Thorp to Campus Rally: Back to Classroom for Me
Posted on Sept. 21, 2012Chancellor Holden Thorp ’86, who grew up working in the community theater his parents ran, made a dramatic entrance onstage outside South Building at the end of an hourlong rally Friday and gave what appeared to be the definitive word on his future — despite campuswide calls for him to reconsider the resignation he announced on Monday, he insisted he is returning to the faculty.
Some 800 students, teachers and University staff gathered in Polk Place at noon to hear a long list of speakers call for him to change his mind. About half that number remained when Thorp stepped out into the sunshine to thank them. Then he said, “But I’m confident that it’s in the best interest of the University and me and my family for me to go back to the faculty next fall.”
The rally capped a week in which the UNC trustees, a general meeting of the faculty, the campus employees’ organization and others urged Thorp to continue as chancellor.
He plans to return to teaching in the chemistry department, though according to UNC System guidelines, a departing chancellor is entitled to a year’s research leave.
On Tuesday, Thorp had looked out at some 250 faculty assembled on his behalf and said, “I appreciate your outpouring of support. I am so appreciative of the resolution that you will consider, but right now my plan is to sit out there with you. It looks really good.”
The faculty present approved a resolution calling for UNC System President Thomas Ross ’75 (JD) to decline Thorp’s resignation. The trustees approved a similar resolution the next day.
“Carolina’s faculty, staff and students are stronger than ever,” Thorp told the Friday rally. “I’m so appreciative of all the support that you all have given to me and my family this week. I’m grateful for the resolution from the Board of Trustees, from the general faculty, from the employee forum, from the student government, from the graduate student federation, and from the faculty chairs. Thank you. It means so much to me that so many of you want me to stay on as chancellor beyond this year.
“These are challenging times for higher education, but you are showing now that our future is bright. We will not waver from our commitment to access to higher education. We will not waver from our commitment to access to health care. And we will not waver from our commitment for the pursuit of higher education that satisfies human curiosity and enables citizenship, equality and prosperity. Together we are the light on the hill. Let it shine. Thank you all.”
Among the Friday speakers, student body President Will Leimenstoll said of Thorp, “I think he’s tired of bearing the brunt” of scandals in the football program and the Department of African and Afro-American Studies.
Thorp closed the rally by leading the singing of Hark the Sound.
More online…
- Trustees Unanimously Appeal to Thorp to Reconsider
News report from September 2012 - Faculty, Others on Campus Hope Thorp Will Reconsider
News report from September 2012 - Student Reaction: Mix of Sadness, Confusion
News report from September 2012 - Thorp to Step Down as Chancellor in June 2013
News report from September 2012 - Kupec Resigns Over Travel Expense Questions
News report from September 2012 - Thorp Says Martin Has Freedom to Decide What Needs to be Done
News reports from August 2012 - UNC Plans Wide-Ranging Review of Academics-Athletics Relationship
News report from August 2012 - Faculty Committee: Should UNC Athletes Be Academically Separate?
News report from July 2012 - The UNC’s Faculty Executive Committee report
- Only Football Players Took Hastily Arranged Summer Class, Taught in Absentia
News report from June 2012 - SBI Probing Fraud Report in African, Afro-American Studies
News report from May 2012 - Department Chair Linked to Football Probe Resigns
News report from September 2011 - Holden Thorp ’86 Named 10th Chancellor
News report from May 2008 - Earning His Stripes: Holden Thorp ’86 heard many different muses on his rapid rise to the chancellorship. From the July/August 2008 Carolina Alumni Review, available online to Carolina Alumni members.
- Caring for the Heart of a Research University: A few days before he took over as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in July, Holden Thorp ’86 spoke to the Board of Directors of the General Alumni Association about his vision for the University’s largest academic unit.
From the September/October 2007 issue of the Carolina Alumni Review, available online to Carolina Alumni members. - Chemistry Chair Thorp Chosen As Dean of Arts and Sciences
News report from February 2007 - Thorp to December Graduates: Hark the Sound of the Beatles
News report from December 2006 - Commencement Address by Professor Holden Thorp ’86
From December 2006 - Thorp Leaving Morehead Center to Head Chemistry Department
News report from February 2005 - Thorp Named Distinguished Young Alumnus
From the November/December 2002 issue of the Carolina Alumni Review, available online to Carolina Alumni members. - The Art of the Possible: He spent a lot of time as a kid hanging from the theater rafters. Holden Thorp ’86 didn’t know he’d be a brilliant chemist, but he was learning how to make science sing and dance. Now the University has shoved him to center stage.
From the January/February 2002 issue of the Carolina Alumni Review, available online to Carolina Alumni members.
