Undercover video shows a UNC administrator pushing DEI despite state and federal policy. (UNC Asheville/Accuracy in Media)
Pugh’s comments come a year after the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors voted to essentially ban DEI and focus on "institutional neutrality," Carolina Journal reported.
The Accuracy in Media video captures Pugh saying "M’hm" when asked if "breaking rules" is "why y’all kind of spread it out and stuff?"
"Well, yes, and no," Pugh clarifies. "Part of it is that, part of it is just because we don’t have a dedicated office for it anymore, it’s easier to maintain."
Pugh continues, "Until more or less they get mad at us, but they haven’t done it yet."
When asked if the school was "supportive" of the ways DEI is still being implemented, Pugh says, "M’hm" and answers in the affirmative.
The undercover investigator asks Pugh about "implicit bias training" and Pugh explains that they haven’t taught that since the "spring" because the school administrators have been specifically opposed to that in a way that "I don’t enjoy."
RED STATE TREASURER REVEALS WHY STATE FINANCIAL OFFICERS HAVE 'OBLIGATION' TO COMBAT ESG, DEI
Rep. Virginia Foxx leaves the House Republican Conference meeting at the Capitol Hill Club. (Bill Clark)
GOP Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, who represents North Carolina's 5th Congressional District, expressed concern about the video in a statement to Fox News Digital.
"The UNC System has made a good faith effort to get rid of DEI, but obviously the word has not reached the ears of UNC Asheville’s administration," Foxx said.
"Dean Pugh is a picture-perfect example of how entrenched this caustic ideology really is within postsecondary education. It’s time to clean house at the university level and cast out personnel who believe they can act with blatant impunity."
In addition to North Carolina making moves to roll back DEI, which have seemingly been unsuccessful, the Trump administration has made efforts to roll back DEI on the federal level and tell universities that accept federal funding that they must stop promoting the agenda.
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"It's abundantly clear that the Marxist principles associated with DEI are fully embedded into this university," Accuracy in Media President Adam Guillette told Fox News Digital. "Removing one employee is merely the first step toward reform."
"Resolving the institutionalized radicalism at UNC-Asheville will require new leadership at the university level and bold reform from the Board of Governors," he continued.
Will Hild, executive director of Consumers’ Research, told Fox News Digital earlier this year that companies and organizations are working hard to rebrand DEI policies by giving them new names.
"It is the exact same toxic nonsense under a new wrapper, and they're just hoping to extend the grift because a lot of these people, I would say most of the people working in DEI, are useless," Hild said.
Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips to AndrewMark.Miller@Fox.com.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/love-breaking-rules-red-state-dean-ousted-after-admitting-hidden-cam-secretly-pushing-dei