The faculty backs Thorp

The News & Observer
August 5, 2011
BY JAN BOXILL AND JIM KETCH
CHAPEL HILL UNC-Chapel Hill is going through a very challenging time. For the past year, the football program has been under investigation by the NCAA, and that investigation has struck at the core of what the faculty holds most dear: academic integrity.
Last week, Chancellor Holden Thorp made the difficult decision to release head football coach Butch Davis. In consultation with the Faculty Executive Committee and the Chancellor's Advisory Committee, we support Thorp and agree with his decision.
The chancellor has said that the timing of his decision is awkward and unsettling. But it was the right decision for him to make. Protecting the integrity of our university and our well-deserved reputation for academic excellence necessitated action. Too many indicators pointed to another year of distractions that would have kept our chancellor from addressing more pressing issues affecting our campus, faculty, students and staff, as well as the people of North Carolina.  We appreciate that Thorp did not rush to judgment; that he allowed time for information to be gathered and carefully examined.  Click here to read more.