CHAPEL HILL — The University of North Carolina has given its final OK to a revised student code of conduct that prohibits harassment on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
This ruling covers all of its 16 constituent universities.
According to Equality NC, “Many of the campuses had already adopted individual, LGBT-inclusive policies, but this new policy is comprehensive to the university system. This policy also includes high school programs at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.”
Last year, the School Violence Prevention Act was passed by the State to provide protect all students from bullying.
I most certainly applaud the adoption of sexual orientation and gender identity non-discrimination policies across the UNC system. It is noteworthy and great moment in the history of LGBT Noth Carolinians! And that is why I really hesitate to go here, but sticking in my head are a few resounding question, and ones that I am sure others are asking, or should be, as well.
In light of the Virgina issue, in which Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli requested that the schools in the VA system remove their anti-discrimination policies on sexual orientation and gender identity as these were not protections that could be provided by those institutions until they were codified into VA law, what protection do these entity level non-discrimination policies offer us?
While it is possible to argue they show a significant amout of support for the LGBT community, in essence though, what are we really getting out of it in terms of protection? It sets a standard of expected behavion as the viewpoint of the policy, but what strength do those entities have to enforce those policies? And most importantly what is the perspective of Equaliity NC on the VA issue in terms of these policies in the NC system and any vulnerability they may or may not have to the same attack?
Have I missed an article somewhere?
These questions (jurisdictional authority, enforcement mechanisms, etc.) are addressed in the full document from the UNC Board of Governors meeting.
For the full document, go to https://www.northcarolina.edu/bog/index.php and search for the Policy for Student Conduct Codes. It’s in Tab 5 of the materials under the Planning Committee section for the Feb 12, 2010 BOG meeting.
To put it in very brief form, it’s a policy outlining minimum standards for student codes of conduct in the UNC system.