Technician reports on Accuracy in Media’s undercover video and NC State staff departure
February 7, 2026
An assistant director at NC State’s LGBTQ Pride Center is no longer employed at the university after a conservative media watchdog published an undercover video in which he described “finding ways around” restrictions on diversity, equity and inclusion programming in the UNC System.
The video, released Thursday by Accuracy in Media, shows Jae Edwards, then-assistant director of the Pride Center, saying staff have continued to support LGBTQ+ students and student organizations despite recent policy changes at the system level. On Friday afternoon, Mick Kulikowski, university spokesperson, confirmed to Technician that Edwards “no longer works at the university” and that NC State became aware of the recording on Thursday.
“The individual seen in the video had no role in policy or compliance decisions and was not authorized to speak on behalf of the university,” Kulikowski wrote. “The staff member no longer works at the university. NC State complies with both the spirit and letter of all applicable federal and state laws and UNC System policies, and any violation is taken very seriously.”
Kulikowski did not answer Technician’s question about whether Edwards was found to be out of compliance with UNC System policy. Accuracy in Media also did not answer Technician’s questions about how or where its staff obtained the undercover video.
In the video, recorded on a hidden camera, Edwards tells Accuracy in Media investigators that the Pride Center continues to host “events and programs” but must be “a little more careful” in how it operates under the new systemwide policies.
“As a marginalized group, we’re used to these things,” Edwards said in the video. “And we’re used to going around them and finding ways around.”
Edwards also described shifting support toward student organizations, which are not subject to the same institutional neutrality rules as university offices.
“And the best thing about it is that we’re really trying to push our student organizations to [do] more and support our student organizations more ’cause they’re not affected by it,” Edwards said in the video.
On Friday, the Pride Center announced on Instagram that its lounge would be closed for the day and that its Colorful Connections event was canceled.
“We remain available for urgent or emergent needs,” the post read. “Please knock if you need assistance.”