News Summary
Megan Pugh, former Dean of Students at UNC Asheville, has been fired following the release of a secret video revealing concerns about the university’s adherence to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) protocols. The video, recorded by a conservative watchdog group, showed Pugh questioning the university’s compliance with DEI initiatives. This event comes amid broader changes within the UNC System, including the abolishment of DEI programs. The university is now reviewing its policies in light of these incidents to ensure compliance and transparency.
Asheville, NC – Megan Pugh, the former Dean of Students at the University of North Carolina at Asheville (UNC Asheville), has been dismissed from her role following the release of a secretly recorded video that raised concerns over the university’s compliance with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) protocols. The video was recorded by Accuracy in Media, a conservative watchdog organization, and uploaded to the group’s YouTube channel.
In the footage, Pugh suggested that UNC Asheville was not fully adhering to the UNC System’s requirements for DEI programs. During her conversation with an unidentified interviewer, she implied that the university’s equity initiatives were being conducted surreptitiously, stating a personal affinity for breaking rules. Pugh acknowledged the potential repercussions of her comments, indicating she had not yet faced repercussions from senior authorities.
Brian Hart, a spokesperson for UNC Asheville, confirmed the university’s awareness of the video and stated that Pugh’s comments pointed to a lack of compliance with existing policies in the UNC System. He stressed that Pugh’s remarks do not accurately reflect UNC Asheville’s official practices and reiterated the university’s commitment to following all relevant laws and regulations. Following a prompt review of the situation, Pugh was terminated from her position.
The events surrounding Pugh’s firing occur in the context of broader changes within the UNC System. In May 2024, the UNC Board of Governors voted to abolish the DEI program across its 16 campuses, replacing it with a new policy dubbed “Equality Within the University of North Carolina.” This overhaul resulted in nearly 60 DEI-related positions being eliminated and the subsequent realignment of over 130 jobs within the UNC system by September 2024.
Additionally, the incident involving Pugh is not isolated. A week before her dismissal, Janique Sanders, an administrator at UNC Charlotte, was also removed from her role following a similar incident involving hidden camera footage. In Sanders’ case, she was recorded suggesting that DEI efforts were still ongoing, which ultimately led to her dismissal as well.
Following these incidents, Adam Guillette, president of Accuracy in Media, announced that more videos exposing university administrators in the UNC system were forthcoming. The organization aims to highlight what it perceives as radicalism within higher education and plans to extend its investigations to other states.
In light of recent events, there have been growing calls for increased reform and accountability within the UNC System. Union representatives and other stakeholders have expressed concerns regarding the methods utilized by Accuracy in Media to gather information, raising questions about the ethics of such surveillance in academic environments.
In response to the controversies stemming from these undercover videos, UNC Asheville has initiated plans for a comprehensive review to strengthen its policies. The university aims to align its employees with the legal obligations mandated by the UNC System, ensuring that the institution appropriately navigates the complexities of DEI compliance in a shifting educational landscape.
As the UNC System grapples with these issues, the dialogue around diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education continues to evolve, with significant implications for the future of university governance and policy across the state of North Carolina.
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HERE Resources
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University of North Carolina at Charlotte Terminates DEI Advocate
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Additional Resources
- ABC News 4
- The Daily Tar Heel
- News Observer
- Fox News
- Wikipedia: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Google Search: University of North Carolina Asheville
