After leaving the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, former Chancellor Carol Folt is quickly moving to fight another firestorm.
The University of Southern California hired Folt—who faced criticism at UNC for her handling of on-campus Confederate monument Silent Sam—as its new president. Folt will once again have to weather a storm, as USC has faced several scandals in the past few years, including most recently being embroiled in the alleged college admissions bribery scandal.
“Of course, I also am aware that our community is deeply troubled by a number of immediate challenges,” Folt said in a news release. “I assure you that we will meet these challenges together, directly, decisively and with honesty and candor. This is a moment of responsibility and opportunity, and we will seize them both.”
Folt will replace interim President Wanda Austin July 1.
“Dr. Folt is a seasoned leader who has an excellent track record of listening to others,” Austin said in a news release. “She clearly understands the value of reaching out across campus, and for standing strong for the character and principles of a university’s community. Her experience gives me great confidence that she will uphold a culture of integrity at USC.”
Austin took over in August 2018 for former President C.L. Max Nikias, who resigned following sexual abuse allegations against a campus gynecologist.
Before the sexual abuse allegations, it was reported in 2017 that the former dean of USC's medical school had “used drugs on campus and partied with prostitutes.” His replacement also resigned when a past sexual harassment settlement came to light.
Most recently, USC was implicated in the alleged college admissions bribery scandal. Federal prosecutors charged 50 people last week related to an alleged scheme in which parents bought their children's admission to top universities through illegal methods.
The Daily Trojan reported USC allegedly admitted 24 students "under the guise of athletic recruitment" over an 8-year period, the most of any other school that has been caught up in the investigation.
Folt faced her share of controversy during her time at UNC with regards to Confederate monument Silent Sam. In August 2018, protesters toppled the monument—which had been on campus since 1913—and its fate has been in limbo ever since.
Folt left the school under a Board of Governors-expedited resignation in January. Before she stepped down, Folt and the Board of Trustees had recommended that Silent Sam be housed in a new $5.3 million facility. Scores of protesters took to the streets of Chapel Hill following that announcement.
In mid-January, Folt then said that she would resign at the end of the Spring semester and had the statue's base removed, but then the Board of Governors pushed up her to resign Jan. 31.
Folt and the Board of Trustees’ recommendation to house Silent Sam in a building ultimately did not stick. New recommendations will be discussed in May. Neuroscientist Kevin Guskiewicz replaced Folt when he became interim Chancellor in February.
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Managing Editor 2018-19, 2019-2020 Features & Investigations Editor
A member of the class of 2020 hailing from San Mateo, Calif., Ben is The Chronicle's Towerview Editor and Investigations Editor. Outside of the Chronicle, he is a public policy major working towards a journalism certificate, has interned at the Tampa Bay Times and NBC News and frequents Pitchforks.