For the first time since the fatal shooting of one of their colleagues, the UNC Faculty Council held a meeting on September 8 to discuss their emotions around the incident and to ask questions of the university’s leadership.
UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz began the meeting by honoring Zijie Yan, who lost his life in the on-campus shooting August 28. Yan was an Associate professor and member of the Carolina community for the last four years.
“Last week was a very difficult and heartbreaking one for our Carolina community,” Kevin Guskiewicz said. “[Yan] was a beloved teacher, a dedicated scholar, and a caring mentor. And Dr. Yan shared in our deep commitment to expanding knowledge about our world and mentoring the next generation of leaders.”
The chancellor also praised faculty and staff for heroic action, and discussed prevention and preparation for a tragic event like this. According to Guskiewicz, faculty and staff rose to the occasion during the campus-wide lockdown by protecting students, barricading doors, and being flexible with student needs afterwards. After crediting those who acted bravely in the face of adversity, he acknowledged an imperfect response system on the day of the shooting.
“I know that not everyone felt as prepared as they may have wanted to, and that no system and no response is perfect,” Guskiewicz said. “I’ve said that repeatedly over the past several days.”
Faculty and staff shared their stories about what happened during the shooting, as well as questions and concerns they had regarding the university’s response. Miguel Lozano, who works in the Department of History, expressed frustration in the university’s communication regarding the shooting.
“The first alert that we receive that has been pointed out seemed somewhat ambiguous all the way through telling us when we’re returning to classes,” Lozano said. “The number one thing that I’m hearing from faculty in my department is that they didn’t feel that the communication was messaged correctly.”
Dorothy Cilento, who works in the Gillings School of Public Health, also inquired about communication from the university after the shooting occurred and the influx of emails staff and students received.
“I wonder if there was some kind of incident command structure where the communication could be more precise and more organized and more relevant to the individuals who that communication was intended for,” Cilento remarked.
Many staff members spoke up asking questions and clarifying protocol for situations like this. Some comments made by faculty members online were read by Faculty Chair Beth Moracco, who serves as an associate professor in the Department of Health and Behavior.
“‘As an emergency healthcare physician and healthcare worker,'” read Moracco, “I was concerned for the safety of my patients and staff and the discord of notifications and response between hospital and university systems.”
Guskiewicz explained that an online portal would be activated where feedback will be provided to the community. Through the portal administration can discuss ways to address the concerns raised. The administration is discussing whether or not more required training for school shootings are necessary, but the chancellor said he believes everyone has a role to play in keeping the campus safe.
“We currently require active shooter training for many of the new members to our campus community, and we regularly encourage it for many groups including faculty on our campus,” Guskiewicz said. “We will assess whether more required training should be considered and we’ll want to hear your thoughts on this.”
The Faculty Executive Committee also submitted a resolution in memory of Yan, which was approved unanimously.
“We mourn the death of Professor Yan,” Moracco read aloud, “and extend our deepest sympathy to his family, his students, his colleagues and other loved ones. His legacy will live on through the scholarship of his students, and his significant contribution to science in the memory of his colleagues.”
To watch the full UNC Faculty Council meeting from September 8, click here.
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