Letter to the Editor: UNC's service to those who serve is an honor, not an agenda

Paisley Holland's recent column 'Lee Roberts can't, or won't, opine' fairly asks chancellors to explain university decisions. But I felt compelled to respond because its criticism rests on a premise I strongly reject: that UNC's selection to host the Senior Service College Fellowship should inspire suspicion rather than pride. Chancellor Lee Roberts was not forced to accept this program, nor was UNC selected to advance an agenda. The University was chosen because of what it represents: academic excellence, public service and the preparation of talented people to lead. The question is not why the Pentagon moved the fellowship from other institutions; a decision UNC did not make. It is whether educating these military leaders is consistent with the University's mission. Being entrusted to educate accomplished leaders who often continue serving our state and nation is an honor, and UNC is exceptionally well equipped to do it. There is no curriculum being imported from the Pentagon. In fact, fellows will be hosted by the longstanding UNC Peace, War, and Defense program. From there, they will be able to leverage the University's academic excellence across a broad swath of classes and faculty to align with their needs and what their branch of the military — Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines — expects of them. Military education should not be reduced to partisan politics. These men and women are not symbols in a political argument. They are students and public servants seeking the knowledge and perspective necessary to lead in positions of extraordinary responsibility. The University has long supported service members, veterans and military families. It has educated military leaders, advanced national security research and helped veterans translate their service into new forms of leadership. This fellowship continues that tradition; it does not compromise it. For me, this is personal. I am the son of a career Air Force cartographer. My father pursued his education while serving and later became a member of the prestigious Strategic Air Command. His education expanded what was possible for him and, in turn, for our family. I became a first-generation college student, and college changed the trajectory of my life. It exposed me to new ideas, people and possibilities. Why would we deny that transformative experience to men and women who have also embraced a mission of service to our state and country? Universities are at their best when they bring different experiences into serious intellectual exchange. Military leaders will benefit from the breadth of thought they encounter at UNC, and our campus will benefit from their perspectives. Educating someone does not endorse every policy of the institution they serve. It invests in that person's judgment, knowledge and humanity. There must always be room at UNC to debate national policy and scrutinize military power. But we should also recognize the value of educating those entrusted with some of our nation's most consequential responsibilities. UNC is synonymous with preparing the best and brightest in every field. Educating military leaders belongs within that public mission. That is not something to apologize for. It is an honor and a responsibility worthy of this university. ⁠— Dean Stoyer, UNC Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing