I was a bit of a doubter
when Holden Thorp was first appointed to be the UNC Chancellor, but he
has turned out to be the best thing to happen to South Building in
decades. I’ve been surprised to see some of my friends blaming Thorp for
UNC’s athletics scandal and acting as if staff abuse of med air flights
was a capital crime.
Thorp clearly seems guilty of trusting Matt Kupec too much, and allowing him to waste taxpayer dollars. But Thorp is also a tremendously thoughtful and effective leader of this hugely complex academic institution. One stupid screw-up wasting money does not outweigh the great job he has done for many thousands of students, for Orange County, and for the state of North Carolina. In fact, I think he’s due a lot of credit for the badly-needed daylight that’s been shed on UNC athletics.
The Chancellor’s position has become untenable now because of athletic boosters and anti-intellectuals like Art Pope pounding the drums of “scandal.” These people are not concerned with the quality of education available to North Carolinians. Of course the Kupec/Hansbrough thing was a big mistake, but it doesn’t make Thorp unfit to do all the many things required of a good university chancellor. Let’s don’t blame Thorp for having to clean up the mess left by decades of athletic corruption and mismanagement.
And with Pope stacking the BOG with his Republican pals and getting himself appointed to a new panel on the future of the UNC system, I’m afraid the next Chancellor will be someone that doesn’t care about Chapel Hill and does whatever the Ram’s Club wants. This will also not be a person who is able to fight off Pope’s decimation of the state educational system.
I urge the Chancellor to reconsider, and I call on students, alumni, faculty, and staff to continue to show support for Holden Thorp. The reason I love the Tar Heels is that I love the institution they represent. The Carolina Way means academic integrity and fair play. If we give UNC over to Art Pope and the Rams Club, I won’t have much to cheer for.
Sincerely,
Ruby Sinreich,
UNC class of 1993
Some of the above appeared previously as comments on OP and Facebook. Versions of this were submitted as letters to the editor at the Carrboro Citizen and the Daily Tar Heel.
Issues:
Comments
Amen!!
Ruby, I could not agree more. I am really, really worried about what comes next if Thorp leaves. The Art Pope infiltration could not be worse for our beloved University of North Carolina. And Chancellor Thorp has been GREAT for town-gown relations. Elizabeth Waugh
Why elections matter
Friday Gathering in Support of Chancellor Thorp
Tomrrow, Friday, September 21, from 12-1, people are gathering on the Polk Place steps of South Building in support of Chancellor Thorp. Here is the description and schedule. on.fb.me/SaucoK"Join UNC faculty, employees, and students
in a demonstration of support for Chancellor Holden Thorp. Together, we
will request that Chancellor Thorp reconsider his decision to step down.
During his tenure at the helm of this great University, our chancellor
has demonstrated a profound commitment to positioning UNC as a leader in
affordable and quality public education. Under Chancellor Thorp's
leadership, the University has defended accessibility and
affordability, has increased its research funding and prospective
student applications, and has been spotlighted by peer institutions and
the federal government as an exemplar of public higher education.
While the University has endured its fair share of turmoil, we are
convinced that Chancellor Thorp is the right individual to lead the
University. The Carolina Way promotes that we as Tar Heels,
support our own, even when it is difficult. Let's stand alongside each
other, wearing our Carolina blue, this Friday in support of Chancellor
Thorp. Together, we are Carolina." SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: 11:50-12:00 - UNC Clef Hangers 12:00-12:05 - Opening 12:05 - 12:25 - Faculty, Staff, and Student Speakers 12:25-12:35 - Mipso 12:35-1:00 - Faculty, Staff, and Student Speakers