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UNC Board of Trustees have called a special meeting, with Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz making opening remarks. Reporting for @dailytarheel
Guskiewicz says plans to build out University community standards are under way for the return in fall and are being developed based on the guidance of public health experts: "Carolina is our people and we're doing everything we can to be together"
BOT has moved into closed session
The BOT is back in open session. No discussion coming from closed session, chairperson Richard Stevens said.
BOT member Jeff Brown made comments about the board's decision in 2015 to put into place a 16-year moratorium on renaming campus buildings. Brown, who was elected in 2013, said the University engaged in significant community engagement at the time.
Trustee David Boliek said he is "willing and able" to engage in discussion about the moratorium, but would prefer to meet in person rather than over Zoom with limitations of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Boliek has motioned to lift the 16-year moratorium. Trustee Ralph Meekins has seconded the motion.
Student Body President Reeves Moseley referenced a student-created petition to repeal the freeze, that has close to 9,000 signatures.
Trustees John Preyer and Allie Ray McCullen have posed questions about waiting to have the discussion in person. McCullen said if the board acts every time they hear of student protests, "we’re letting to the prisoners run the prison."
Trustee Kelly Matthews Hopkins moved to pass a substitute motion that would take time to further address the curation and education originally intended in Item 1 of the original resolution.
Boliek said removing the moratorium is a first step and would oppose substitute motions
Chairperson Stevens said he would oppose the substitute motion and an amendment proposed by R. Gene Davis: "I really believe we need to be clear and concise and simply remove the moratorium." Both have been withdrawn.
Guskiewicz said the Commission on History, Race, and A Way Forward would provide recommendations to him and the board about curation and education at the University. "Times have changed over these past 5 years, a lot has changed."
Trustee Charles Duckett said the moratorium was a placeholder so education and curation could be done. "Thousands and thousands of hours went into these resolutions, it may not seem that way, but they did."
"This isn't about changing history," Duckett said. He said lifting the moratorium is about "doing the right thing."
Duckett: "It's time that this University stand up, regardless of the pressure, and say, 'What do we stand for? What are we going to do?'"
The BOT is voting to make a decision on the moratorium.
The vote is 11-2, Boliek's original motion passes
The BOT has moved to take a recess
