In response to the hate crimes of November 2008, UNC System President Erskine Bowles issued a commission in December to “review student codes of conduct as they relate to hate crimes.”
The committee was appointed to address whether a policy on hate crimes and acts of violence should be recommended to the Board of Governors and whether the development of a UNC System-wide requirement for diversity orientation for all first-time students is necessary.
Harold Martin, chancellor of N.C. A&T University and leader of the committee, said the committee investigated legal stances on freedom of speech in relation to hate crimes, existing campus policies and student codes of conduct for all UNC-System schools and reviewed existing orientation programs on diversity currently provided on campuses in making the decision.
“We were charged by President Bowles in December and we returned decisions within a timely four-month time frame, with a detailed report of our findings,” he said.
During the commission’s deliberation it held seven public meetings, a public forum and briefings from legal aides and NAACP officials.
The committee returned its final report in March, detailing their recommendations to the president’s charges.
The committee voted unanimously to adopt a system-wide policy to address hate crimes and acts of violence, according to UNC General Counsel Laura Luger.
“Each campus handles conduct regarding unlawful harassment or hate crimes. The University System has not issued any guidance in respect to individual campuses’ codes of conduct, but it is under consideration what a University System-wide position should entail,” she said.
The second charge, to develop a UNC System-wide requirement for diversity orientation for first-time students resulted in the formation of a second committee. The committee’s reported universities already have a wide range of programs related to diversity but could benefit from consideration of uniform objectives and standards.
As a result of this decision, the BOG recommended a presidential task force be established. According to the BOG, this force would focus on a “comprehensive analysis of best practices in building strong, appropriate and effective campus cultures.”
The task force has yet to be formed.
Former Chancellor James Oblinger took steps to establish a University task force consisting of students, administration and faculty but with his resignation it fell through.
According to Jose Picart, interim dean of the College of Education, a campus values and ethics committee is in the first stages of planning. This committee’s responsibility would be to help create a campus that is inclusive for all members.
The group would be appointed by the chancellor and provost, but with the resignation of Oblinger, Picart said the University’s new leadership has had more pressing matters on its plate.
“It would not investigate hate crimes, instead it would respond to bias instances and other things of that nature, but the current administration has had to take on higher priority issues, so this is on the back-burner,” he said.
The committee, when formed, will include students.
Picart said if the issue is how to promote a culture on campus then the committee would need to have students on it.
