Four UNC Students Cited

Four UNC students have been cited for violating Gov. Roy Cooper’s executive order requiring masks and prohibiting large gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic.

The citations were for actions Aug. 20 and are Class 2 misdemeanors, which carry a maximum penalty of 60 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. The four students all received November court dates for their citations.

According to a press release from the town Wednesday, UNC has been notified of the citations. University officials previously have said that students caught violating executive orders and campus mandates could risk disciplinary action including being un-enrolled from Carolina.

“I hope all community members will see that we are taking this very seriously,” said Chapel Hill Police  hief Chris Blue. “We do not want to issue any citations and will continue to use education first when responding.  However, we will charge when we encounter deliberate and egregious violations that jeopardize our community’s overall health. Our goal is and will continue to be community health and safety.”

The four citations resulted from reports of loud parties at the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house on Columbia Street and a residence on Church Street.