Dear UNC Community,
I am writing this letter with a heavy heart and many complex feelings that I do not quite understand myself. These past few weeks have altered life for all of us, however, as a black student these past few days have been particularly hard.The rioting is symbolic of the turmoil I am experiencing within. I personally have grown numb and feel a sense of hopelessness surrounding the news and racial tension that exists in the world. Everyday there is a new story about another person from the black community being killed due to the injustices and prejudices that continue to rule and reign. I personally am missing the physical solidarity of UNC during this time. I want to use my platform to stand up for what is right, just, and equitable. One of my goals as the Carolina Union Board of Directors Chair is to take a stance on issues that support our mission statement. In the past, we have remained silent, forsaking many populations within our campus. I cannot betray my values and allow one, Darian to show up in the Boardroom and another once I leave.
We realize that the events of the past few weeks have brought forth a lot of emotion and outcry about the history of this country and the foundational principles it was built on. We see you Carolina, and we are with you. The Carolina Union (CU) is committed to creating safe, inclusive, and educational experiences that enable students to maximize their time at Carolina. CU is a safe space for all students and we are devoted to seeing you thrive. CU is more than just a building and we realize that these issues are bigger than us. We may not have the answers, but we do have the passion and support to join in the hard work of finding them. This is personal, therefore we are recognizing that our vocalization in solidarity with UNC’s minority students, particularly the black community is important. We encourage any dialogue and conversations that you want to have. Below are some resources available to you should you need them.*
I encourage you all to be your most authentic self and fight for what you believe in. The Carolina Union supports you.
In solidarity,
Darian Abernathy, Chair of the Carolina Union Board of Directors
Counseling and Psychological Services
https://caps.unc.edu/
Student Wellness
https://studentwellness.unc.edu/
Bail Funds:
Louisville Community Bail Fund: https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/louisville-community-bail-fund/
North Carolina Community Bail Fund of Durham: https://www.nccbailfund.org/
Take Action Chapel Hill: https://www.takeactionch.com/
National Bail Out: http://nationalbailout.org/
The Bail Project: https://bailproject.org/
Community Justice Exchange’s Bail Funds by State: https://www.communityjusticeexchange.org/nbfn-directory
Bail Funds by City: https://tinyurl.com/bailfundslink
Donations:
Reclaim the Block: https://www.reclaimtheblock.org/home
Black Visions Collective: https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/
North Star Collective: https://www.northstarhealthcollective.org/
The Legal Rights Center: https://www.legalrightscenter.org/
Communities United Against Police Brutality: https://www.cuapb.org/
Black Lives Matter: https://blacklivesmatter.com/
NAACP Legal Defense Fund: https://www.naacpldf.org/
Know Your Rights Camp: https://www.knowyourrightscamp.com/
Go Fund Me:
Ahmaud Arbery (I Run with Maud): https://tinyurl.com/maudGFM
George Floyd: https://tinyurl.com/georgefloydGFM
Tony McDade: https://tinyurl.com/tonymcdadeGFM
Petitions:
Text “FLOYD” to 55156 or sign the petition here: #JusticeforFloyd
Text “ENOUGH” to 55156: demand justice for Breonna Taylor
Text “JUSTICE” to 55156: demand DA George Barnhill and Jackie Johnson are removed from their office in GA
Justice for George Floyd: https://www.change.org/p/mayor-jacob-frey-justice-for-george-floyd
Justice for Breonna Taylor: https://www.change.org/p/andy-beshear-justice-for-breonna-taylor
Justice for Ahmaud Aubrey: https://tinyurl.com/ahmaudpetition
Justice for Tony McDade: https://www.change.org/p/black-lives-matter-activists-justice-for-tony-mcdade
Justice for Sean Reed: https://www.change.org/p/mayor-joe-hogsett-justice-for-sean-reed
Speak Up:
To demand release of protestors/prosecution of all officers involved:
County Attorney Mike Freeman (612-348-5550)
Mayor Frey (612-673-2100)
Minneapolis City Attorney’s office (612-673-3000)
Demand justice for Breonna Taylor via petition signing or phone banking
Statements from Other Campus Organizations:
Black Congress: https://www.instagram.com/p/CAxu4R6A26S/
Black Student Movement: http://www.uncbsm.com/statement
Campus Y: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aSoKLqed5t6ICK-h3IF9PphIa6od0Tl0DCAjONWo-lY/edit
Carolina Association of Black Journalists: https://www.instagram.com/p/CA3B9i5gf0_/
Carribean Student Organization: https://www.instagram.com/p/CAy8NgfgS3x/
CUAB: https://www.instagram.com/p/CA1eYXNAxAm/
Sangam: https://www.instagram.com/p/CA0WNe4Ff1h/
The Bridge: https://www.instagram.com/p/CA1Urusl_3H/
Political Education:
“Afro Pessimism: An Introduction” Frank Wilderson III
“Are Prisons Obsolete?” Angela Y. Davis
“Black Feminist Thought” Patricia Hill Collins
“Concerning Violence” film, 2014
“Feminist Theory: From Margin” to Center Bell Hooks
“Scenes of Subjection” Saidiya Hartman
“Sojourning for Black Women, American Communism and the Making of the Black Left Feminism” Erik McDuffie
Masterlist of Additional Resources and Information:
tinyurl.com/blmforever
*Thank you to the UNC Executive Branch, Campus Y, and Black Congress for putting together these lists of resources.
Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz announced a new website detailing plans for the University's reopening and Fall 2020 semester. The website, carolinatogether.unc.edu, will provide information for students, faculty, staff and the Carolina community. The Carolina Union will provide updates about its operations as they become available.
Please watch the Chancellor's message about Carolina Together below.
This March, 60 students from UNC and NC State temporarily set rivalries aside and came together for a week of leadership development. Hosted and organized by the Carolina Union’s office of Student Life & Leadership, The LeaderShape Institute was an intensive and energizing six-day program with a mission to transform the world by increasing the number of people who lead with integrity and a healthy disregard for the impossible.
Held from March 7-12 in Black Mountain, NC, LeaderShape was a joint session with 30 students selected from UNC-CH and 30 from NC State. Students who attended said the program uncovered lessons and insights about leadership, inclusiveness and self-awareness that they will bring back to their respective schools and communities.
"If one can take any lesson away from LeaderShape, it is that leaders come in all shapes and sizes and there is no set standard for who can be a leader,” said Reghan Flores, a first year student at UNC. “The diverse, inclusive community fostered by LeaderShape taught me this and gave me a new perspective going back to UNC and the world beyond. Every person has a unique set of qualities and ideas that can be brought to the table, and it is important to recognize that someone's weakness in one area is another's strength; however, both are equally valuable. With this thought in mind, I plan to advocate for inclusivity amongst the UNC organizations I am involved with and the campus as a whole, taking action to make sure everyone's voice is heard. I understand, through the knowledge I gained as part of the LeaderShape program, that I don't need to force myself to accomplish everything at once, but I can break down my vision into manageable and reach goals, setting a timeline for the smaller steps I want to accomplish first before building my way up to the complete picture. There are different ways of leading as well, whether that be in a titled position or simply reaching out a helping hand as a general member, and leading doesn't mean standing alone on your path towards an overarching vision. Wherever I may be, whatever the circumstances may be, I will do my utmost to stay true to the goals I have put forth with a firm understanding of my values and passions as well as the qualities of a leader gained through my time in the LeaderShape program."
"Leadershape reinforced that the leadership style I tend to use is valuable in its own way, and helped me see both the strengths and vulnerabilities in the leadership style that I tend to envy,” said Amy Wright, who is pursuing a master’s in Social Work. “I needed that validation because being a leader is important to me and my less dominant leadership style is less frequently valued and recognized in U.S. society. I also learned from experience that I am capable of stretching and adapting my leadership style to be more take-charge when the situation calls for it; I just have to set my mind to pushing myself outside my comfort zone!"
"I am interested in international relations, especially Middle Eastern affairs,” said Tracey Spaugh, a Global Studies major. “I will take what I learned from Leadershape with me no matter where I go. I will be aware of my positionality as a cisgender, heterosexual, American male working with other communities. I will be aware of the power that I have, but I will also be cognizant of the inequities in the world. My focus as an international relations specialist must be to work with diverse communities and work to make sure that everyone involved feels like they are wanted and are able to work in the global processes to deal with our major challenges such as LGTBQ discrimination, women's rights, poverty, global pandemics, and climate change.”
The Carolina Union and the office of Student Life & Leadership are pleased to announce and welcome the new class of 2023 cohort of NC Fellows. Representing a diverse cross-section of thought, race, religion and geographic backgrounds, the 2023 Fellows cohort consists of 25 students who were selected after a rigorous application and interview process.
The mission of the North Carolina Fellows Program is to reimagine traditional understandings of leadership by engaging in meaningful dialogue, creating a supportive community, increasing self-awareness amongst its members, and encouraging positive change. Founded in 1967, notable North Carolina Fellows alumni include actress Janora McDuffie, and Karla Guadalupe Garcia, the first Latinx woman trustee on the Dallas Independent School District.
Sydney Howell, Leadership Development Program Coordinator at the office of Student Life & Leadership, has overseen the fellows program since 2018 and said that throughout the three-year Fellows experience, members will confront new ideas and engage in dialogue as they work in teams and groups.
“The Fellows experience is one where you interact with people who are very different from you in a close and intimate way,” Howell said. “We believe in the power of dialogue and engaging in critical conversations to reach a deeper understanding of issues we all face.”
Adriana Jimenez-Guzman, an Exercise and Sports Science major from Burlington, NC, is entering the 2023 Fellows cohort and said that a friend who is a current fellow encouraged her to apply to be a part of the program. “I always knew when I came to Carolina that I wanted to join an organization where I could build my leadership skills and me more proactive in the community,” Jimenez-Guzman said. “I’m looking forward to meeting the other fellows, and build that community and connection with others. It’s a chance to meet new people and learn from their perspectives.”
Another member of the 2023 cohort, Matthew Wood, a Psychology and Sports Communication major from Waterford, Mich., said his goal as a cohort member was to build relationships that help him succeed at UNC.
“With NC Fellows, I’m looking forward to getting to know a group of people that I become really close with and establish that foundation that will be able to guide me at Carolina,” Wood said. “I want to feel like we accomplished something together and take what we learned as a cohort and take it to whatever our next steps may be.”
The Class of 2023 Fellows are:
Brendon Brown
Chelsea Parra
Victoria Bryant
John Ratkowiak
Ashlyn Clark
Emma Schieck
Carolina Coch
Ryan Schmelzle
Sherrod Crum
Keisha Solanki
Jayna Ellis
Victoria Song
Roli Enonuya
Robert Susewell
Halima Hasan
Tania Tobaccowala
Zehra Hassan
Kartik Tyagi
Adriana Jimenez-Guzman
Matthew Wood
Amelie Kadackal
Tiansheng (Travis) Ye
Oluwatamilore Kolawole
Rayna Young
Jailyn Neville
As an unprecedented semester at UNC winds down, many UNC students may have lingering concerns about a variety of matters related to the coronavirus pandemic and to their lives as students in Chapel Hill. Fortunately, for all enrolled undergraduate, graduate and professional students, there is a resource that can help: Carolina Student Legal Services, Inc. (SLS).
SLS is a nonprofit law firm created in 1976 to meet the legal needs of students and student organizations at UNC. Since March 23rd, they have transitioned to remote services and have since met with hundreds of UNC students via Zoom, email, telephone calls and live chat. SLS will continue to help students through the summer as well. Graduating seniors have a three-month period from the day they graduated to contact SLS with legal matters, and full-time degree-seeking students who were enrolled during the spring can utilize SLS services as well. SLS has helped students address a variety of issues, including:
Covid-19 related landlord tenant issues, including early lease termination
Unemployment benefits and other CARES act questions
Pending criminal or traffic court matters
Transfer of minor children during quarantine for separated couples
Will and Powers of Attorney preparation
Additionally, for any legal question or issue SLS does not offer counsel for, they can provide referrals to attorneys who can help. (And note that SLS cannot give advice or represent against other UNC students or the University.)
Students with questions or concerns regarding a legal matter should email SLS at [email protected] or call (919) 962-1303. In addition to remote appointments, SLS will also be conducting a "live chat" with our attorneys through its website Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
The final Carolina Union Board of Directors meeting of the academic year was a changing of the guard as old leaders passed the torch responsibility to new ones. Outgoing board chair Jaylen Evans led the meeting wearing a cap and gown, and even turned the tassel as his tenure concluded. Evans, who steered the Union through unprecedented challenges this spring, is turning leadership over to Darian Abernathy, a rising senior who has held numerous leadership positions as a longtime Union student employee.
Via Zoom, Abernathy delivered an address to board members that shared her vision for the future. We are publishing her remarks in full:
First, I would like to congratulate you all on all of the hard work that you have accomplished this year. I realize that this is not the way anyone expected the academic year to end, but you all have shown me that even when things do not go according to plan, success is always possible. I want to also thank Jaylen and Alexandra for their guidance and support. They have gotten the opportunity to get to know me a little better these past few weeks, and they have consistently made me feel confident in my own abilities to step into this leadership role. Jaylen will be leaving behind a legacy that I will honor and strive to uphold for the next year and instill in the Chairs to come.
As for next year, I have 3 specific goals in mind for how the Board of Directors will continue to support the mission of the Carolina Union:
I am excited to continue to build relationships with GPSF, especially when thinking of graduate and undergraduate relationships. Student Government, GPSF, and the Carolina Union have always been the centers for student led activism. My goal is to unify these efforts so that we can create synergy and give space for students in the Carolina Union. I also what to engage other student groups that the Union has not engaged with in the past, particularly voices that have been silenced by the university, and work on building a future with them as well.
Next, I hope to use student voices and surveys to advocate for the expansion of the current space. As the UNC population continues to grow, so must the services dedicated to serving them. I realize that this will be difficult and will not be accomplished without backlash. 1. Because coronavirus has altered plans with revenue and the functionality of the physical Union space. 2. We have been using the current space well and some may not see a need for change. However, I challenge those ideas by considering the evolution of the university itself. As the campus community grows, so does the physical campus space. The survival of the university depends on it, and so do we.
Finally, I want to find innovative ways to build partnerships across campus and throughout the organizations we serve. However, I don’t want to stop there. I want to build relationships with other student unions at our sister universities so that we can network and find creative ways to serve our students and share ideas that would help to support theirs. Surprisingly, with the current situation the world is in, I think that this is a beneficial time to start making these connections. We are treading new territory, and should choose to lean on each other. This could have a tremendous impact with supporting the previous goals. Allowing our network to grow will in turn create opportunity for the Carolina Community.
As COVID-19 continues to change the way we interact, I want to reassure you all of my commitment to the Carolina Union. To be honest, I am scared and nervous however, I do not see these as weaknesses. They speak to the caution, care, and humility that I will bring into this position. I am honored to be selected to lead this group of passionate leaders, and I know that we each are dedicated to seeing our constituents thrive. I am looking forward to working with many of you next year as we transition with next year’s BOD. Be on the look for updates and action items for our summer retreat and Fall Planning.
Thank you.
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak happening around the world, the UNC Panhellenic Council has decided to donate $5,000 to UNC Hospitals. Currently, UNC Hospitals are partnering with local Chapel Hill restaurants to deliver to hospital staff each Wednesday.
The Panhellenic Council chose this cause in order to support both UNC—Chapel Hill as well as local restaurants. The Panhellenic Council wanted to give back to those staff working to battle COVID-19 on campus. Additionally, local businesses around the country are being impacted by COVID-19, especially many Chapel Hill businesses that thrive off of the no longer present student population on campus. The Panhellenic Council is thrilled to give back to UNC—Chapel Hill hospital staff and the Town of Chapel Hill businesses.
The Panhellenic Council is proud to support various philanthropies, including those philanthropies of our chapters. Unfortunately, there have been many cancelled philanthropy events within the Panhellenic community following the closure of UNC—Chapel Hill. The UNC Panhellenic Council decided that as the governing body for all sororities at UNC—CH, we want to maintain our commitment to serving others and serve as an example for the Panhellenic community. We look forward to seeing the efforts of our individual chapters to help ease the strain on those who have been severely impacted by COVID-19.
Grace Hawley, President of the UNC Panhellenic Council, said, “As members of the council, our mission is to promote excellence in the community. We are passionate about helping those in need during these unprecedented times and are thankful we are able to donate to such a wonderful cause to help hospital workers and support local businesses.”
For those interested in learning more about donating to UNC Hospitals should contact [email protected].
As nurses, doctors and other staff at UNC Hospital are working extra hours amid the coronavirus pandemic, UNC’s Interfraternity Council (IFC) has found a way to lend support to frontline medical workers.
Every Wednesday through June, lunches will be delivered to the hospital and distributed to staff, courtesy of a donation from the IFC.
Money for the donation effort came from unused funds the council had in the wake of campus closures this semester. The IFC, which is a coalition of UNC fraternities, typically earmarks money for philanthropy events or other council initiatives. But with membership dispersed following campus closures, the council decided to redirect those funds to supporting the hospital.
Brandon Wacaser, president of the IFC and of UNC’s Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, originally pitched the idea to his fellow councilmembers and to the hospital.
“We were forced to think outside of the box and think about how we could benefit the community,” Wacaser said. “Obviously part of being in a fraternity is social, but then there is the other side that’s thinking about what we can do to better ourselves and our community and help others.”
Wacaser, a business major who is also following a premed track, has volunteered at UNC’s Lineberger Cancer Center for several years, and used his contacts at the hospital to set up the food donations. He helped with the first delivery to the hospital last Wednesday, which was lunch from Venable, a restaurant in Carrboro.
He said he hopes that individual chapters will be able to support the donation effort as well with any leftover chapter funds from the semester.
“I’m hoping we can get to a point where we can deliver two or three meals a week,” he said.
Carolina Union Executive Director Alexandra Marchesano offers words of encouragement as we enter the home stretch of the spring semester.
Hello! It’s been a few weeks since we had to adjust to new ways of learning and working for the remainder of the Spring semester at UNC. This was not how we wanted to spend the past few weeks, but we wanted our UNC community to know how proud we are of the adjustments you have made and the effort you are putting in to finishing out this semester and looking toward the future.
As we work through the unknowns, I wanted to take time to send a hello and check in with you. We miss having our building filled with students passing the time as well as our student employees who work hard to make our services and programs successful. Please know all students are valued and missed.
The University has worked to develop a list of resources that are available to you for many different situations and you can find that information here COVID-19 Student Care Hub.
We look forward to returning to business as usual, and until that happens, keep in touch with us by reading the State of the Carolina Union newsletter and following the Union and Student Life and Leadership (SLL) social media sites. There are many virtual opportunities for all students from career discussions to leadership trainings happening in the next few weeks. CUAB is also sharing ways to connect students with fun activities on their social media sites.
As we move forward, stay healthy, stay positive and we will see each other soon. We miss you. I hope you all have a happy and safe Spring Holiday!
Story provided by UNC Delta Kappa Epsilon, Beta Chapter
In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity at UNC donated $17,600 on April 6 to a local nonprofit in order to help feed children in Orange County who normally depend on the breakfast and lunch offered at school for regular meals.
“Many children living in Chapel Hill and Carrboro rely on the breakfast and lunch provided by their public schools," said Vance Brice, president of the UNC Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE), Beta Chapter. "As schools in the area have closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, local communities have struggled to provide these kids with meals and nutrition. This donation represents something we can do to help other members of our community who are affected by this unprecedented crisis.
Following UNC-Chapel Hill’s indefinite closure on March 20 due to COVID-19, Mr. Brice and the fraternity’s treasurer, Chris Vaughan, determined that $17,600 would be left over from each brother’s dues which covered meals for the remainder of the spring semester. Rather than allocate refunds or issue credit for the upcoming fall semester, DKE’s members and their parents agreed to donate those funds to TABLE, a local charity suggested to them by Meg Miller, the fraternity’s longtime house manager.
TABLE is a nonprofit organization based in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area that provides hunger relief and nutrition education services to children living in Chapel Hill, Carrboro and neighboring communities within Orange County.
“TABLE is so grateful to DKE for their contribution to help us feed Orange County kids," said Ashton Tippins, TABLE’s executive director. "As a result of DKE’s donation, we will be able to provide 8,800 meals and snacks to the roughly 600 hundred children we serve weekly.”
Scott Smith, DKE’s academic advisor and alumni board president, expressed his hope that DKE's decision would serve as a catalyst for other Greek organizations.
“I am proud of the example the UNC-DKE leadership and active members are setting," Smith said. "Showing compassion for others who may be less fortunate is more important than asking for a refund. This donation goes to show that fraternities like DKE at UNC can lead by example in our community. I hope their contribution to TABLE will challenge others in the UNC Greek system and throughout the country to consider doing more of the same.”
To learn more about TABLE and their relief efforts throughout Orange County click here. For any additional information regarding UNC-Chapel Hill’s response to COVID-19, please visit www.unc.edu/coronavirus
