UPDATE Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021
Message from the Chancellor’s Office:
Dear UNC Asheville Students, Faculty and Staff Colleagues,
The past 18 months have challenged our UNC Asheville academic community in many ways as we have navigated the complexities of the pandemic, reckoned with tensions in the nation’s democracy, and wrestled with how to better address racial justice on campus and in the region. These challenges have affected us all, and have disproportionately impacted the BIPOC community.
Today is the one-year anniversary of the student-led creation of the Black Lives Matter mural on University Heights. We acknowledge and applaud the many students, faculty and staff leaders who brought their vision, creativity, and integrity to this meaningful project. Our community is stronger when each of us is respected, valued, and has the opportunity to bring their full selves to their learning and work.
We also recognize and appreciate the efforts of the many volunteers in our UNC Asheville community and in the greater Asheville area, including the local artists who gave generously of their time and talent to create the mural on our campus. But most importantly, we celebrate the impact of this work and its unequivocal affirmation that Black lives matter.
As a University community, we are fully committed to our values of diversity, equity and inclusion. We stand in solidarity with members of our BIPOC community and all those who are affected by racism, bigotry, xenophobia and the myriad other ways in which individuals and groups are devalued and disenfranchised in our nation. We have much work still to do and that work is ongoing.
As you may recall, soon after this extraordinary mural was completed, our community endured a threat to this commitment. We recognize that the events of October 9, 2020 impacted all of us, and we acknowledge the exceptional stress and pain experienced by many Black students, faculty, and staff, as well as other BIPOC members of our UNC Asheville community.
Some of you have asked about the status of the investigation. The statement below is the full extent of the information we can provide about the case, as directed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Justice:
In October 2020, the United States Attorney’s Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation opened an investigation concerning an online threat at UNC Asheville. I want to thank UNC Asheville for its continued cooperation throughout the investigation and to inform you that after a thorough review of the federal investigation, and barring new information pertaining to the matter, we have closed this investigation.
We are thankful to everyone who came together that day to support one another and keep our campus safe, and we are deeply grateful for the continued care that our community exemplifies. The difficult events of that day also demonstrated the collective resilience of UNC Asheville at its best.
With gratitude and respect for each one of you during these challenging times,
Nancy J. Cable, Chancellor
Garikai Campbell, Provost
Sarah Broberg, Special Assistant to the Chancellor for Communication and Marketing
Kortni Campbell, Vice Chancellor for Admission and Financial Aid
Janet Cone, Athletic Director
Bill Haggard, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
Lyndi Hewitt, Chief of Staff and Professor of Sociology
Lakesha McDay, Executive Director of Governmental and Community Relations
John Pierce, Vice Chancellor for Budget and Finance
Kirk Swenson, Vice Chancellor for University Advancement
The following alerts were sent to students, faculty and staff, and posted on UNC Asheville’s BulldogAlert website. They are posted here in reverse chronological order (most recent on top). For more information about, and to view the Black Lives Matter mural, please see this feature story.
Dear UNC Asheville Faculty and Staff Colleagues and Students,
This academic year has challenged our University community in many ways. In addition to our need to remain vigilant about COVID-19 and to deal with the stresses in our democracy, the University was the target of a threat yesterday for having a Black Lives Matter mural on our campus. As all of us know, there are those that see our commitment to racial justice, our support for our students of color, our intention to raise awareness of history and to reject the ongoing violence against Black and other people of color in this country so problematic as to threaten violence against us.
We want to recognize that this is, indeed, difficult for us all, and this is particularly challenging and stressful for our student leaders who created the Black Lives Matter mural, and those who have actively (and in many cases publicly) vocalized their support for Black Lives Matter activities, and those whose identities are linked to this work. It is clear that the emotional toll of days like yesterday have had— and will continue to have— a differential impact on members of our community. We are working to create opportunities for all of us to process these events and to move forward, including actions that are focused on supporting all of our students, including the particular needs of our Black and Brown students in this moment.
While as of 7 p.m. last night, October 9, the shelter in place order was lifted in consultation with the federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities, we recognize the work that we must do. Over the next few days, please be on the lookout for more information as we work to deploy the best supportive strategies possible to manage this moment, its implications and impact.<
In the meantime, please know that the University has resumed normal operations, and will maintain an increased law enforcement presence throughout the coming days. Campus facilities and buildings are open and operating with all COVID-19 virus mitigation and health protocols in place.
The investigation related to the communication we received remains ongoing with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and we will provide updates as additional information is available and appropriate to share.
All official updates on the situation can be found at bulldogalert.unca.edu. Any information other than official statements on the BulldogAlert page are unofficial and potentially misleading or false. Please visit bulldogalert.unca.edu for the most accurate UNC Asheville information.
We urge every member of our campus community to remain vigilant. If you see something, say something, contacting University Police at 828-232-5000 to report any concerns.
We will continue to draw on our UNC Asheville collective strength as a campus community in the coming weeks, and we will remain true to our shared commitment to care for one another with compassion and mutual respect.
Chancellor Cable
Provost Campbell
I write to give you a campus community evening update. As of 7:00 p.m. tonight, UNC Asheville in consultation with federal, state, and local law enforcement, lifted the “shelter in place” order.
The investigation related to the Black Lives Matter mural located on our campus remains ongoing. Below is a link to the video statement I recorded this evening. Today has been a challenging time for UNC Asheville and I am grateful for your support and cooperation.
Update #4
Dear UNC Asheville Faculty, Staff, and Students,
We write to give you a campus community update. UNC Asheville is currently in “shelter in place” status and will be sustained until further notice.
Multiple law enforcement agencies, federal, state and local, are working together with UNC Asheville Campus Police to continue the investigation.
Students who need mental health support may access the counselor-on-call by contacting Campus Police at 828-232-5000 or the HealthLink nurseline at (888) 267-3675.
EAP Services are available to employees 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (https://hr.unca.edu/faculty-and-staff-assistance-program). You can call at 833-515-0768 or visit their website directly www.guidanceresources.com with our company ID: UNCAEAP.
We encourage every member of the UNC Asheville community to remain vigilant and safe and are grateful for your cooperation today.
We will continue to keep you updated.
Update #3
Dear UNC Asheville Faculty, Staff, and Students
We write to give you a campus community update. UNC Asheville is currently in “shelter in place” status and will be sustained until further notice.
Multiple law enforcement agencies are working together with UNC Asheville Campus Police to continue the investigation.
Students in need of support may contact Health and Counseling Services at 828.251.6520.
EAP Services are available to employees 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (https://hr.unca.edu/faculty-and-staff-assistance-program). You can call at 833-515-0768 or visit their website directly www.guidanceresources.com with our company ID: UNCAEAP.
We will continue to keep you updated.
Update #2
Dear UNC Asheville faculty, staff, and students.
We are writing to give you a brief update. As of 10:00 a.m. the UNC Asheville campus remains on lockdown and the email articulating a threat to the campus is under investigation by state and local authorities.
- If you are on campus, please remain sheltered in place until further notice.
- Students in need of support may contact Health and Counseling Services at 828.251.6520.
- EAP Services are available to employees in need of support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (https://hr.unca.edu/faculty-and-staff-assistance-program). You can call at 833-515-0768 or visit their website directly www.guidanceresources.com with our company ID: UNCAEAP.
- While all mandatory meetings, classes, University scheduled conversations, and forums are canceled, including those to be conducted virtually, we support any optional one on one or small group virtual connections that folks want to have to support one another.
- We appreciate and understand that many of you have the desire to help in this challenging moment. We ask that, for the time being, please refrain from taking any action until you have consulted with your Senior Staff member.
Updates will continue to be shared on the UNC Asheville homepage. We will also continue to send email updates to you throughout the day today and for as long as necessary. Thank you for your patience, the good will and support we have already heard that you are providing to each other, and for remaining calm between updates.
Dear UNC Asheville Faculty and Staff colleagues,
During the night several offices at the University received an email communicating a direct threat to members of the UNC Asheville community. The email demanded that the Black Lives Matter mural on University Heights on campus be painted over.
A decision has been made to send a Bulldog Alert to all faculty, staff, and students to shelter in place until further notice. We ask that employees, other than essential personnel, stay away from campus today. We will keep the community apprised as information becomes available and we will reopen campus as soon as possible. But no earlier than tomorrow morning.
Chief Eric Boyce and the EoC are working with senior staff and state and local authorities and we will keep you updated. Please discontinue any and all in-person and virtual classes, practices and activities throughout today.
We are working with the authorities to keep our campus safe and to return to the work of the University as soon as possible. If you have questions, please be in touch with your senior staff member.
Your cooperation is essential and we are grateful.
Due to a threat to the safety of members of our UNC Asheville community there will be no in-person or virtual classes, practices or activities on campus today. All residential students should shelter in place, all non-essential personnel should return home. We will provide updates as they become available.
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