HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 4-c - Resolution in Response to Recent Acts of Racial and Ethnic Intimidation on the Campus of UNC-Chapel Hill 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: April 16, 2019
Action Agenda
Item No. 4-c
SUBJECT: Resolution in Response to Recent Acts of Racial and Ethnic Intimidation on the
Campus of UNC-Chapel Hill
DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Draft Resolution in Response to Recent Penny Rich, BOCC Chair, 245-2130
Acts of Racial and Ethnic Intimidation Donna Baker, 245-2130
on the Campus of UNC-Chapel Hill
PURPOSE: To consider a Resolution in Response to Recent Acts of Racial and Ethnic
Intimidation on the Campus of UNC-Chapel Hill.
BACKGROUND: Orange County is home to many students, employees, and alumnae/-i of the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, including an estimated 29,000 undergraduate,
graduate, and professional students. Much of the life of the southeastern portion of Orange
County is intertwined with the life of the University.
Recently, there have been several incidents on the University campus which have created great
concern, including the defacing of the Unsung Founders Memorial in McCorkle Place with racist
graffiti; vandalism outside the Hanes Art Center with racist language; and persons associated
with a white supremacist group carrying firearms and other weapons onto the UNC-Chapel Hill
campus in violation of the North Carolina General Statutes and campus policy.
The attached resolution is proposed for Board consideration in response to both these events
and the University's current trespass warnings against student anti-racist activists.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with consideration of the
resolution.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to
this item:
• GOAL: FOSTER A COMMUNITY CULTURE THAT REJECTS OPPRESSION AND
INEQUITY
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race or color;
religious or philosophical beliefs; sex, gender or sexual orientation; national origin or
ethnic background; age; military service; disability; and familial, residential or economic
status.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board consider adoption of the
attached draft resolution, and if adopted authorize the Chair to sign the resolution.
RES-2019-025
2
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
A RESOLUTION IN RESPONSE TO RECENT ACTS OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC INTIMIDATION
ON THE CAMPUS OF UNC-CHAPEL HILL
WHEREAS, Orange County is home to many students, employees, and alumnae/-i of the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill, including an estimated 29,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional
students, and the life of the southeastern portion of our County is intertwined with the life of the
University; and
WHEREAS, on March 31, 2019, two persons desecrated the Unsung Founders Memorial in McCorkle
Place on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus by defacing it with racist graffiti and with urine; and someone
vandalized an installation outside Hanes Art Center with racist language; and
WHEREAS, on March 16, 2019, persons associated with a white supremacist group carried firearms and
other weapons onto the UNC-Chapel Hill campus in violation of the North Carolina General Statutes and
campus policy; and an Alert Carolina emergency notification was not issued; and no arrests were made
and no citations or trespass notices were issued; and
WHEREAS, on April 10, 2019 a statement was released by UNC Hillel that a number of anti-Semitic
flyers have been found in Davis Library with references to "an evil Jewish plot" and the missive, "do
everything you can to fight the silent covert Jewish attempt to enslave and kill good Americans"; and
WHEREAS, student anti-racist activists have been prohibited indefinitely from entering certain areas of
the campus, including McCorkle Place, despite having been found not guilty of the criminal charges
related to their trespass notices or having had those charges dismissed; and
WHEREAS, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People (NAACP), the Carolina Black Caucus, and others have called on UNC-Chapel Hill to take bolder
action in response to acts of racial and ethnic intimidation and threats by white supremacists to the safety
of the community; and
WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of Commissioners appreciates Interim Chancellor Kevin
Guskiewicz's statement that "we must nurture an environment where all people in our community can
live, learn and work without fear"; and the Board is encouraged by the arrests on April 8 of the persons
believed to have desecrated the Unsung Founders Memorial;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners urges its neighbor and
partner, UNC-Chapel Hill, to rescind trespass warnings against student anti-racist activists; to press
charges and issue trespass warnings against persons who on March 16 carried firearms onto the
campus; to clarify when the community may expect the presence of an armed person on or near the
campus to trigger an Alert Carolina emergency notification; and to invite community members not
necessarily affiliated with the University to participate in the campus safety commission being convened
by the interim chancellor.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County wishes to partner with UNC-Chapel Hill in a shared
commitment to helping students feel safe through better communications, education about the Orange
County Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement agencies, opportunities to participate in County
programming and advisory committees, continued participation in the Good Neighbor Initiative, and other
efforts.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board asks the Clerk to the Board to share this resolution with the
interim chancellor of UNC-Chapel Hill and the members of the Chapel Hill Town Council, the
Hillsborough Board of Commissioners, and the Carrboro Board of Aldermen.
This the 16th day of April, 2019.
Penny Rich, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners