Chapel Hill - A statement from UNC System Board Chair Harry Smith and UNC System President Margaret Spellings, in response to the removal of Silent Sam last night on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill: 

 

“We have been in touch with UNC-Chapel Hill Trustee Chair Cochrane and Chancellor Folt both last night and this morning about the removal of the Silent Sam statue on UNC-CH’s campus. Campus leadership is in collaboration with campus police, who are pulling together a timeline of the events, reviewing video evidence, and conducting interviews that will inform a full criminal investigation. 

 

The safety and security of our students, faculty, and staff is paramount. And the actions last evening were unacceptable, dangerous, and incomprehensible. We are a nation of laws—and mob rule and the intentional destruction of public property will not be tolerated.”