Rep. Valerie Foushee demands action from UNC after students say they were racially harassed, tell me about this news in (https://www.wral.com/news/local/rep-foushee-calls-for-unc-accountabilty-after-students-harassed-september-2026/)

The news involves U.S. Representative Valerie Foushee (NC-04) calling on University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill leadership to take decisive action and improve safety protocols after students reported multiple racially motivated harassment incidents on campus.

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Background of the Incidents

The call for action followed two reported incidents that occurred in late August:

• August 29: Members of the UNC Taiwanese Student Association were subjected to harassment by a group of men on Polk Place.

  Chapelboro.com

• August 31: Several Black student organizations attending a football watch party in Greenlaw Hall were confronted by a man who shouted racial slurs, harassed attendees, and was reportedly carrying a weapon.

  Chapelboro.com

Rep. Foushee’s Response and Demands

Foushee, a UNC alumna representing North Carolina’s 4th congressional district, issued a public statement condemning the acts and followed up with an open letter to UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts citing significant outreach from concerned students.

Chapelboro.com

In her letter, Foushee emphasized that immediate follow-up meetings were only a starting point and pressed the university administration on several specific accountability and safety concerns:

1. Police Response Times: She raised concerns regarding reports that it took UNC campus police roughly 17 minutes to respond to the Greenlaw Hall incident.

   Chapelboro.com

2. Campus Alert Systems: She questioned why students across campus were not promptly warned and asked whether UNC would implement a faster, more robust emergency notification system during threatening events.

   Chapelboro.com

3. Event Safety Protocols: She asked what measures and staffing procedures exist to secure campus buildings during events, particularly those involving non-university affiliates.

   Chapelboro.com

4. Safety and Support for Students of Color: Foushee urged proactive engagement from campus leadership to ensure minority students feel protected, respected, and educated on safety measures when immediate security assistance is delayed.

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