the benefit of higher education…who understand the tremendous value of Carolina and the whole system. In addition to that, spread the word locally among your friends, associates and colleagues to where they come to understand [what’s happening to Carolina] and become engaged….
If you get really passionate about it, run for office…and make a change yourself. Also be willing to directly confront members of the boards and the legislature when you feel like they’re doing things that are harmful.”
What else you can do to make an impact:
Write, call and/or visit your representatives to tell them you need them to support Carolina!