An Open Letter to Chancellor Carol Folt, Dean Kevin Guskiewicz, Dean Steve Matson, the UNC Board of Trustees, the UNC Board of Governors, the North Carolina General Assembly and the North Carolina Historical Commission:

Athletics is a community built around the ideals of equality. On the field, those who work hardest, those who work together—no matter their background—triumph.

As athletes, we recognize division as our worst enemy. In athletics, and in life, success requires unity. Now, more than ever, we are unwilling to tolerate—let alone celebrate—symbols of division.

For this reason, we choose to join the University of North Carolina Black Student Movement, the Graduate Student Association Board, the Campus Y, Undergraduate Executive Branch of Student Government, the professors and teaching assistants withholding grades and countless other North Carolinians condemning the University’s decision to spend more than $5 million in taxpayer money to erect a building enshrining the Silent Sam statue on campus.

As current and former Tar Heels, we love our University and its people. We love our classmates and teammates, our coaches and our fans. All of them. A monument to those who fought and killed to keep Black people enslaved has no place on our campus. White supremacy has no place on our campus.

We oppose any decision to keep Silent Sam on Carolina’s grounds as well as any retaliatory action against students and faculty.

In consideration of the legal limitations imposed on the University by the state legislature, we recommend the administration deem the monument a threat to public safety by virtue of its homage to racial violence and its historical record as the epicenter for clashes between white supremacist groups and members of the Carolina community.

Sincerely,

The undersigned current and former student-athletes of UNC:

1. Ezra Baeli-Wang, Class of 2017, Fencing, UNC & ACC SAAC President Emeritus
2. Theophilus Onigbinde, Class of 2017, Fencing
3. Ian Alexander Head, Class of 2019, Fencing, UNC SAAC
4. Gabe Foster, Class of 2018, Fencing
5. Casey Jacobs, Class of 2018, Volleyball
6. Katharine Esterley, Class of 2020, Volleyball, UNC SAAC
7. Mariah Evans, Class of 2020, Volleyball
8. Skylar Wine, Class of 2020, Volleyball
9. Lauren Harrison, Class of 2022, Volleyball
10. Destiny Cox, Class of 2022, Volleyball
11. Marcus Krah, Class of 2020, Track & Field
12. Heather Gearhart, Class of 2015, Volleyball
13. Ari Cogdell, Class of 2020, Track & Field
14. Hadden Lagarde, Class of 2022, Volleyball
15. Chris Reeder, Class of 2020, Track & Field
16. Luis Castro, Class of 2022, Golf
17. Aquilla James, Class of 2016, Softball
18. Zach Goins, Class of 2019, Football
19. Khazia Hislop, Class of 2020, Gymnastics
20. Charlotte Melgard, Class of 2022, Rowing
21. Raine Gordon, Class of 2020, Gymnastics
22. Rilwan Alowonle Jr., Class of 2017, Track & Field, UNC SAAC, Nigerian National Team
23. Hayley Carter, Class of 2017, Tennis, UNC SAAC, WTA Tour
24. Kiani Ramsey, Class of 2019, Softball
25. Brianna Isles, Class of 2020, Track & Field
26. Dontavian Smith, Class of 2021, Track & Field
27. Brianna Duncan, Class of 2020, Track & Field
28. Alex Cooke, Class of 2019, Track & Field, UNC SAAC
29. Alexis Allen, Class of 2020, Gymnastics
30. LaTessa Johnson, Class of 2019, Track & Field
31. Nicole Kiszenia, Class of 2019, Track & Field
32. Kristin Hall, Class of 2019, Track & Field, UNC SAAC
33. Jewel Christian, Class of 2014, Track & Field
34. Peighton Simmons, Class of 2021, Track & Field
35. Alexis Gannon, Class of 2018, Track & Field
36. Ryan Saint-Germain, Class of 2021, Track & Field
37. Brandon Cachon, Class of 2020, Track & Field
38. Jamie Loeb, TBD, Tennis, WTA Tour
39. Jordon Brown, Class of 2019, Football
40. Keimaya Hunter, Class of 2018, Volleyball
41. Cameron Douglas, Class of 2020, Track & Field
42. Jake Lawler, Class of 2020, Football
43. Zay Paschall, Class of 2019, Track & Field
44. Janice Ezenwa, Class of 2018, Track & Field
45. Ashley Dai, Class of 2016, Tennis
46. Mikayla Robinson, Class of 2020, Gymnastics, UNC SAAC
47. Allen W Cater III, Class of 2020, Football
48. Wynton Wong, Class of 2015, Fencing
49. RaeKwon Villines, Class of 2019, Track & Field
50. Sara Moreno, Class of 2018, Fencing
51. Anna Keefer, Class of 2021, Track & Field
52. Ashley Hoffman, Class of 2018, Field Hockey, Team USA
53. Caroline Lindquist, Class of 2016, Soccer
54. Qian Yi Pang, Class of 2019, Diving
55. Abby Settlemyre, Class of 2022, Softball
56. William Sweet, Class of 2018, Football, UNC SAAC
57. Antonio James, Class of 2018, Football
58. Clara Somfelean, Class of 2021, Fencing
59. Alexia Lynch, Class of 2021, Fencing
60. Carly Wooten, Class of 2016, Fencing
61. Morgan Goetz, Class of 2019, Field Hockey
62. Malin Evert, Class of 2019, Field Hockey
63. Eva Van't Hoog, Class of 2019, Field Hockey
64. Alex Halpin, Class of 2019, Field Hockey
65. Matthew Garrelick, Class of 2019, Fencing
66. Hailey Jensen, Class of 2020, Softball
67. Shayla Thompson, Class of 2022, Softball
68. Brittany West, Class of 2020, Softball
69. Kellyn Daly, Class of 2020, Softball
70. Joel James, Class of 2016, Basketball, NCAA SAAC, Tokyo Hachioji Bee Trains
71. Hannah George, Class of 2022, Softball
72. Emily White, Class of 2020, Gymnastics
73. Hanna Gardner, Class of 2016, Soccer
74. Mekyllah Williams, Class of 2020, Gymnastics
75. Boyd Okwuonu, Class of 2018, Soccer, Real Salt Lake
76. Katlin Sherman, Class of 2019, Track & Field, UNC SAAC
77. Darryl Shaw, Class of 2019, Track & Field, UNC SAAC
78. Gordon Long, Class of 2016, Fencing
79. Garrison O. Brooks, Class of 2021, Basketball
80. Michael Carter, Class of 2020, Football
81. Natisha Dixon, Class of 2018, Track & Field
82. Kenny Smith Jr., Class of 2021, Basketball
83. Jordan Tucker. Class of 2021, Football
84. Tobechi Nwokeji, Class of 2021, Football
85. Tammy Gitonga, Class of 2020, Track & Field
86. Annie Kingman, Class of 2017, Soccer
87. Harry Adynski, Class of 2016, Fencing
88. Gillian Adynski, Class of 2016, Fencing
89. Michaela Cotton, Class of 2022, Softball
90. Sydnye Fields, Class of 2019, Volleyball, UNC SAAC
91. Michael Harris, Class of 2003, Football
92. Heather Fjord, Class of 2013, Fencing
93. Cierra Dunston, Class of 2018, Track & Field
94. Casey Greenwalt, Class of 2019, Track & Field
95. Madeleine Clahane, Class of 2021, Track & Field/XC
96. Enyaeva michelin, Class of 2022, Track & Field
97. Jordan Fieulleteau, Class of 2018, Football
98. Travis Riley, Class of 2015, Football
99. Samuel Tate, Class of 2019, Fencing
100. Brice Johnson, Class of 2016, Basketball
101. Greer Moseman, Class of 2020, Volleyball
102. Emily Wold, Class of 2017, Field Hockey
103. Joanne Henderson, Class of 1998, Track & Field
104. Maya Worth, Class of 2017, Soccer
105. Tasha Regan, Class of 2020, Track & Field
106. Julianne Peters, Class of 2020, Rowing
107. Katie Pondiscio, Class of 2020, Rowing
108. Lancine Turay, Class of 2022, Football
109. Kenny Selmon, Class of 2018, Track & Field, UNC SAAC, USA Track & Field
110. Paige Neuenfeldt, Class of 2016, Volleyball, UNC SAAC Co-President 15-16, VBC Chamalieres (First Division, France)
111. Lexi Godwin, Class of 2022, Softball
112. Jenna Long, Class of 2012, Tennis
113. Kendall Marshall, Class of 2018, Basketball, Milwaukee Bucks
114. Jeremy Gerlach, Class of 2012, Track & Field
115. Harrison Barnes, TBD, Basketball, Dallas Mavericks
116. Brandon Tubby, Class of 2020, Track & Field/XC
117. Serge Zwikker, Class of 1997, Basketball, Houston Rockets
118. Ian Williamson, Class of 2011, Track & Field
119. Madison Hargrave, Class of 2019, Gymnastics
120. Antwuan Branch, Class of 2021, Football
121. Tyrone Hopper, Class of 2020, Football
122. Anthony Ratliff-Williams, Class of 2019, Football
123. Shelley Warner, Class of 2016, Rowing
124. Joshua Ezeudu, Class of 2022, Football
125. Nicole Greene, Class of 2020, Track & Field
126. Ali Margherio, Class of 2015, Rowing
127. Amy Pritchard Williams, Class of 1989, Swimming
128. Juval Mollette, Class of 2018, Football
129. Amanda Lalezarian, Class of 2017, Fencing
130. Katie McKay, Class of 2017, Swimming
131. Devin Bellamy, Class of 2020, Diving
132. Xach Gill, Class of 2021, Football
133. John Sands, Class of 2008, Swimming
134. Madison Laufenberg, Class of 2018, Volleyball
135. Andrew Brooks, Class of 2021, Track & Field/XC
136. Ian Moini, Class of 2021, Track & Field/XC
137. Sarah Glenn Thompson, Class of 2015, Soccer
138. Khris Francis, Class of 2017, Football
139. Ru Mucherera, Class of 2019, Soccer
140. Draven Crist, Class of 2020, Track & Field
141. Kasey Parker, Class of 2020, Soccer
142. Aaron Crawford, Class of 2018, Football
143. Charlie Brunson, Class of 2016, Football
144. Miah Araba, Class of 2021, Soccer
145. Kedrick Davis, Class of 2016, Football
146. Margaret High, Class of 2019, Rowing
147. Justin Fieulleteau, Class of 2018, Football
148. Elijah Hood, Class of 2018, Football, Carolina Panthers
149. Crystal Cox, Class of 2001, Track & Field, 2004 USA Olympic Team  
150. Russ Conley, Class of 1977, Football
151. Lara King, Class of 2022, Rowing
152. Caroline Young, Class of 2022, Rowing
153. Jules Micchia, Class of 2021, Rowing
154. Alexis Levister, Class of 2022, Rowing
155. Madison Smith, Class of 2022, Rowing
156. Samantha Kane , Class of 2021, Rowing
157. Charles Roth, Class of 2021, Fencing
158. Dejaun Drennon, Class of 2017, Football, Atlanta Legends
159. Amelia Cuomo, Class of 2021, Fencing
160. Matthew Thornton, Class of 2020, Cross Country
161. Lauren Ferner, Class of 2021, Rowing
162. Mark Marcoplos, Class of 1971, Soccer
163. Johnathon Sutton, Class of 2019, Football
164. Jeffrey Battle, Class of 2016, Football
165. Amanda Perez, Class of 2022, Rowing
166. Kat Nigro, Class of 2015, Soccer
167. Mark Myers, Class of 2020, Track & Field/XC
168. Jakob Klemm, Class of 2021, Junior Varsity Basketball
169. Lindsey Lanier, Class of 2021, Track & Field
170. Alessandra De Vito, Class of 2022, Rowing
171. Mason Veal, Class of 2018, Football
172. Zoe Rose, Class of 2021, Rowing
173. Jamaal W. Green, Class of 2007, Fencing
174. Daniel Belk, Class of 2018, Track & Field
175. Khara Vassell, Class of 2019, Soccer
176. Hannah Fisher, Class of 2021, Rowing
177. Katie Characklis, Class of 2022, Rowing
178. Sydney Wooten, Class of 2019, Soccer
179. Rachel Black, Class of 2016, Field Hockey
180. Mary Nebrich, Class of 2022, Track & Field
181. McKinley McNeill, Class of 2020, Track & Field
182. Nia Lecky, Class of 2022, Track & Field
183. Jelani Pieters, Class of 2019, Soccer
184. Harrison Young, Class of 2020, Track & Field
185. Dominique Ross, Class of 2020, Football
186. Saskia Ammer, Class of 2015, Field Hockey
187. Kelsey Archer Barnhill, Class of 2015, Fencing
188. Lauren Tarpley, Class of 2018, Rowing
189. Emily Schein, Class of 2018, Gymanstics
190. Leslie Cloots, Class of 2017, Golf, UNC SAAC, LPGA
191. Mattie Webb, Class of 2016, Track & Field
192. Connor Peeples, Class of 2020, Track & Field/XC, UNC SAAC
193. Jason Strowbridge, Class of 2019, Football
194. Kati Causey, Class of 2015, UNC SAAC
195. Sienna Zuco, Class of 2021, Rowing
196. Ceolamar Ways, Class of 2017, Track & Field
197. Elizabeth Burchenal, Class of 2014, Soccer
198. Kirsten Wiedbusch, Class of 2017, Fencing
199. Taylor Leath, Class of 2018, UNC SAAC Co-President, ACC SAAC
200. Landon Turner, Class of 2015, Football, NFL Free Agent
201. Jenna Rodrigues, Class of 2013, Fencing, SAAC
202. Tommy LaGarde, Class of 1977, Basketball, Denver Nuggets, Seattle SuperSonics, Dallas Mavericks, 1976 Team USA
203. Micah Castillo, Class of 2021, Football
204. Bobby Frasor, Class of 2009, Basketball
205. Lucy Biles, Class of 2020, Track & Field/XC
206. Elizabeth Mitchell, Class of 2020, Rowing
207. Carly Williamson, Class of 2014, Soccer
208. Janelle Bailey, Class of 2021, Basketball
209. Reynaldo Radlin, Class of 2013, Track & Field
210. Kelvin Hardesty, Class of 2011, Track & Field
211. Paul B. Haley Jr., Class of 2017, Track & Field
212. Erin Edmundson, Class of 2020, Track & Field
213. Luke Peterson, Class of 2020, XC/Track & Field, 2018-2019 UNC SAAC Co-President
214. Elizabeth Anne Finnessy, Class of 2021, Rowing
215. Leila Evans, Class of 2019, Field Hockey, 2018-2019 UNC SAAC Co-President
216. Rachel Jones, Class of 2022, Soccer
217. Jett Primm, Class of 2022, Rowing
218. Sarah Cate Niles, Class of 2022, Rowing
219. Courtnie Williamson, Class of 2020, Field Hockey
220. Liliana Casso, Class of 2017, Swimming & Diving
221. Devin Perry, Class of 2018, Football
222. Emily Pfeiffer, Class of 2017, Swimming
223. Paige Colpo, Class of 2018, Rowing
224. Madelyn Krebs, Class of 2018, Rowing
225. Collins Allison, Class of 2016, Fencing
226. Matt Williams, Class of 2016, Wrestling, UNC SAAC
227. William Barnes, Class of 2022, Football
228. Monique Hennagan, Class of 1998, Track & Field, Team USA Olympics 2000/2004 2x Gold Medalist
229. Hunter Atherton, Class of 2019, Volleyball
230. Nkechinyere Nwoko, Class of 2010, Fencing
231. Frances Reuland, Class of 2018, Soccer
232. Brandon  Robinson, Class of 2020, Basketball, UNC SAAC
233. Candace Cooper, Class of 2012, Swimming & diving
234. Victoria McGee, Class of 2016, Rowing
235. Nate Britt II, Class of 2017, Basketball
236. Erica Patella, Class of 2015, Rowing
237. Tony Tucker II, Class of 2006, Track & Field
238. Jack Wooten, Class of 2009, Basketball
239. Christopher Ripberger, Class of 2018, Football
240. Alex White, Class of 2018, Baseball
241. Jaelynn Murray, Class of 2021, Basketball
242. Sally Moore, Class of 2017, Rowing
243. Andrew Carignan, Class of 2017, Baseball, Oakland Athletics
244. Timothy Fedroff, Class of 2017, Baseball, Cleveland Indians
245. Deon Thompson, Class of 2010, Basketball, San Pablo Burgos
246. Sterling Manley, Class of 2021, Basketball
247. Josh Horton, Class of 2014, Baseball, Oakland Athletics
248. Zoya Yaseka Johnson, Class of 2013, Gymnastics, UNC Gymnastics Assistant Coach
249. O'Neal Wanliss, Class of 2016, Track & Field
250. Tessa Lyons, Class of 2014, Tennis
251. Kelley Hamill, Class of 2016, Fencing
252. John Bradley, Class of 1995, Football
253. Jonah Leslie, Class of 2009, Fencing
254. Jalon Cooper, Class of 2020, Junior Varsity Basketball
255. Jay-Jay McCargo, Class of 2020, Football
256. Jerrell Dale, Class of 1999, Football
257. Aiden Lefebvre, Class of 2020, Rowing
258. Tia Poindexter-Echols, Class of 1988, Basketball
259. Kate McCormick, 2015, Rowing
260. Greg Warren, Class of 2004, Football, Pittsburgh Steelers
261. Kane Ma, Class of 2018, Basketball
262. Ed Geth, Class of 1996, Basketball
263. Elizabeth Blair Ramsey, Class of 2020, Track & Field/XC, UNC SAAC
264. Jennifer Oldham, Class of 1996, Fencing
265. Damion Grant, Class of 2006, Basketball
266. Kevin Radey, Class of 1997, Baseball
267. Rachel Boulter, Class of 2022, Rowing
268. Marcus Ginyard, Class of 2010, Basketball, CSM Oradea (Romania)
269. Caroline Baldwin, Class of 2018, Swimming
270. Keith Laabs, Class of 2008, Swimming
271. Erin O’Neill, Class of 2019, Fencing
272. Cody Barnes, Class of 2016, Fencing
273. Isabel Bravo, Class of 2021, Fencing
274. Sally Stanley, Class of 2020, Rowing
275. Firoz George, Class of 2021, Fencing
276. Olivia Curran , Class of 2021, Rowing
277. Eric Blount, Class of 1992, Football, Arizona Cardinals, Edmonton Eskimos, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
278. Victoria McPherson, Class of 2016, Volleyball
279. James Conklin, Class of 1993, Football
280. Michael Selsor, Class of 2021, Football,
281. Darcy McFarlane, Class of 2016, Soccer
282. Quentin Isaiah Thomas, Class of 2008, Basketball
283. Caleigh Sewell, Class of 2020, Rowing
284. Kelly McFarlane, Class of 2014, Soccer, NWSL Houston Dash
285. Geof Hamlin, Class of 1972, Football, Ottawa Rough Riders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
286. Justine de Grasse, Class of 2020, Fencing
287. Emma Astrike-Davis, Class of 2018, Cross Country
288. Caleigh Bachop, Class of 2018, Cross Country
289. Jennifer Kling, Class of 2006, Fencing
290. Jacob Henkels, Class of 2020, Fencing
291. Marshall W. Montgomery, Class of 1967, Baseball
292. Timothy Hayden Epperson, Class of 1973, Football
293. Taylor Fricano, Class of 2017, Volleyball
294. McKenzie Roberson, Class of 2023, Volleyball
295. Kate Hickert, Class of 2018, Rowing
296. Maggie Berra, Class of 2018, Rowing
297. Jess Schmitz, Class of 2019, Rowing
298. Tim Smith, Class of 1994, Football