NC State Fires Pride Center Director After AIM Video

0:00This is Corey, here with your quick two-minute update from Durham News Today. NC State University fired Jay Edwards, the Assistant Director of its Pride Center, right after a conservative group called Accuracy and Media Posted Anne, undercover video of him last month. The clip showed Edwards discussing how the center could keep running diversity programs, despite the UNC system dropping its official diversity, equity, and inclusion policies last year. He is the fourth UNC system staffer to lose a job over these aim videos. Earlier this week, Edwards told reporters the university never asked for his version of events, or the full footage before letting him go. He claims the video was heavily edited, leaving out parts where he welcomed all students to the center. Aim has targeted other campus offices too, but has not released those recordings yet. Students have rallied hard in Edwards' support, holding sign-making events and calling for his reinstatement. They argue nothing in the video broke any rules and worry this firing sends a bad message

1:02about protecting minority students. One grad student said, The administration's silence feels like a scary pattern. Edwards, who just weeks earlier won an award for embodying university values, now feels betrayed. He loved his job helping students, but had to pack up his office with their help the day he was out. As a black queer man, he sees this as part of larger challenges in a tough world. Once then, Edwards has raised over $12,000 on a GoFundMe page while job hunting. NC State declined the comment on personnel issues, and the situation has sparked debates about free speech and campus activism across North Carolina. Support for this DNN episode comes from our sponsor. If earbuds fall out when you sleep, this is for you, a pillow with built-in sound, so L-I-SOLYPILLOW.COM