Chancellor Proclaims
NC State's Commitment
to Human Rights

NC State continued its tradition of observing Human Rights Day with Chancellor Randy Woodson signing a proclamation and spotlighting staff who perform volunteer service to support human rights.

On Monday, December 2, 2013, about 50 staff, students, and faculty gathered in Witherspoon Center for a program entitled "Coffee and Conversation with the Chancellor." The staff members in the spotlight introduced themselves and spoke briefly about the service activities in which they were involved. Those activities included work with hunger and homelessness, literacy, women's issues and support, and advocacy for individuals and families facing debilitating diseases. See the list of staff honorees, at left below.

The program began with welcoming remarks from Ryan Hancock, Staff Senate President, who called on everyone present to continue their efforts on behalf of human rights. Professor Emeritus Slater E. Newman, co-chair of the Human Rights Coalition of NC, was also on hand to deliver copies of the Declaration of Human Rights to all the participants. Newman stated that he "loved" the declaration and urged that everyone be engaged in upholding and celebrating it. He noted that he was unaware of other universities hosting annual celebrations of Human Rights Day and commended NC State for doing so. Chancellor Woodson echoed this sentiment and expressed that spotlighting the work of the university's community members who are engaged with human rights not only brings recognition to those whose work is often quietly done, but also raises awareness in the community of opportunities to serve.

The Chancellor then read and signed the proclamation designating December 10, 2013 as Human Rights Day and committing NC State University to "embracing this global challenge to improve the human condition through education and innovation, and promoting human rights in North Carolina, the United States, and around the globe," as it is "central to our purpose, our mission, and our values."

See also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Spotlight on Staff theme is the second in a four-part series of annual spotlights. Students were featured in 2012. Next year, the spotlight will be on faculty, with a spotlight on alumni following in 2015.