TO THE EDITOR:
Dear Campus Community,
As you may be aware, Margaret Spellings will take office as UNC-system president on Tuesday, March 1. This event marks part of a larger effort taking place among the Board of Governors and state legislature to corporatize the UNC system against the wishes of its true stakeholders — the students, faculty, staff and people of North Carolina.
From attacks on historically black colleges and universities to a greater emphasis on metrics-based testing to her time as a board member of a student debt-collection agency, Spellings’ record shows that her priorities do not align with the needs of our public university.
When Margaret Spellings takes office on March 1, a coalition of students, faculty, staff and community members will walk out of their classrooms and workplaces at campuses across the state. Here at UNC-Chapel Hill, we are walking out at 11 a.m. and rallying at Wilson Library steps for a public show of opposition to Spellings’ appointment, a sign of the board’s lack of concern for the university system’s needs. We will speak out against how the Board of Governors, General Assembly and Margaret Spellings are dismantling the institutions of public higher education that are the most important asset to North Carolina.
There are many ways to get involved with this demonstration, and participating at any level can help us send a strong message of unity to the General Administration. You can first of all walk out of class at 11 a.m. to join us on the Wilson Library steps. If this is not a possible course of action, we also encourage professors to hold their classes outside on March 1 (weather permitting) to participate in a “teach-out.” If professors are unable to alter their classes during this event, we ask that they consider excusing students who do elect to participate in the demonstration.
This walkout is being sponsored in part by Faculty Forward, which has been instrumental in organizing N.C. faculty across the state in response to Spellings’ appointment. If you would like to contact Faculty Forward organizers regarding this event, feel free to reach out to Ashley Renner (206-512-0285) or Amelia Dornbush (404-272-5837). Student organizer Shannon Brien (603-508-1414) is also willing to answer any questions you may have.
Thank you for your continued interest in protecting public education,
Shannon Brien
