Student Email to the Board of Visitors
Dublin Core
Title
Student Email to the Board of Visitors
Email Item Type Metadata
Email Body
To the Members of the Board of Visitors,
I write to you all as a current student entering into her fourth year at the University. I am from Maryland and going to the University of Virginia has been one of the best decisions I have made and I will proudly represent my Virginia degree for the rest of my life upon my completion of Final Exercises in May. The events of the past few weeks, however, have made me question whether the values of Thomas Jefferson’s University are still as alive and thriving as many of us would like to think they are.
Devastation does not even begin to describe what I have felt towards the events that have transpired these past few weeks. I have been appalled by the actions of the Board of Visitors in their response to the public outcry over Theresa Sullivan’s forced resignation and, as more information has come out, deeply, deeply worried about the future of the University of Virginia as one of the best public universities in the world.
Having the honor of serving as a Board member is, at its core, manning the helm of an entity—protecting it from destruction and looking always towards creating a brighter future. This role extends far, far beyond simple financial stability and health. Governance requires trust and communication. CEOs of companies are removed by their boards all the time—but this should NEVER happen without a full board meeting and thoughtful, engaged discussion. This process did not happen and, as Board members, you have failed me and the rest of the University of Virginia community, indeed the state of Virginia.
In today's Washington Post, former BOV member Austin Ligon suggests that President Sullivan's ouster "will become the textbook case for bad university governance." Is this really the legacy you want to leave for the University?
Rector Dragas, your secretive actions orchestrating President Sullivan's resignation have been nothing short of shameful and could not have been further from Jeffersonian values. I believe you must tender your resignation to restore the honor and good name of the University. I now longer wish for you to have the power to decide what is best for the University of Virginia.
I urge the rest of you to give a full explanation of the Board’s desired direction for the University, work diligently towards the creation of a permanent faculty Board position, and take whatever steps necessary to reinstate President Sullivan, should she be willing to resume working with the University.
Every day when I wake up the first thing I do is put on my University of Virginia class ring. I do not want the meaning of that ring to be tarnished by a Board that does not want what is best for the University I love. Please do the right thing.
Anna McGrady, CLAS ‘13
I write to you all as a current student entering into her fourth year at the University. I am from Maryland and going to the University of Virginia has been one of the best decisions I have made and I will proudly represent my Virginia degree for the rest of my life upon my completion of Final Exercises in May. The events of the past few weeks, however, have made me question whether the values of Thomas Jefferson’s University are still as alive and thriving as many of us would like to think they are.
Devastation does not even begin to describe what I have felt towards the events that have transpired these past few weeks. I have been appalled by the actions of the Board of Visitors in their response to the public outcry over Theresa Sullivan’s forced resignation and, as more information has come out, deeply, deeply worried about the future of the University of Virginia as one of the best public universities in the world.
Having the honor of serving as a Board member is, at its core, manning the helm of an entity—protecting it from destruction and looking always towards creating a brighter future. This role extends far, far beyond simple financial stability and health. Governance requires trust and communication. CEOs of companies are removed by their boards all the time—but this should NEVER happen without a full board meeting and thoughtful, engaged discussion. This process did not happen and, as Board members, you have failed me and the rest of the University of Virginia community, indeed the state of Virginia.
In today's Washington Post, former BOV member Austin Ligon suggests that President Sullivan's ouster "will become the textbook case for bad university governance." Is this really the legacy you want to leave for the University?
Rector Dragas, your secretive actions orchestrating President Sullivan's resignation have been nothing short of shameful and could not have been further from Jeffersonian values. I believe you must tender your resignation to restore the honor and good name of the University. I now longer wish for you to have the power to decide what is best for the University of Virginia.
I urge the rest of you to give a full explanation of the Board’s desired direction for the University, work diligently towards the creation of a permanent faculty Board position, and take whatever steps necessary to reinstate President Sullivan, should she be willing to resume working with the University.
Every day when I wake up the first thing I do is put on my University of Virginia class ring. I do not want the meaning of that ring to be tarnished by a Board that does not want what is best for the University I love. Please do the right thing.
Anna McGrady, CLAS ‘13
Subject Line
To the Board of Visitors
From
Anna McGrady, Student
To
Susan G. Harris, Secretary to the Board of Visitors
CC
Ann Witkower, Assistant to the Faculty Senate
Citation
, “Student Email to the Board of Visitors,” Sullivan Archive, accessed April 25, 2024, https://sullivan.lib.virginia.edu/items/show/72.