Transparency Now: UNC Hussman School of Journalism Black Alumni Support Tenure for Nikole Hannah-Jones
We, Black student alumni of the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media, stand in solidarity with Nikole Hannah-Jones, and the Carolina Association of Black Journalists, National Association of Hispanic Journalists at UNC-Chapel Hill, UNC Hussman Alumni Board, UNC Hussman Faculty, the National Association of Black Journalists, the Ida B. Wells Society, the Knight Chairs in Journalism, and Journalism Faculty Across the United States, as well as current students, alumni and academics around the world, who demand tenure for Nikole Hannah-Jones as the Knight Chair in Race and Investigative Journalism. Furthermore, we support the recommendation of Student Body President and UNC-CH Board of Trustee Member Lamar Gregory Richards that this matter be taken to a vote officially in a special called meeting by the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees. We also support the recommendation of UNC Hussman Alumni that calls on the North Carolina General Assembly and the UNC Board of Governors to reevaluate the elected and appointed members of the UNC Board of Trustees in alignment with the University’s strategic plan, specifically to ensure equitable representation in its leadership body to better reflect the full spectrum of diversity of the Carolina community.
The lack of transparency into the decision making process by which Hannah-Jones was denied tenure violates our trust and erodes the confidence we have in the members appointed to act in the best interest of all University stakeholders, including faculty, students, alumni, and donors from Black, Latinx, Native American, and underrepresented backgrounds.
Based on the limited information available, we are also led to question the Board’s accountability, and its impartiality in supporting the University’s mission “to serve as a center for research, scholarship, and creativity and to teach a diverse community of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to become the next generation of leaders.”
Actions by the Board of Trustee’s violates the trust we’ve placed in its leadership, specifically its commitment to the University’s Carolina Next: Innovations for Public Good Strategic Plan, that it unanimously endorsed to “promote democracy” and “prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion in teaching, research and service; and in hiring, evaluation, retention and promotion of under-represented faculty and staff,” just four months ago.
Diversity and Inclusion is one of the nine accrediting standards of the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications, which the UNC Hussman School of Journalism follows. The Board’s decision undermines the School’s ability to fulfil this obligation to its full potential and uphold its mission “to prepare students to ignite the public conversation in our state, the nation and the world, and to understand the role of communication in fostering democracy.” The precedent represented by this decision is a threat to academic freedom, which as the American Association of University Professors states is “fundamental to the advancement of truth.” It also has implications for press freedom, a concept deemed so important by the founders of this nation it is outlined in the United States Constitution.
As BIPOC UNC and UNC Hussman School of Journalism alumni, we know the importance of students and educators seeing themselves represented in permanent faculty, which in 2021 is still rare. We also recognize the benefit to all students having access to subject matter experts who interrogate inequities in academia and the perspectives from which students are taught, which we seek to protect. Further to a procedural re-assessment of Hannah-Jones’ tenure, we also recommend that an independent investigation is pursued to evaluate the Board’s indiscretion.
It’s time for a change and as so many others have previously stated, Nikole Hannah-Jones is more than qualified for academic tenure. As a UNC alumna she is a model example of the Carolina Way that we hold dear, and the professional legacy that all students should aspire to achieve.
At this time we have more questions than answers, and understand that members of the Board did not respond to requests for comment, therefore we implore our journalism colleagues to continue to investigate and report this story until a statement and resolution are reached. We applaud the investigative journalism of Joe Killian and Kyle Ingram at NC Policy Watch for their ongoing breaking news coverage of recent events. We also encourage residents of the state of North Carolina and community leaders to become active and engaged around this issue as it almost certainly will be repeated, if not vigorously opposed, at this time. The next scheduled Board of Trustees meeting is on Wednesday, July 14th — Thursday, July 15th and we encourage our professional journalist colleagues to cover this meeting and any special called meetings to ensure that Nikole Hannah-Jones and the public receive the transparency, fairness, and outcome that is now overdue.
Alumni, to share your support and to be added as a signatory, please complete this brief form. We also value the support of allies and community members, and invite you to complete this brief form to be added as a signatory.
Signatories:
1.) Amanda Rodrigues Smith ’08
2.) Averi Harper ’13
3.) Aisha Johnson ‘09
4.) Chris Helton ‘15, Culture and Employee Experience Program Manager, Microsoft
5.) Annick ‘16, Morning Anchor and Producer
6.) Jeannette H. Porter ‘18, Assistant Professor, Missouri School of Journalism
7.) Carol Shirley ‘13
8.) Eugene Scott ‘03, National Political Reporter, Washington Post
9.) Elizabeth Wangu ‘12
10.) Britney McCoy ‘12
11.) Tegan R. Bratcher ‘21, Assistant Professor, University of the Pacific
12.) Shondra Powe ‘06
13.) Livis Freeman ‘99, Teaching Assistant Professor
14.) Kali Hackett, ‘14
15.) Kristell Engram ‘09, Director of Human Resources
16.) Zakiya Scott ‘12, Center for Story-based Strategy
17.) Justin Lyons ‘06
18.) Taylor Doggett ‘20
19.) Chantrel Reynolds ‘15
20.) Trevy A. McDonald, ’95 Ph.D., Julian W. Scheer Term Associate Professor and Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Hussman School of Journalism and Media
21.) Ashley L. Anderson ‘15
22.) Brandon Callender ‘20
23.) Alyce Warren ‘08
24.) Johnny Ubri-Cardona ‘13
25.) Lauren Houston ’13 ‘ 19, Sr. Communications Analyst, City of Raleigh
26.) Monika Ellis ’00
27.) Meredith D. Clark, Ph.D. ‘14, Assistant Professor, University of Virginia
28.) Kirstin Garriss ‘11, Investigative Journalist, Regional Edward R. Murrow Award Winner
29.) Kandace Watkins ‘11
30.) Elise McGlothian ‘16, Senior Associate, Minerva Strategies
31.) Kai Heslop ‘19
32.) JoAnna Williamson, JD, Ph.D. ‘10
33.) Simone Scott ‘10
34.) Trey Mangum ’15, Managing Editor, Shadow and Act at Blavity Inc.
35.) Breonna McDuffie ‘15
36.) Paris Alston ‘16
37.) Alexis Leca ‘14
38.) Jeremiah O. Rhodes ‘20, Video Producer, The Tennessean
39.) Tiffany S. Jones ‘17
40.) LaToya Evans ‘08, Chief Communications Officer, the LEPR Agency
41.) Meah Barrington ‘12, Manager of Creative Development, Condé Nast
42.) Sefe Emokpae ‘13
43.) Elena Rue ‘11
44.) Angelica Edwards Chapel Hill, NC
45.) Kelly Creedon M.A. ‘15
46.) Joshua Davis ‘12, Assistant Professor, San Francisco State University
47.) Deborah Eaker-Rich ‘90, Retired UNC Faculty
48.) Danielle Gillyard ‘13
49.) Madison Morgan ‘15
50.) Kiara Palmer ‘13
51.) Kate Shurtleff ‘20
52.) Alystia Moore ‘11
53.) Deseré Cross Ward ‘14, UT Austin — Social Media Strategist
54.) David R. Squires ’80, ‘82 Writer, Editor and Digital Journalist
55.) Morgan Howard ‘18
56.) Alexis Simmons ‘15
57.) Katie Grote ‘13
58.) Meah Barrington ’12, Manager of Creative Development, Condé Nast
59.) Steve Hutton Pittsboro, NC
60.) Amethyst Creque Long Island, NY
61.) Annabelle Webb ‘20
62.) Samaria Parker ‘21
63.) Grandison F. Wells ‘86
64.) Sequaia Bivens ‘15
65.) Alyssa Townsend ‘15
66.) Steve Hutton Pittsboro, NC, Gillings School of Global Public Health (retired staff)
67.) Perrine DeShield ‘10
68.) Lauren Mine ’03, Editor, Oxford University Press
69.) Doni Holloway New York, NY
