Dan Gerlach, interim chancellor at ECU, resigns after appearing in bar photos with students
Dan Gerlach, the interim chancellor at East Carolina University, resigned Saturday weeks after photos of him socializing with students at a Greenville bar circulated on social media.
UNC System Interim President Bill Roper said he accepted Gerlach's resignation, which is effective immediately. The process of finding another interim chancellor is already underway, Roper said.
Officials placed Gerlach on administrative leave in September after photos and video surfaced of him socializing at two Greenville bars known to be frequented by ECU students. The photos and video published on social media showed Gerlach drinking, dancing and interacting with people at the two bars, Sup Dogs and Club 519, on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
During a Pirate Radio interview, Gerlach admitted he exercised poor judgment and shouldn't have had more than one beer.
"I should not have been out that late, should not have been doing all the things I did," he said. "But there's nothing – these are pictures constructed to make it look like I'm doing something I'm not."
He said he met a lot of students at Club 519 who wanted to take photos with him, so he stayed longer than he should have. Then, one woman at the bar started "trying to snuggle up to me," he said.
Many students and community members supported Gerlach after the photos were circulated, saying he was a positive influence at the school and did nothing wrong. The hashtag "IstandwithDan" was used to show support for him.
Gerlach released a personal statement on Saturday. It read in part:
"I was sent here to reduce the drama that ECU faced, and I instead added to it. I hope that you find it in your heart to forgive me. I will miss ECU and Greenville because the people are incredible and the entire community full of promise and hope. I thought before I arrived in May that I knew how fantastic Pirate Nation was, is and will be. I had no idea. It’s far better.
I am thankful for being part of it for a short time."
