DTH Media Corp., parent company of The Daily Tar Heel, settled its lawsuit against the UNC System over allegations of violating state Open Meetings Law on Monday.
As part of the settlement agreement, the UNC System agreed to:
- Give $74,999 in funds to UNC-Chapel Hill for the chancellor to put toward racial equity initiatives on campus
- Provide a written summary addressing the processes by which the Nov. 21, 2019 settlement agreement between the System and the N.C. Sons of Confederate Veterans was accomplished
- And submit to a deposition, answering questions related to the details of the December op-ed announcing the settlement.
In exchange, DTH Media Corp. agreed to dismiss its lawsuit.
Read the full settlement:
DTH Media Corp. filed the suit in January 2020 after five members of the UNC System Board of Governors signed an op-ed that called into question whether the settlements were properly vetted in the public eye.
On Nov. 21, 2019, the System agreed to pay $74,999 to limit the SCV’s actions on System campuses. Six days later, the System signed an agreement to give the SCV possession of Silent Sam and enact a $2.5 million trust for its preservation.
The DTH complaint alleged that the committee of BOG members charged with negotiating the SCV agreements represents a “public body” — meaning it is required to conduct public meetings, give public notice and keep minutes. The op-ed signaled that the deals had been properly vetted by the BOG, as required of a public body.