Students were detained at the Board of Governors meeting in Chapel Hill this morning. Students interrupted the meeting and were reportedly knocking over microphones and screaming.
The protest was planned in response to the election of Margaret Spellings as UNC System president, many fearing based on her record and the nature of her appointment to the position that she will not reflect the needs of much of the student and faculty population.
Vice President of Communications Joni Worthington commented, “It is certainly unfortunate that this group chose to behave in this manner.”
Spellings was unanimously elected as UNC System president by the Board of Governors in late October. She will take office as the head of the 17-campus UNC System March 1.
Spellings is the former United States Secretary of Education for the Bush administration. Her election came at the end of a secretive search for candidates that began in January 2015 following former UNC President Tom Ross’ unexplained removal from office after serving for five years.
