Overview
- UNC-Chapel Hill produced 13 pages of trustee texts from March 22 to April 3 that show criticism of Chris Clemens but no solicitation of a vote of no confidence, contrary to claims in his complaint.
- The university says the messages also do not show trustees discussing removing the provost and notes the board lacks authority to remove that position.
- General counsel Paul Newton called several sworn statements in Clemens’s filing “not true,” labeled the suit premature, and said the university will seek to recover defense costs.
- Clemens’s attorney says the new records do not address core allegations of improper closed sessions, electronic deliberations without notice, and use of auto-deleting apps, and he plans to pursue discovery.
- Procedurally, a judge has ordered preservation of records and denied phone imaging, UNC has moved to dismiss most counts while leaving a personnel-exemption claim unchallenged, and the complaint also cites closed-session discussions on athletics and the Belichick hire.