UNC Says One Thing in Court, Another to the Freshman Class
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 16, 2002
NEWS CONTACT: Joe Glover – 804-419-4483 ext. 456
The UNC Summer Reading Program website still says “all students are expected to attend and bring their one-page response to their small group discussions” (emphasis added)
CHAPEL HILL — A website dedicated to the Summer Reading Program at the University of North Carolina continues to indicate the Islamic indoctrination sessions scheduled for Monday are “required” for all incoming freshman and transfer students. This requirement remains despite sworn affidavits from University officials and oral arguments from UNC attorneys to the contrary on Thursday afternoon in Federal District Court.
Joe Glover, President of Family Policy Network today said, “UNC continues to say one thing to the media and the Court, and quite another to the freshman class. The Court was only willing to permit the University to proceed with the discussion groups because UNC promised they were strictly voluntary. If the University doesn’t change that website today, they’ll prove to the public that they lied to the Court.”
The Summer Reading Program website, at http://www.unc.edu/srp/srp2002/ is the primary vehicle for the University to communicate with incoming freshmen. Glover said, “This is where UNC disseminates information to the students about the program. When students visit the site today, they see something totally different from what the judge stated was the basis for his decision in court yesterday.”
FPN sought out three student plaintiffs to join two representatives of the organization to sue UNC over their requirement that all incoming freshmen and transfer students submit to FORCED Islamic indoctrination. Since the University swore to the Court that nothing about the Summer Reading Program is required, Glover claimed victory over the new voluntary nature of the program. However, according to Glover, “The University wants to have their cake and eat it, too.”
Glover said, “The University’s lawyers claimed there was no reading required this summer, no attendance required this Monday, and no writing required about the Summer Reading Program at all. And on that basis, the judge said he would not stop the discussions because they were strictly voluntary.” He asked, “So why did the University mail the assignment to freshmen calling it a ‘requirement,’ and why does their website still say ALL freshmen are ‘required’ to attend?” He asked, “Did they lie to the Court to get the decision they wanted?” Then he suggested, “I guess we’ll know the answer to that question if they haven’t dropped the ‘requirement’ language from the site by the end of the day.”
Glover sent a message to the Chancellor’s office this morning, saying, “Change your website. According to your own attorneys, none of the freshmen are required to read about Islam or attend discussion group meetings about it on Monday.”
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The text of Friday’s letter from Joe Glover to Dr. Moeser follows:
August 16, 2002
Dr. James Moeser, Chancellor
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
103 South Building
Campus Box 9100
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-9100
Dr. Moeser:
Based on statements from your attorneys in Federal Court yesterday, it is my understanding that none of the freshmen at UNC are required to participate in the Summer Reading Program. Specifically, it is my understanding that freshmen are not required to read Dr. Sells’ book, and they are not required to attend discussion group meetings on Monday.
Why, then, does your Summer Reading Program website continue to indicate that all students are expected to attend on Monday?
Dr. Moeser, correct your website.
Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter.
Respectfully,
R. Joseph Glover
cc: Associated Press, et al.