Prelude to Legal Action
Despite the new policy adopted by the Trustees, Chancellor Sitterson felt bound by their previous decision not to allow Aptheker and Wilkinson to speak on campus. Like Friday, Sitterson was in a difficult situation. Although he personally found the violation of free speech distasteful, he wanted to avoid a confrontation with the Trustees that could hurt UNC's institutional interests. Therefore, he refused to overrule the desires of the Trustees.