Sit-ins protest HB2 law at campuses across the state

RALEIGH (WTVD) -- It was another day of student protest Friday over UNC System President Margaret Spellings, this time fueled by her announcement the day before that all state universities would follow the new HB2 law, which requires people to use bathrooms matching their biological sex.

At universities across the Tar Heel State, students protested the decision. At Appalachian State, students with the LGBT Center held a sit-in in the chancellor's office, while at UNC Wilmington and NC State, students held sit-ins in front of bathrooms.

"We're hoping to create a movement and inspire other universities to join in the movement," said (Redacted), a freshman at NC State.

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(Redacted) was one of a dozen students to join the bathroom sit-in at State. "Hopefully," she said, "UNC school system President Margaret Spellings will release a statement about extra protections that she's going to put in place for trans- and queer-identified students, which she has failed to do so far."

On a conference call with reporters Friday, Spellings expressed concern with House Bill 2. She said it could have a chilling effect on recruiting both students and staff and could affect Title IX money.

Spellings also said she felt the bill had been rushed through the legislature, but she stopped short of coming out against the new law.

Spellings noted the law doesn't describe how to enforce the bathroom rules, and that universities don't have to change their anti-discrimination policies protecting LGBT people.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.