A Message from Chancellor Volety

Dear Seahawk family,

I write to you today with a heavy heart, as both your Chancellor and a parent. No matter your opinions of Charlie Kirk, a political assassination on a college campus is a watershed moment for our country. I extend my deepest condolences to the late Mr. Kirk's family, friends and supporters. On Monday, Sept. 15, UNCW assisted our Turning Point USA students and community in hosting a respectful memorial for Mr. Kirk. Over 1,500 students and community members attended a moving, peaceful and meaningful tribute to Mr. Kirk.

After the memorial, I had confidence that our university would engage in civil, vigorous discourse about recent events' impact on our campus, community and nation. Unfortunately, I have been profoundly disappointed in how we've allowed this tragedy to tear at the bonds that make us who we are. The conflicts on our campus in recent days don't reflect who we're called to be. We are better than this.

I consider it a sacred duty to protect every member of our Seahawk family — not just their physical safety, but their ability to learn and express themselves without fear. I have watched video of the incident and, quite frankly, I am appalled. When passion overrides compassion, when we confront people for their beliefs rather than engage their ideas, we betray everything our university represents. Our campus should be where minds meet and grow, not where hearts are hardened.

The ability to truly hear those who think differently isn't just academic — it's what democracy requires. You wrestle with complex ideas every day in your classes. Bring that same intellectual courage to political disagreement. All eyes are watching how we handle this moment of accountability.

I challenge all of us to be a part of healing, not harm. Watch before you act. Listen before you speak. Think before you post. Seek to understand before demanding to be understood. Treat others as you wish to be treated.

Safety is Paramount

We are actively looking into everything that transpired this week. Violations of policies or procedures will be addressed. Student and employee safety is our paramount concern. We are taking any and all physical and online challenges to our campus safety and security seriously, coordinating directly with law enforcement to maintain a peaceful and safe environment. Our UNCW Police Department maintains a comprehensive presence on campus 24/7/365. Let me be clear: if it is determined that state or federal laws were broken, we will cooperate fully with the prosecution of those law breakers as determined by the law enforcement authorities.

Despite this week’s challenges, I remain hopeful for a better tomorrow, on our campus, in our community and across our country. We can serve as a model going forward, away from anger and toward civil discourse conducted with respect and accountability. Seahawks, we can — we must — soar together to meet this challenge.

Yours in Seahawk hope,

Aswani K. Volety
Chancellor