(The Center Square) – UNC Charlotte, third largest of 17 state public system campuses, has fired an employee connected to a viral social media video about diversity, equity and inclusion policies at the school.
Led by Chancellor Dr. Sharon Gaber, the Queen City institution said in a social media post early Thursday afternoon the statements were not accurate in addition to the person’s lack of authority on policy or compliance. The incident played out over a couple of days and drew the attention of respective General Assembly leaders.
The Board of Governors for the UNC System a year ago in May voted 22-2 to change diversity policy on all campuses. Dismantled was the 2019 policy language to “foster an inclusive environment.”
The UNC Charlotte statement said the video showed “an employee making statements that suggest the university is failing to uphold DEI-related policies and laws.”
“The employee’s statements were inaccurate and do not reflect the university’s action,” the school said in part. “UNC Charlotte continues to uphold both the letter and spirit of UNC System policy and all federal and state laws. The individual featured in the video had no policymaking authority, no role in compliance matters and was not authorized to speak on these issues. Following an internal review, the individual is no longer employed by UNC Charlotte.”
Noted school choice advocate Corey DeAngelis, with more than 208,000 followers on X, amplified the situation by identifying in the video Janique Sanders as the assistant director of leadership and community engagement. He said an “undercover journalist” – DeAngelis said this was Adam Guillette – broke “the story.”
Per state personnel laws, the employee relieved of duties was not identified by UNC Charlotte. Thursday afternoon, there was no one by that name in the department staff website where all 14 have pronouns on the line between names and titles.
Sen. Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, president pro tempore of the chamber, on Wednesday responded to DeAngelis by saying “DEI, no matter what name or acronym you use, doesn’t belong in education. The NC Senate has already taken concrete steps to address this by passing SB558, a bill I filed to eliminate DEI from UNC System schools and community colleges.”
On Thursday just after 2 p.m. and less than an hour after UNC Charlotte’s early afternoon post, House Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, wrote on social media, “Chancellor Gaber has my full support. Her decisive leadership reflects a firm commitment to student rights and to upholding university policy and the law.”
Eliminating “DEI” in Public Higher Ed., known also as Senate Bill 558, has lingered in the Rules Committee of the House of Representatives since April 14. Passage in the upper chamber was 28-18.
Crossover deadline was May 8 and SB558 is among 362 bills and resolutions that met the deadline but have not been ratified or defeated in the other chamber.
The school further said it was taking the statements and assertions of the former employee seriously and would review, through the Division of Student Affairs and Office of Legal Affairs, to be sure all employees understand and are adhering to applicable policies and laws.”
UNC Charlotte’s more than 31,000 enrollment last fall was behind only the 38,000-plus at N.C. State and 32,000-plus at Carolina.
