Chapel Hill’s DEI Obsession Was Mandated at the Top

James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal ^ | July 10, 2023 | Jenna A. Robinson

[karpov]

In the past several years, the Martin Center has exposed and reported on numerous diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at UNC-Chapel Hill. Since late 2021, we have uncovered DEI plans that pose significant threats to academic freedom and free speech in at least three schools.

In November 2021, John Sailer exposed “The UNC School of Medicine’s Quiet ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’ Revolution.” In December 2022, Shannon Watkins wrote about the School of Journalism’s “Plan of Action on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).” And just last month, Harrington Shaw documented Chapel Hill’s latest DEI push in the College of Arts and Sciences. These plans enforce ideological dogma and undermine the principles of free speech, academic freedom, merit, and equal opportunity.

At first glance, the simultaneous emergence of nearly identical initiatives may seem organic, or perhaps attributable to an increased focus on DEI on the part of accreditation agencies. For example, the UNC School of Medicine, in its updated Task Force to Integrate Social Justice into the Curriculum report, claimed that many of its recommendations were “required to maintain accreditation” by the LCME.

But it turns out that the flurry of such plans among UNC’s academic and administrative units may be traceable to an email sent on behalf of UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz in July 2020. The Martin Center obtained a copy of the email via a public records request last month and was startled to find an explicit directive that every Chapel Hill school or unit “submit measurable deliverables around diversity and inclusion initiatives.”

[RoosterRedux]

Jordan Peterson said that what destroyed colleges and universities was the defeat of the professorial class by administrators.

Colleges used to be run or mostly influenced by those interested in teaching and research but the administrative types overran them. Their goal was control and indoctrination.

On a brighter note, the internet and AI stands ready to take over when colleges and universities die out.

The college degree will be replaced by tests that measure knowledge, understanding, and actual abilities.

[Bookshelf]

Kevin Guskiewicz
Chancellor
Kevin M. Guskiewicz, a neuroscientist, academic leader and concussion researcher, is the twelfth chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Prior to his appointment as chancellor, Guskiewicz served as the interim chancellor from February 2019 until December 2019. In that role, he held over 25 listening and learning sessions with constituents across campus. He was instrumental in shaping Carolina’s new strategic plan, Carolina Next: Innovations for Public Good that outlines a roadmap for the University’s priorities moving forward. He relaunched the Tar Heel Bus Tour with 90 faculty and campus leaders, demonstrating Carolina’s commitment to the state.
A Kenan Distinguished Professor of Exercise and Sport Science, he has been a member of Carolina’s faculty since 1995. He is co-director of the Matthew Gfeller Sport-Related Traumatic Brain Injury Research Center. Guskiewicz is a nationally recognized expert on sport-related concussions. He maintains an active research portfolio and is principal investigator or co-principal investigator. on three active research grants totaling over $20 million. His groundbreaking work has garnered numerous awards and has influenced concussion guidelines in the NCAA and the NFL.
Wonderful! A jockstrap specialist is in charge of a major university. Not a great academic. Not a man steeped in Western Civilization. A jockstrapper.

[RoosterRedux]

And one wonders what the administration under his authority looks like. For example, how many administrative types work for him and are advising him.

[niteowl77]

Wonderful! A jockstrap specialist is in charge of a major university. Not a great academic. Not a man steeped in Western Civilization. A jockstrapper.

From what I can see, he has made a dandy career administering funds to discuss actual jocks getting their bells rung. He's not even the HS and military base jock that my old man was.... but he sure is connected and credentialed. And by golly, he appears to be an expert on about everything from Ukraine to drag queens, with a PhD appended to let us know it. Just the kind of guy who knows what's best for the rest of mankind.

A month divided between the counter and the rest room at a local convenience store would prove him wrong on about everything, but he'd probably still spout his nonsense anyway.