Chancellor Emeritus Moeser: Campus Climate Change at UNC

UNC Chancellor Emeritus James Moeser is calling on residents of North Carolina to stand up for the state’s universities.

Anxiety has fallen on much of the UNC campus following decisions recently made by the University System Board of Governors, from the removal of Tom Ross as President of the UNC System to the closure of centers on three campuses across the state.

Chancellor Emeritus James Moeser says he believes there is one motivating factor for these decisions.

“There’s an old saying – when they say it’s not about money, it’s about money,” he says. “My corollary to that is – when they say it’s not about politics, it’s about politics.”

Moeser is referring to the dramatic shift among state lawmakers, and correspondingly to the appointed members of the Board of Governors.

“I think the things that have happened in the last few weeks, decisions by the Board of Governors [and] comments that have been made publicly by state policy makers and leaders,” he says, “have sent a chill across the campus and into the faculty.

“And I think a lot of people are concerned about whether this university will be able to stay on course.”

Meoser adds he is concerned many faculty members may leave the university if they feel the university’s academic freedom has been compromised, along with the work they do.

“[That work] includes questioning public leaders and their motives,” he says, “and having the freedom to speak out.”

He says he wrote this article to appeal to the residents of Chapel Hill, and all of the Tar Heel state, to stand up for the University System.

“Right now, the faculty are very concerned about the state of the university,” he says. “And that’s why, in a sense, the purpose of this piece was really directed not to the campus, but beyond the campus.

“To the people of this state who I know love this university, cherish it actually, and don’t want to see harm done to it.”

Moeser says he believes this is a crucial time for the university, and the people who are questioning its direction.

“They speak up, and they say enough. Stop this political interference,” he says. “This university has never been the pawn of any political group; let’s not let it become that.

“There’s too much at stake here, a great university.”

Moeser credits the 17-campus University System for many of the advances made in North Carolina.

“The University of North Carolina really led the whole South and allowed North Carolina to be different from the rest of the South,” he says. “And as a result, we are a different state today. We have Research Triangle Park, we have great universities, [and] we have Charlotte.

“So much came to North Carolina because of the confluence of great universities right here in the Triangle. That is not something to be trifled with.”

Chancellor Emeritus Moeser: Campus Climate Change at UNC

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