The board of trustees at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has unanimously voted to defund diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and instead channel millions of dollars toward enhancing campus safety. This decision marks a significant shift in priorities and reflects a growing recognition of the divisiveness and failure of DEI initiatives.
During a special budget meeting on Monday morning, the board resolved to redirect the $2.3 million previously allocated to DEI programs toward police and other public safety measures. Considering the university’s operating budget of over $4 billion in the previous fiscal year, this reallocation is a strategic move to address immediate security concerns.
Marty Kotis, vice chair of the board’s budget and finance committee, articulated a sentiment shared by many: “I think that DEI, in a lot of people’s mind, is divisiveness, exclusion, and indoctrination. We need more unity and togetherness, more dialogue, more diversity of thought.” Kotis is right on the money. We need school officials to recognize this. Ignore the fact that many DEI programs struggle to define their purpose to begin with; we are seeing the fruits of their labor in real-time. DEI initiatives sow divide and instill hatred. DEI truly stands for division, exclusion, and intolerance.
Kotis also pointed to a recent incident as a stark reminder of the urgent need for improved campus security. Just hours before the commencement ceremony on May 11, pro-Palestinian protesters vandalized the South Building with red paint and chalk. And, of course, this follows the viral story of the UNC fraternity heroically keeping the American flag from touching the ground after protesters repeatedly took it down to fly the Palestinian flag. These incidents highlight the disruptive impact of radical activism and the pressing need for a robust security response.
This decisive action by the UNC board is a clear rejection of the divisive and woke DEI agenda and a reaffirmation of the university’s commitment to safety and genuine inclusivity. It sends a powerful message that the era of pandering to radical leftist ideologies at the expense of campus security and unity is coming to an end. One can only hope that other universities follow.
