January 31, 2017
Dear Esteemed Faculty Colleagues:
On January 30 (yesterday) the UNC-Chapel Hill Faculty Executive Committee (FEC) unanimously passed the following resolution in support of the University community (including faculty) who are affected by the recent Executive Order regarding immigrants from certain countries:
“As faculty members of the nation’s oldest public university, we stand with our colleagues, students, and staff members who are concerned for their place in our community as a result of recent executive actions by the new administration. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill stands for intellectual curiosity, discovery, and artistic expression. These pursuits know no borders. To target individuals because of their nationality, religion, or any other characteristic runs counter to all that we value and hold dear at Carolina. We stand together as an intellectual community. We will do everything possible to defend every individual’s rights and to convey to those in power the value they bring to our common endeavor.”
As background, the Faculty Executive Committee met with Professors Rich Superfine and Greg Forest, as well UNC-Chapel Hill General Counsel Mark Merritt, Executive Vice Provost Ron Strauss, Director of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) Elizabeth Barnum and Interim Chief Diversity Officer Rumay Alexander to discuss this issue in great detail and Professor Mimi Chapman drafted the resolution that passed unanimously.
Please know that Chancellor Folt and Provost Dean greatly appreciate and respect the FEC’s input on this difficult issue as they and the University continue to address important and practical aspects related to this action. In the meantime, more information regarding the Executive Order and how it impacts Carolina is available at http://isss.unc.edu/sample-page-2/executiveorders/.
Finally, in near future the FEC and the Faculty Council will continue to work on strategies that hopefully will effectively deal with similar challenges that may arise in the future.
Thank you for all you do for Carolina and your support of faculty governance at UNC-Chapel Hill. Please do not hesitate to contact me or the Office of Faculty Governance if you have comments or concerns regarding the FEC’s action. Your input is always welcome and valued.
Sincerely,
Bruce Cairns, M.D.
John Stackhouse Distinguished Professor of Surgery
Chair of the Faculty
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