A long-time employee at a bagel shop on UNC’s campus believes she was unjustly fired from her position.

For eight years, Lezlie Sumpter has been a cashier and manager at Alpine Bagel, a popular stop for breakfast and coffee in the Student Union on UNC’s campus. But after she returned to the area after a week of vacation, she heard some disturbing news from a fellow employee.

“He asked me, he said, ‘Do you know you’re off the schedule for the week?’ And I was like, ‘What do you mean, I’m off the schedule?’” Sumpter said.

Sumpter says she met with Alpine’s manager and company director early the next morning, and they told her she was fired.

“I’m speechless,” Sumpter said remembering the moment she was let go. “There’s nothing I could say or do. I was totally blind-sided.”

Sumpter says her manager explained she was being fired because of negative reports that came back about Sumpter as a result of an audit by Aramark, a third-party company contracted by Carolina Dining Services.

She says her manager showed her a report from Aramark stating Sumpter was wearing jewelry and a watch at the time of the audit. The report also stated Sumpter was chewing gum, which she denies.

Sumpter says she was aware that jewelry was prohibited by Carolina Dining Services. But, she says, she was never singled out for a warning about wearing her hoop earrings before she was fired.

“In eight years, I have never been written up, not one single time for anything—anything—concerning that company,” Sumpter said.

Sumpter is an at-will employee, which means legally, Alpine Bagel can dismiss her at any time, for any reason—or even no reason—as long as she is not fired based on factors protected by federal law, such as her race or gender. Still, Sumpter says she will be seeking legal action, and she’s getting a lot of support from the student community. One student has even started a Go Fund Me page for Sumpter.

“The students have really, really stepped up, and they have gotten me four different lawyers,” Sumpter said.

Sumpter says the UNC group Student Action with Workers is also organizing events on her behalf for when students return in the fall.

Related Stories
‹
Chansky's Notebook: Between the Lines
Bill Belichick's hiring at UNC has set off a social media spark that could be turning into a dumpster fire.
UNC Football 2025 Spring Transfer Portal Window Tracker: Arrivals
The spring window of the college football transfer portal opened Wednesday, April 16 and closed Friday, April 25. Players who intend to transfer must enter their names into the portal before the window closes, but do not need to have selected their next school by then. Here is a summary of which players have committed […]
UNC Men's Basketball to Face Ohio State in Atlanta For CBS Sports Classic
Another key non-conference date for UNC next season has been finalized. The Tar Heels will face Ohio State in the CBS Sports Classic at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on December 20. A tip-off time will be announced later, though UNC’s game is confirmed to be the first of the day’s doubleheader. Mark your calendars […]
Chansky's Notebook: Athlete and Artist
UNC's Reese Brantmeier wants to play professional tennis, but has an obvious interest in a second satisfying, competitive career.
UNC Golf: Men No. 2 Seed, Women No. 3 Seed in NCAA Regionals
The UNC men’s and women’s golf teams are both postseason-bound. The women’s team earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA’s Norman Regional, while the men’s team will be the No. 2 seed in the Urbana Regional. The regional appearance is the fourth in a row for the women’s team, which will be joined by […]
UNC Baseball Earns Run-Rule Win vs. Queens at Boshamer Stadium
The Diamond Heels scored nine runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on their way to a 14-3 win against Queens at Boshamer Stadium Wednesday evening. The game ended after a two-run home run from Hunter Stokely in the bottom of the eighth brought the 10-run rule into effect. Heels walk off the week!! […]
UNC's Jenny Levy Named ACC Coach of the Year, Eliza Osburn Freshman of the Year
UNC women’s lacrosse head coach Jenny Levy was named the ACC Coach of the Year for a league-record eighth time Wednesday afternoon, while Eliza Osburn also took home Freshman of the Year honors. Congratulations to the 2025 ACC Women's Lacrosse award winners! 🔗 https://t.co/SfyV8T7LBp pic.twitter.com/psYPkancfq — The ACC (@theACC) April 30, 2025 Levy most recently […]
Pro-Palestine Activists Hold Event Marking Anniversary of UNC Encampment, Clash with Police
On April 29, 2024, hundreds of UNC community members and protesters sat on the Chapel Hill campus’ Polk Place, entering their 72nd consecutive hour on the quad in protest of Israel’s military action in Gaza and the university’s administration’s unwillingness to take a stand as well. One day later, the scenes were much more charged […]
'False Narrative': Read UNC Head Coach Bill Belichick's Statement on CBS Interview
Following the airing of an interview on the show ‘CBS Sunday Morning’ this past weekend, UNC football head coach Bill Belichick has issued a statement on what he calls “a false narrative” suggested through the piece. The interview with CBS’ Tony Dokoupil, which was mostly to promote Belichick’s new book, “The Art of Winning,” touches […]
Report: Zayden High Expected to Return to UNC Men's Basketball Team Next Season
Editor’s Note: An article from the Raleigh News & Observer published Thursday, May 1 reports High was suspended from the university in the fall of 2024 for sexual misconduct and exploitation. He has since re-enrolled. You can read that report in full here. Zayden High, who spent his freshman year with the UNC men’s basketball […]
›