TO THE EDITOR:
It’s misleading that your Jan. 8 editorial contends that the University “wait[ed] until New Year’s Eve to confirm the names of fired employees” in a supposed attempt to bury the news. Your assertion is simply not true. The fact is The Daily Tar Heel, and other plaintiff media organizations, demanded the University release the names on Dec. 31.
After several news organizations — including The DTH — sued the University to force it to disclose the names of the nine employees it had terminated or commenced disciplinary reviews against following the release of the Wainstein report, a judge ordered the two sides into mediation.
The mediation occurred on Dec. 30, 2014, the earliest date when the parties and mediator could be available. Part of the agreement reached at the conclusion of mediation on Dec. 30 was that two names be released. The plaintiffs in attendance — including two representatives from The Daily Tar Heel — insisted that it was necessary for the University to release the information by noon the following day, Dec. 31. Even though this required us to release the news on New Year’s Eve, we agreed to do so in the spirit of reaching resolution on the matter.
Since The Daily Tar Heel actively participated in the mediation and knew that it and other plaintiffs insisted that the information be released the following day, it is surprising that the paper would accuse the University of releasing the information on New Year’s Eve as a public relations tactic. We reached out to The Daily Tar Heel on Jan. 8 to ask for a correction and are disappointed you chose not to issue one.
We remain committed to releasing information about each employee whose job status has changed once the action taken against them is final. Since the Wainstein report was made public in October, we have gone above and beyond to act transparently and with great prejudice to public disclosure. Carolinacommitment.unc.edu is a robust repository of information on findings from the Wainstein report and important actions and initiatives already in place or underway at Carolina.
Joel Curran
Vice Chancellor Communications and Public Affairs
