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2 <br /> system of governance, where power is allocated among the three branches of government <br /> under the Constitution; and <br /> WHEREAS, the UNC Center for Civil Rights —which would effectively be eliminated by the <br /> proposal — serves the memory of the late Julius Chambers, who received his undergraduate <br /> degree at NCCU, received his law degree at UNC-Chapel Hill, practiced law as a prominent <br /> civil rights attorney and argued several cases successfully before the United States Supreme <br /> Court, and then later served as chancellor at NCCU before founding the Center; and <br /> WHEREAS, the UNC Center for Civil Rights has a goal to "represent, educate, and advocate <br /> for minority and low-income people, principally in the American South"; and <br /> WHEREAS, the American Bar Association requires that law schools engage their students in a <br /> minimum of six hours of experiential learning in order to retain accreditation; and <br /> WHEREAS, centers and institutes exist at numerous law schools across the country to provide <br /> exactly this type of experiential learning through litigation for law students during this phase of <br /> their practical academic training; and <br /> WHEREAS, residents of Orange County have benefited from representation and advocacy by <br /> students, staff, and faculty of the UNC Center for Civil Rights; and <br /> WHEREAS, the Board of Governors is currently receiving comments on the proposal; <br /> NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> urges the Board of Governors to reject the proposal to prohibit centers and institutes at its <br /> public law schools from engaging in litigation. <br /> This the 9th day of May 2017. <br /> Penny Rich, Vice Chair <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Marcoplos <br /> to adopt/approve a resolution "OPPOSING A PROPOSAL BEFORE THE UNC BOARD OF <br /> GOVERNORS TO PROHIBIT CENTERS AND INSTITUTES FROM PARTICIPATING IN <br /> LITIGATION". <br /> Chair Dorosin said he appreciated Commissioner Rich bringing this resolution forward, <br /> and he is the Managing Attorney at the Center. He asked if Commissioner Rich would sign the <br /> resolution on behalf of Orange County. <br /> Chair Dorosin said the Center does not sue people in the name of UNC, but it <br /> represents clients that are fighting against discrimination. He said the staff at the Center works <br /> on behalf of its clients. He said the Center for Civil Rights does not receive any state funding; <br /> rather grants, private foundations, and gifts fund all costs. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />