Like many visitors to Chapel Hill, Spellings’ trip began with a tour of campus — which included a closed-door meeting with faculty members and a lunch with students at Gerrard Hall.
But not all students were welcoming, as a small group protested outside Gerrard Hall and other buildings hosting Spellings throughout the day.
Though Rosa Perelmuter expressed concerns for the discussion with Spellings in Monday’s Faculty Executive Committee meeting, the UNC-Chapel Hill Spanish professor said the system president was very receptive.
“There were no feelings of conflict, and the faculty and staff (were) warmly greeted by her,” Perelmuter said.
She said she is hopeful the visit indicates Spellings’ intent to keep an open-door policy.
“She is the person who will be presenting us to the Board of Governors and the general administration, so I hope this is an indication of other meetings to come,” she said.
Spellings said she appreciated the faculty’s focus on the student body and its needs.
“What I’ve been impressed with everywhere I’ve gone is the humility, kind of the servant educator idea,” she said.
