Statements from University of North Carolina System President Peter Hans and University of North Carolina Board of Governors Chair Randy Ramsey:
President Hans
This is a day of mourning for Tar Heels everywhere. Dr. Zijie Yan was a good man and a dedicated scholar, and he was senselessly killed while doing his job. I join everyone in the Carolina community in condemning this act of violence and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Dr. Yan’s family, friends, students, and colleagues.
Our deepest thanks to the law enforcement officers, university staff, and so many others who acted with focus and professionalism in the aftermath of yesterday’s tragedy. Across campus, we saw students, faculty, and staff react with patience and compassion throughout a very difficult day. I’m grateful for that and heartened by the way this community has come together in the face of tragedy.
Chair Ramsey
The scholars and staff on our campuses are devoted public servants, and they do important work on behalf of all North Carolinians. The death of Dr. Zijie Yan is a deep loss to those who knew him, to the institution he served, and to the entire state.
On behalf of the Board of Governors, I want to thank the countless men and women from across the UNC System and our state and federal law enforcement partners who rushed to offer aid and sympathy in the aftermath of yesterday’s awful events. We stand in support of our friends and colleagues at Carolina.