Statement on McCorkle Place security costs for fiscal year 2017-2018

Chancellor Folt’s highest priority is always the protection of the Carolina community and her approach to campus safety has the full support of the Board of Trustees, the Provost and other campus leaders. Since the tragic events in Charlottesville last August, UNC Police have heightened security around the Confederate Monument to protect students, faculty, staff and visitors, which is the University’s primary goal. Protecting the monument is always secondary to the safety of the people around it. The campus community has a long tradition of peaceful protests and respectful debate. Public safety officials and administrators are most concerned about outside groups, over which the University has no control and who may appear without warning.

Although the University does not track individual officer assignments around the monument, UNC Police determined the University spent approximately $390,000 to provide security in McCorkle Place from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018 (fiscal year 2017-2018.) These costs were part of the UNC Police operating budget and included personnel costs, such as overtime and contingency staffing, as well as operating expenses and assistance from outside law enforcement agencies. As is consistent with best practices in law enforcement, the University cannot disclose further specifics of these campus security operations. In addition, University Facilities spent approximately $3,000 to clean the monument after vandalism during the fiscal year.