RALEIGH — A series of posts on X describing an undercover video of a UNC Charlotte employee bragging about dodging the UNC System ban on diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, has gone viral, garnering more than 3.4 million views in less than 24 hours.
School choice activist Corey DeAngelis’ thread on the video included multiple excerpts of the video, taken by an undercover journalist with Accuracy in Media (AIM). DeAngelis is a fellow at multiple policy groups, and his X profile notes he is a senior adviser to AIM.
AIM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1969 to combat media bias and describes itself as using “investigative journalism and cultural activism to expose corruption and hold bad public policy actors accountable.”
The employee was identified by AIM as Assistant Director of Leadership and Community Engagement Janique Sanders, who said DEI is still around despite the ban, stating, “We’ve renamed, we’ve reorganized, we’ve recalibrated, so to speak.”
“If you’re looking for, like, a outward DEI position, not going to happen,” Sanders said. “But if you are interested in doing work that is covert, there are opportunities.”
In the video, Sanders said they are going to “continue to do the work” and would “finesse” the language used to discuss or describe it.
DeAngelis’ thread also included clips of UNC Charlotte’s (UNCC) Provost Jennifer Troyer retreating from questions from AIM’s President Adam Guillette, telling him, “I’m not talking to you.”
Guillette attempted to question Senior Associate Provost Lee Gray, who responded by asking if AIM had talked to the school’s communications department. Gray gave no response time, instead, quickly answering his own question with, “No,” and, “Thank you very much,” as he turned and abruptly left.
DeAngelis’ X thread caught the attention of Harmeet Dhillon, the assistant attorney general for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights division. Guillette responded to her interest by writing that AIM “has more videos from a half dozen universities in North Carolina as well as many more from across the country.”
Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) also took note of the news by writing, “DEI, no matter what name or acronym you use, doesn’t belong in education.”
“The NC Senate has already taken concrete steps to address this by passing SB558, a bill I filed to eliminate DEI from UNC System schools and community colleges,” wrote Berger.
UNC Board of Governors member Woody White responded to DeAngelis’ posts, saying, “This is disappointing to see.”
“I worked closely with other members of our Board, and the System Office, to repeal and replace the DEI policies system wide, in May 2024,” wrote White. “The UNC System Board of Governors directed each institution to implement the new policy, eliminate spending on DEI, and report compliance by Sept 1.”
“We expected all institutions to fully comply but suspected some would stealthily attempt to rearrange job descriptions and shift personnel but not undertake what was intended, which was a full uprooting of discriminatory practices and divisive doctrines, and a return to institutional neutrality,” White wrote.
White added, “I will be asking our system office to make a formal inquiry about the things said in this video, and expect that UNC Charlotte will be forthcoming in a response.”
UNCC’s Deputy Chief Communications Officer Christy Jackson provided the following statement to North State Journal, which in part states the Sanders is no longer employed at the school:
“UNC Charlotte is aware of a video circulating on social media that shows an employee making statements that suggest the University is failing to uphold DEI-related policies and laws.
The employee’s statements were inaccurate and do not reflect the University’s actions. UNC Charlotte continues to uphold both the letter and spirit of UNC System policy and all federal and state laws.
The individual featured in the video had no policymaking authority, no role in compliance matters and was not authorized to speak on these issues. Following an internal review, the individual is no longer employed by UNC Charlotte.
UNC Charlotte takes the statements and assertions made by the former employee seriously. The University, led by the Division of Student Affairs in partnership with the Office of Legal Affairs, will conduct a swift and thorough review to ensure all employees understand and are adhering to applicable policies and laws.”
House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Granite Falls) responded to the statement on X, writing, “Chancellor (Susan) Gaber has my full support. Her decisive leadership reflects a firm commitment to student rights and to upholding university policy and the law.”
In May 2024, the UNC Board of Governors repealed its DEI policies and replaced them with an equality and nondiscrimination policy.
All 16 UNC System schools received legal guidance on implementing the new policy in July. That guidance heavily emphasized the use of institutional neutrality to promote student success and academic freedom, as well as requiring schools to “assess each position and the responsibilities it entails” and that “title changes alone are insufficient.”
At its meeting in September 2024, the UNC BOG announced 59 DEI positions had been cut and 132 reassigned across UNC System schools. The estimated combined dollar figure for the cuts and redirected positions came in at more than $33.3 million. The position cuts represented over $17.1 million of the total.
As part of the Board of Governors’ Equality Policy implementation, each UNC System school was required to certify the DEI positions that had been eliminated in 2024. UNCC’s certification form, signed by Gaber, lists elimination of two such offices and seven related positions.
In February, the U.S. Department of Education issued a “Dear Colleague” letter directing education agencies in all 50 states to eliminate DEI programs from schools by the end of that month or risk losing federal funding.
The undercover UNCC video can be viewed on AIM’s website and on its YouTube Channel.
