News Summary
Karen Price, a WCU administrator, has been terminated as director of institutional assessment following the release of a controversial video regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. The video outlined the university’s DEI initiatives and sparked backlash, leading to her departure. WCU’s handling of DEI policies has drawn criticism, and the Department of Education is investigating potential Title IX violations, further complicating the ongoing national debate on inclusivity and free speech on college campuses.
Culowhee, North Carolina — A Western Carolina University (WCU) administrator, Karen Price, has been terminated from her position as director of institutional assessment following the release of a controversial video regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. Price’s employment ended in mid-April 2025, and she is no longer listed on the university’s official website.
The controversy began with a secretly recorded video, released on June 10, 2025, which features Price discussing the university’s efforts to integrate DEI principles across all areas of the institution. The video was recorded by an undercover investigator from Accuracy in Media, a conservative watchdog organization. In the video, Price emphasized that implementing DEI policies is a collective responsibility for the entire university, rather than the duty of a single office or individual. Other WCU officials were approached for comments regarding Price’s statements but declined to respond.
Following the video’s release, WCU’s communication manager confirmed Price’s departure to a local news outlet. Her termination follows a concerning trend where several university administrators across North Carolina have faced similar consequences after being implicated in videos recorded by Accuracy in Media. For instance, the former Dean of Students at the University of North Carolina Asheville, Megan Pugh, was terminated after a video surfaced on June 3, 2025. Additionally, Janique Sanders, a former assistant director at UNC Charlotte, faced scrutiny following a video that emerged on May 28, 2025.
In tandem with these events, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has launched an investigation into WCU over possible violations of Title IX. This investigation stems from claims that the university did not adequately provide sex-separated intimate spaces, as required by Title IX legislation. Specific allegations have arisen regarding a male student rooming with a female in university dormitories, and another incident where a female student faced scrutiny for asking a male classmate to leave a female locker room.
Payton McNabb, a former WCU student and a conservative activist, has condemned the university’s handling of Title IX issues, asserting that the policies infringe on female students’ rights to single-sex spaces. McNabb’s activism gained momentum following an incident in September 2022 involving a transgender athlete. Notably, in 2024, she herself was subjected to a Title IX investigation after posting a video related to transgender issues in women’s restrooms, although this investigation was later dismissed.
The current scandal adds to the ongoing debate about diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives on college campuses, particularly within states where legislative actions have been taking place in relation to these policies. As universities across the country navigate the complexities surrounding DEI efforts, WCU’s recent developments could have wider implications for institutional policies concerning free speech, gender, and inclusivity.
As the OCR continues its investigation and the implications of these DEI controversies unfold, WCU and similar institutions may find themselves facing heightened scrutiny from both advocates and critics of diversity policies and Title IX compliance. With the events at WCU being emblematic of a larger national conversation, the outcomes of these situations remain to be seen as universities seek to balance policy implementation with individual rights and institutional obligations.
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Additional Resources
- WLOS: WCU Director Termination
- Wikipedia: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Catamount Sports: Ashleigh Simmons Appointment
- Google Search: Title IX Investigation
- Smoky Mountain News: New WCU Director of Athletics
- Google Scholar: DEI Policies in Higher Education
- Sylva Herald: WCU Administration News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Transgender Students and Title IX
- Sylva Herald: Breaking News on WCU
- Google News: WCU Diversity Equity Inclusion
