BUZZ
Faculty blame board for failing to protect school from ‘outside interference’
The University of Virginia Faculty Senate passed a resolution of no confidence in the school’s governing board Friday following the resignation of President Jim Ryan.
The faculty cast a 46 to 6 vote for the resolution, which blames the “Board of Visitors for not protecting the University and its president from outside interference.”
The resolution states “that in the spring of 2025, the University’s Rector and Board of Visitors were in receipt of a series of letters from representatives of the United States Department of Justice objecting to alleged violations of federal law and policy and demanding information.”
The faculty argued the government’s probe can reasonably be interpreted as external pressure attempting to influence the school’s governance and limit the president’s authority.
Ryan announced his resignation in June, stating he “cannot make a unilateral decision to fight the federal government in order to save [his] own job,” according to the resolution.
As a result, the Faculty Senate declared no confidence in the Board of Visitors, citing its failure to protect the university from interference and to consult the faculty during a crisis.
The senate demanded a full explanation of the board’s actions in response to inquiries from the DOJ and a detailed account of the events leading to Ryan’s resignation.
Hundreds of faculty members gathered in a lecture hall during the emergency meeting Friday to hear from the Faculty Senate Executive Committee and members of the Board of Visitors, The Cavalier Daily reported.
Board of Visitors Rector Rachel Sheridan spoke about backlash from the community following Ryan’s resignation.
“‘We have been on the receiving end of inflammatory communications that are inaccurate,’” Sheridan said, referring to allegations that she engaged in negotiations with the DOJ prior to beginning her term as rector, the student newspaper reported.
Professor Kim Acquaviva pushed back, saying, “We know from DOJ letters addressing you as ‘Rector’ weeks earlier that you were the person negotiating with the DOJ on behalf of the BOV in June.”
“That’s a heavy burden to be carrying, especially given your failure to get an agreement in writing from the DOJ before asking President Ryan to resign,” Acquaviva said.
The professor also said that since Sheridan is “an attorney who negotiates high stakes deals professionally, fumbling this ball must be embarrassing.”
“It also must make you wonder where things went wrong – the same question we’re wondering, too,” Acquaviva said.
Again, Sheridan denied negotiating with the federal government.
Acquaviva also suggested the General Assembly should launch a formal investigation into the board’s actions and its dealings with the DOJ. Hundreds of attendees expressed support for this idea, The Cavalier Daily reported.
The controversy stems from a federal probe into UVA’s “diversity, equity, and inclusion” policies, which the DOJ alleged violated civil rights laws, The College Fix previously reported.
Prior to Ryan’s resignation, the DOJ notified the school of several complaints of race-based treatment on campus. It also told the school the government concluded race-based practices were “widespread … throughout every component and facet of the institution.”
And an alumni group had called for Ryan’s resignation as well, alleging he “enabled the worst outbreak of antisemitism in UVA history,” “allowed UVA’s historic Honor System to deteriorate,” and “instituted a political agenda under the guise of DEI,” among other concerns.
MORE: Education Department to begin mass layoffs after Supreme Court victory
IMAGE CAPTION AND CREDIT: UVA President Jim Ryan addresses the campus community; UVA/YouTube
