The Council on the Status of Women and all affiliated events, including its Sisterhood Dinner, have been suspended for the academic year to remain in compliance with UNC Policy 300.8.5, Equality within the University of North Carolina.
The UNC System’s Equality Policy, adopted in May 2024, mandates institutional neutrality, requiring university offices and administrative positions to refrain from endorsing sociopolitical views to preserve academic freedom for faculty and students.
NC State’s executive vice chancellor and provost, Warwick Arden, who has held the position since December 2010, sent an email to all college deans and cc’d their executive assistants on Aug. 26 announcing the suspension of the council.
“NC State is required to provide its annual certification of compliance [with the Equality policy] by September 1, 2025,” Arden wrote. “To review and ensure alignment with the policy, the Council on the Status of Women — as well as any of its affiliated events, including the Sisterhood Dinner — will be suspended for this academic year.”
When Student Government convened for its first meeting of the fall semester on Aug. 27, Bella Echiburu, a third-year studying psychology, student senator for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and chair of the standing committee on diversity, equity and inclusion, also announced the council was suspended. In her role, Echiburu was set to serve on the council to represent the interests of women in the student body.
Until its suspension, the council was responsible for advising the Provost on matters pertaining to the professional advancement of NC State women, including staff, faculty and students.
Its annual Sisterhood Dinner serves to commemorate the accomplishments and achievements of women. Each year, the council invites nominations for an Equity for Women Award for outstanding contributions to the university and one student, one staff member and one faculty member are awarded at the dinner.
“This has not been an easy decision, and I would like to acknowledge and thank the Council on the Status of Women for the impactful work that they have done over the years,” Arden wrote.
As of Sept. 5, the council’s webpage leads to an announcement of the council’s suspension. A 2024 article published by NC State Academic and Student Affairs News links to information about the Sisterhood Dinner. However, as of Sept. 5, this Sisterhood dinner webpage is not accessible. This is a developing story.
