UNC chancellor: 'Silent Sam's' place is 'not at the front door' of the university
Following more than a week of protests, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chancellor Carol Folt said she believes there is still a place for "Silent Sam" on the campus.
Folt on Friday said she is continuing to listen to community members and their opinions on the “Silent Sam” statue, which was pulled down by protesters on Aug. 20.
On Thursday night, two groups- one against “Silent Sam” and one from Alamance County that wanted to see the statue returned to its pedestal- held opposing demonstrations on the campus.
Cammy Lee Morgan, 25, Mary Frances Rosen, 23, and Shannon Maclaughlin, 24, were all arrested. Authorities did not say if they were rallying for or against the return of “Silent Sam.” Folt said none of them were affiliated with the university.
“I respect the different views about the monument and what it stands for,” Folt said.
As the debate continues, faculty members are trying to use their collective voice to make sure the statue does not return.
More than 340 faculty members have signed their names to a letter that was sent to Folt and the provost. The letter says the statue memorializes racism and calls on Folt and the provost to show leadership and demonstrate that they will not endorse or support white supremacy.
“The words prominence and honor are really upsetting to us,” said Dr. Edwin Fisher, a professor at UNC. “The university needs to be clear that it is not honoring the cause of white supremacy and the Confederacy, which the statue was set up to promote.
Another letter, from 41 department chairs at UNC, was also sent to Folt. They too say they strongly oppose the return of the Confederate statue of McCorkle Place.
Fisher said it is unusual for so many faculty members to take public positions on contentious issues and hopes the letters will not fall on deaf ears.
The “Silent Sam” statue has been in storage since it was toppled last week and the UNC Board of Governors have given Folt and the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees until Nov. 15 to devise a plan for its fate.
“Under the terms of the resolution adopted by the Board of Governors on Tuesday, any plan developed by UNC-Chapel Hill with respect to the Confederate Monument must be submitted to the Board of Governors for consideration and must be implemented in conformance with state law," said Josh Ellis with UNC.
Folt said that the “Silent Sam” statue has a place in the university’s history and on campus, but perhaps not in the prominent place it once stood.
“’Silent Sam’ has a place in our history and on our campus, where its history can be taught, but not at the front door of a safe, welcoming proudly public research university,” Folt said.
