CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — UNC is now facing an ultimatum over the Silent Sam confederate statue.

University leaders say they've received a letter from an anonymous faculty group demanding they take down the statue by Thursday. If not, the 17-member group say they'll do it themselves.

“It's clearly draining on the resources, energy, goodwill, morale of the campus,” says Assistant Professor William Sturkey, who isn't affiliated with the group. “But it's just another example of this thing being a lightning rod for emotional protest.”

UNC hasn't confirmed the authenticity of the letter. However, campus police are now patrolling the statue and surveillance cameras are close by. Students are split over whether or not it's appropriate to remove the statue by force.

“We have boycotted. We have sat in. We have petitioned. We have protested,” says Kristen Marion.

“I wouldn't say that I agree with the idea of force of action,” says Chase Carroll.

If the statue is still up after Thursday, group members say they could take it down within an hour, week or month. They say it could happen when security isn't present. They say they'll take the statue to a safe place for exhibition.