The UNC-system Board of Governors has seen a dynamic change with the "addition of 16 new members":http://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2013/08/bog-changes-0821 this year, but students across the system have become increasingly impatient with some of the board’s recent decisions.
Some critics view the new members as an extension of the Republican-dominated N.C. General Assembly, which elected them. Students have protested several board meetings this fall.
“Our board deliberations would be strengthened by the presence of more women and minority members,” said Peter Hans, board chairman, in an email. “At the same time, I wish other stakeholders on some campuses were more diverse as well, particularly in terms of intellectual thought.”
Prior to the new members’ election, the board "passed a policy":http://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2013/10/new-unc-dropadd-policy-criticized in April shortening the systemwide drop/add policy from eight weeks to 10 days — a move meant to make classrooms more efficient.
In October, more than 5,000 UNC-CH students, faculty and alumni signed a petition against the decision.
Student Body President Christy Lambden said in November that the controversial drop/add period might not hit current students, who could be grandfathered in.
As the year progressed, students have also been dissatisfied with the lack of accessibility to the board.
Stephanie Nieves-Rios, co-president of the UNC-CH Sexuality and Gender Alliance, was among those who "marched in protest":http://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2013/09/bog-pre-0912 to the board’s September meeting after the decision to ban gender-neutral housing for the system in early August.
“Their decision to strike that down shows the disconnect between the Board of Governors and the student community,” she said before the protest.
