We would like to share why it is important that the “Silent Sam,” statue remain where it stands today on the UNC Chapel Hill campus. This monument is a testament to the service of UNC Chapel Hill Alumni who answered the call to serve their state. State public institution students supporting their state. A state that only seceded from the union when a president asked that we contribute soldiers to assist in the coercion of other states. This coercion was and still stands in violation of the Constitution ratified and the fact that the vast majority of the public today does not know or understand the meaning of this statue is an ultimate insult to us as North Carolinians and to the University as a place of higher learning.
As the Board of Trustees for UNC-Chapel Hill, we are called to
serve the people of North Carolina and aid the institution to perform at
a high level of excellence in every area of endeavor. Fundamental to
our mission, we care deeply about the safety, welfare, and well-being of
our campus community.
At the Chancellor’s suggestion, and as I mentioned in my remarks at
the Board’s September board meeting, the Board will provide an
opportunity for campus input on the Confederate monument in conjunction
with the next Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday, November 15
th
at 9:00 a.m. in the Chancellor’s Ballroom at the Carolina Inn. We
invite you to share your thoughts and concerns about the monument with
us.
Because time constraints limit the number of speakers we can
accommodate, we are also providing two other ways for you to communicate
your thoughts to the Board: (1) you can email your comments to the
Board at
publicbot@unc.edu; and (2) you can leave a hard copy of comments in a box we will provide outside the meeting room location.
We are able to accommodate 25 speakers to speak up to 3 minutes each.
Speakers will be invited in the order they have signed up, but we will
make sure that at least 10 students will have the opportunity to speak.
You may sign up to speak starting at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 10, and
continuing through 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 12, by following this link:
https://bot.unc.edu/comments/.
We will notify all persons signing up whether they have secured a slot
to speak during this session as soon as possible but in any event by 7
p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 12. Anyone who does not secure a speaking slot is
encouraged to submit written comments as provided above.
Please read the guidelines for this session on the website above
prior to signing up for a speaking slot. The Board is providing an
opportunity for members of the campus community to express their points
of view. We ask that decorum and respect for all be maintained in order
for the event to run smoothly.
Speakers will not be permitted to ask
questions as the purpose of this session is to listen to their thoughts
and concerns.
We are committed to sharing the full and accurate story of our
University’s history, and continue to work with Chancellor Folt and the
Chancellor’s Task Force on UNC-Chapel Hill History on the Confederate
monument and other issues.
Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Haywood D. Cochrane, Jr.
Chair, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Board of Trustees
