Kevin Guskiewicz has been serving as interim chancellor at UNC for just over eight weeks. But in that time Guskiewicz has publicly responded to multiple incidents on the campus.

In mid-March, a group of Confederate supporters came onto the campus. One member of the group was carrying a firearm, which is against the law.

Guskiewicz said Thursday during a break at the Board of Trustees meeting that it was important for the university administration to be upfront with the campus community when instances like these arise.

“We need to be as transparent as possible and to make it very clear that this is unacceptable when this happens,” he said. “And we’re not going to tolerate these sorts of activities. I was pleased that we were able to act very quickly, and I think people appreciated that.”

“The group that we’re engaged with to investigate that will be available to help us look at future incidents where we could perhaps improve on the way that we handle these situations,” Guskiewicz said. “But also to reflect on those that we’ve handled really well and where we want to make certain that we’re replicating those.”

The interim chancellor also sent a message to the campus concerning “racist actions” on the campus from two instances of vandalism over the weekend. Arrests warrants have been issued for two individuals from the incidents, and Guskiewicz said Thursday the two had been trespassed from the campus.

Guskiewicz also announced last month that a commission would be formed to examine all aspects of community safety. There have been some requests that police be excluded from that group.

“Others have said that it would be helpful to perhaps have one or two,” the chancellor said. “Whether they’re police officers from our own force or perhaps a retired police officer from the local community that can help the members of the commission better understand some of the laws and guiding principles that they use in carrying out the policies and procedures around policing and promoting a safe campus.”

He said the membership of that commission would be announced in the next two weeks.

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