The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has eliminated its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program.
UNC Chapel Hill’s Board of Trustees voted Monday to cut funding for diversity programs in next year’s budget — approving an amendment that would direct $2.3 million to public safety and policing.
The vote to shift more money to public safety comes as ongoing pro-Palestinian protests on the UNC campus have led to several arrests in recent weeks.
The campus made national headlines after members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity took it upon themselves to protect the American flag after protesters replaced it with the Palestinian flag.
Budget Committee Vice Chairman Marty Kotis said law enforcement has already been forced to respond to protests, but they need more money to “protect the university from a greater threat.”
The campus made national headlines after members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity took it upon themselves to protect the American flag during an anti-Israel protest
The school approved a change that would spend $2.3 million on public safety and policing
“It is important to consider the needs of all 30,000 students, not just the hundred or so who want to disrupt the university’s operations,” Kotis said.
“It takes resources away from others.”
Budget Chairman Dave Boliek said the decision gives the university “an opportunity to lead the way on this” and anticipate the University of North Carolina Board of Governors’ vote on its diversity policy.
Last month, the statewide governing body’s Committee on University Governance voted to roll back and replace DEI policies for 17 schools across the state.
The change would alter the 2019 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion regulations that define the roles of various DEI positions — and it appears these jobs will disappear if the policy is repealed.
The full 24-member board will vote on the policy change next week. If the change is approved, it will take effect immediately.
Pro-Palestinian protesters clash with police after replacing an American flag with a Palestinian flag at UNC on April 30
In March, the University of Florida eliminated the position of chief diversity officer, cut program staff positions and halted all contracts related to the subject under a new law passed last year and pushed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis.
In that case, the $5 million set aside for the DEI program will be redirected to a faculty recruitment fund.
A conservative quest to limit diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives is gaining momentum in state capitols and university boards of governors, with officials in about a third of states now taking action against them in some way .
Republican lawmakers in about two dozen states have introduced bills this year to restrict DEI initiatives. They are opposed by Democrats who have sponsored supportive DEI measures in about two dozen states.
In all, lawmakers have introduced about 150 bills this year that would limit or advance DEI efforts, according to an Associated Press analysis.