Dear UNC Charlotte community,
As you know, the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation is rapidly evolving, and we are prioritizing decisions to help protect the health and safety of our 49er community. The Centers for Disease Control recently issued guidance that recommends eliminating large public gatherings of more than 50 people and on Monday, the White House suggested that an even lower threshold is desirable.
This guidance unfortunately affects our scheduled Day of Remembrance plans on April 30, observing the one-year anniversary of that tragic day in our campus history. We are committed to finding meaningful ways to honor the lives lost and all those affected. However, we will need to do so in a way that supports social distancing practices and protects the health of all those involved. Therefore, we made the difficult decision to cancel “United: A Remembrance Concert” at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center on April 30 at 7:30 p.m. The event will not be rescheduled. I have shared this decision with the Howell and Parlier families, and they are fully understanding of it.
Many students, faculty and alumni have been involved in creating this performance, which was designed to unite the Charlotte community and pay tribute to Reed Parlier and Riley Howell, the four injured students, and all the community members that supported UNC Charlotte on that day and in the weeks that followed. We are currently determining whether it is possible to create an on-campus remembrance event that respects social distancing protocols, such as a streaming remembrance ceremony. More information will be shared soon.
All proceeds from the concert were planned for the Remembrance Fund, which will be used to support the work of the Remembrance Commission. If you do not wish for your ticket purchase to be contributed to the Remembrance Fund as a tax-deductible donation, please contact Blumenthal Performing Arts at 704-372-1000 or tickets@blumenthalarts.org by Tuesday, March 31 to receive a full refund.
I know it is disappointing that this Day of Remembrance will be significantly different from our original plan, but I am comforted by the fact that we continue to make decisions that support the health and well-being of our entire community. The enduring spirit of Niner Nation is one of resilience, and we will get through this extraordinary time, together. We truly appreciate your understanding and patience.
We look forward to sharing alternative plans for April 30 and will follow up with more information as soon as it is available.
Sincerely,
Philip L. Dubois
Chancellor