Protesters Disrupt UNC Board of Governor’s Meeting

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CHARLOTTE, NC — Protesters disrupted a UNC Board of Governors meeting in Charlotte today, as the board discussed eliminating three community-supported centers.

About two dozen protesters read a statement opposing the closing of the Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity at UNC Chapel Hill, saying the decision is politically motivated.  Some were led out by campus police, and the meeting was moved to a different room.

“Community-engaged scholarship of really working with the community on some of the problems and difficulties that we’re facing,” said UNC Greensboro Professor Spomo Jovanovic.  “And we think they are very, very important.”

“We feel it’s an incredibly undemocratic process,” said UNC Chapel Hill student Elizabeth Brown.  “There is no student representation in this.  Those centers that heave been cut and targeted do great work for students, especially marginalized students.”

The board also approved an average 4.3 percent hike in tuition for schools in the UNC system next year.