'Grow up and act like adults:' Some BOT members react to GPSG chancellor, provost no-confidence resolutions

In a Nov. 7 meeting, the UNC Board of Trustees addressed the ‘no-confidence resolutions’ passed by the Graduate and Professional Student Government and aimed at Chancellor Lee Roberts and Provost Chris Clemens. The conversation occurred while the BOT was discussing a potential increase in graduate student stipends. 

Heath's presentation to the BOT 

GPSG President Katie Heath used her time at the meeting to discuss affordability and stipends for graduate students, an issue she said has been very important to her platform and for graduate students as a whole. 

Heath presented research showing that UNC’s minimum graduate student stipend, when adjusted for cost of living, ranks in last place compared to peer institutions. 

This past year, stipends have increased by three percent. Heath said that GPSG collaborates with The Graduate School, Office of the Provost and the Vice Chancellor to evaluate the state of stipends and how they impact students.

She said that it is going to be challenging to recruit graduate students without substantial increases. 

“The reality is that it may mean that in order for us to get more competitive stipends over time that we will have to potentially reduce the number of graduate students that we hire at the university,” Heath said . “I think that’s a reality that we’ll have to consider going forward.”

After Heath’s presentation, Trustee Jim Blaine shifted the meeting’s focus to the no-confidence resolutions passed by the GPSG. 

Heath reaffirmed that although she respects the graduate senate using its platform to speak on issues, the resolution does not represent her stance. 

Heath and the no-confidence resolutions

Prior to the resolutions being voted on by the GPSG Senate, the resolutions were first passed by the State of Graduate and Professional Students committee on Sept. 23. 

Ellen Risemberg, chair of the SoGAPS committee and GPSG Senator, said that Heath was present at the committee meeting and supported the resolutions at the time of their introduction. She said Heath also suggested a no-confidence vote against UNC Systems President Peter Hans. 

“As [GPSG] President, I think that it is essential that we work professionally with the administration, with the Chancellor, with all of you and with all of the people at UNC because I think that's how we make Carolina a better place,” she said. 

Heath offered to connect the BOT to the authors of the resolution for further clarification on what they intended. 

In the context of graduate student stipends

Blaine delivered a sharp critique of the resolutions, calling them a reflection of "an extreme lack of professionalism and maturity," particularly because the graduates asked the board for increased funding. 

“I didn’t think the resolutions were helpful at all,” he said. “When people act like children, I think they often get treated like children. The perception that those resolutions created externally is extremely problematic for those of us that have to go and advocate to the people that fund this institution to help the folks that need help.” 

Avery Baker, GPSG Senator for Public Policy and co-sponsor of the resolutions, said the BOT using the resolutions as a counter to the increase of graduate stipends was “disingenuous.”

Baker said that she supports Heath’s campaign in increasing graduate stipends and understands the resolutions could make it difficult to work with administration. Regardless, she said they were necessary and represent the beliefs of graduate students.

Blaine also said that Chancellor Roberts has given greater attention to issues affecting graduate and professional students than his predecessors. He encouraged Heath to tell senators to bring any future concerns directly to Chancellor Roberts. 

“I really hope you’ll convey to them that they ought to grow up and act like adults,” Blaine said. “They have a problem, I’ve never seen the Chancellor not be receptive to meeting with anyone, they can take it directly to him. If they want to lay on the floor and kick and scream, they probably ought to go do it elsewhere and not put a stain on all of us."

More reactions

President Heath notified the BOT that the GPSG invited Chancellor Roberts to speak at their upcoming senate meeting in December. 

Multiple GPSG senators said that the senate was not consulted about the invitation extended to the Chancellor to speak at December’s meeting. 

After the undergraduate student government elevated the resolution to the student joint governance council, comprised of graduate and undergraduate student government members, the proposal failed.

Trustee Marty Kotis praised the undergraduate student government for their “political savvy and poise” in redirecting the proposal to the council, shutting down what he called a “stupid move.”

Hashem Amireh, GPSG Senator and co-author of the resolutions, called the BOT comments “pathetic.” 

“We are constantly being told that we need to use the correct avenues to protest and make our voice heard in response to the protests that they’ve described as disruptive but when we use our voice through the channels they deem appropriate, like the Senate, we also get called children by members of the board,” he said. 

Senior Director of Media Relations Kevin Best wrote that “Chancellor Roberts and Provost Clemens look forward to working with the GPSG on this issue moving forward."

On Nov. 13, Amireh sent an email to GPSG members clarifying that both resolutions have been formally adopted by the GPSG Senate and no further action is needed.

Amireh said The Rules and Judiciary Committee will release an official statement soon. 

@calebherrera

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