UNC Charlotte administrator ‘no longer employed’ after DEI video goes viral
UNC Charlotte says an administrator is “no longer employed” after a video went viral of her implying work related to diversity, equity and inclusion was still happening on campus.
The video, which appears to use a hidden camera, was originally posted by nonprofit activist group Accuracy in Media. Posts on X by Corey DeAngelis, who identifies himself as a senior advisor for the nonprofit, received more than 4 million views. They caught the attention of Assistant U.S. Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon and N.C. Senate leader Phil Berger, who also posted about the video.
“We’ve renamed; we’ve reorganized; we’ve recalibrated, so to speak,” Janique Sanders can be seen saying in the video posted to X. “Because language changes, right? But the people who have to be in the presence of and in the space don’t change.”
At one point in the video, the person recording asks, “So, equity work is still happening on campus?” Sanders then says, “I’m not allowed to say that, but...” and nods.
Sanders was an assistant director of the UNC Charlotte Office of Leadership and Community Engagement. It’s unclear whether she was fired or resigned, and university officials declined to comment further, as it pertained to “personnel matters.”
But officials said that Sanders’ comments do not reflect the stance of the university.
“The employee’s statements were inaccurate and do not reflect the University’s actions,” UNC Charlotte Deputy Chief Communications Officer Christy Jackson told The Charlotte Observer Thursday afternoon. “The individual featured in the video had no policy-making authority, no role in compliance matters and was not authorized to speak on these issues. Following an internal review, the individual is no longer employed by UNC Charlotte.”
Sanders’ biographical page on UNC Charlotte’s website has been removed.
The controversy comes after President Donald Trump’s Department of Education gave universities an ultimatum in February to eliminate diversity initiatives or risk losing federal funding.
The University of North Carolina System Board of Governors already moved to walk back DEI. It voted last May to repeal its diversity, equity and inclusion policy and gave guidance to university chancellors that dedicated DEI offices violate its new policy emphasizing “institutional neutrality.”
UNC Charlotte later closed three offices as a result: the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Office of Identity, Equity and Engagement and the Office of Academic Diversity and Inclusion.
Jackson said the university would conduct a review to ensure all employees understand and adhere to relevant policies and laws.
This story was originally published May 29, 2025 at 4:06 PM.
