The News & Observer of Raleigh. The sheriff’s office is investigating his death but has not released any details, although authorities apparently do not suspect foul play.Adams was a professor of criminology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and was due to take early retirement August 1 under a settlement reached with the university after he received widespread criticism and calls for his firing over recent comments.For instance, in late May he tweeted that universities shouldn’t be closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic but should shut down “the non-essential majors.
Like Women’s Studies.” He invoked slavery in denouncing North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s stay-at-home orders, tweeting, “This evening I ate pizza and drank beer.