<p>Looks like our elected officials are not listening to us and I fear that Dragas is going to be re-appointed. We may not be able to stop them from re-appointing her, but we can vote them out of office. </p>
<p>What a bunch of cowards.</p>
<p>From the Cavalier Daily:</p>
<p>[The</a> Cavalier Daily :: StudCo passes resolution urging General Assembly to deny Dragas confirmation](<a href=“http://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2013/01/studco-passes-resolution-urging-gen-assembly-to-deny-dragas-confirmation]The”>http://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2013/01/studco-passes-resolution-urging-gen-assembly-to-deny-dragas-confirmation)</p>
<p>Not saying it’s going to change anything, however the Student Council did official take a stand on this and make the opinion known to Richmond.</p>
<p>We can thank folks like Senator Mark Warner for intervening on her behalf as well. I applaud those in the General Assembly who refused to be sheep.</p>
<p>Opinion piece from the Post: </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/all-opinions-are-local/post/virginias-elite-rescues-helen-dragas/2013/01/17/01b6d7be-60c7-11e2-a389-ee565c81c565_blog.html[/url]”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/all-opinions-are-local/post/virginias-elite-rescues-helen-dragas/2013/01/17/01b6d7be-60c7-11e2-a389-ee565c81c565_blog.html</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/Sen-Warner-Supports-Dragas-Reappointment-185665492.html[/url]”>http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/Sen-Warner-Supports-Dragas-Reappointment-185665492.html</a></p>
<p>Daily Progress has several articles, but they also have a paywall.</p>
<p>Politics and business as usual in the Commonwealth.</p>
<p>this is disgusting… this is why i say that we have no influence over the government. people try to argue with me to “write letters” and then i can just cite times like this as examples of how that really equates to no power at all.</p>
<p>What a disappointment (and an embarrassment for a great university).</p>
<p>Not so much an embarrassment for the University, but rather an embarrassment for the Commonwealth and it’s citizens.</p>
<p>I suppose I meant that the embarrassment comes from the realization that the university, as a community, counts for so little to the powers that be. Maybe that’s more of a slap in the face than an embarrassment. (Though I personally would find a slap in the face embarrassing.)</p>
<p>Agree…I wonder how many of those cowards are Virginia alums? I know my delegate is…Dave Albo. I’ve let him know in no uncertain terms how I will vote in the next election if he supports Dragas.</p>
<p>And the Rector has responded: [UVa</a> Student Council to General Assembly: Block Dragas - Daily Progress: Local](<a href=“http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/article_29d4b94a-61ea-11e2-b2a2-001a4bcf6878.html]UVa”>UVa Student Council to General Assembly: Block Dragas)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>…and that is why studco took a survey of popular opinion, it wasn’t just “[loud] active lobbying by [a minority of students/faculty] those who opposed me” [added to show implications Dragas did not want quoted but obviously meant]</p>
<p>The student council needs to concentrate on matters of student life and butt out of the governance of the school. That is a matter to be settled by representatives of the taxpayers of VA, and since UVA is a state school, a matter to be settled by the legislature. These actions are just more fodder for SACS to determine that governance of the school is subject to undue external forces and gives them even more reason to rip the accreditation. If the student body is concerned about being on probation by SACS (as a student, I sure would be), then there are a number of excellent higher education choices available in the Commonwealth at schools that are not on probation.</p>
<p>
You do know that the #1 governance principal at uva is… student governance?</p>
<p>Adding to sabaray’s WashPost links: [Robert McCartney’s column](<a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-senate-leaders-message-to-helen-dragas-dont-mess-up-again/2013/01/16/9b52b22e-601a-11e2-9940-6fc488f3fecd_story.html”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-senate-leaders-message-to-helen-dragas-dont-mess-up-again/2013/01/16/9b52b22e-601a-11e2-9940-6fc488f3fecd_story.html</a>) on Jan 16 has a good assessment of the business community’s support for Dragas toward the end of the article.</p>
<p>And I do not believe timing of the vote was coincidental: it was timed while students were distracted by returning from break & beginning the new semester.</p>
<p>If Dragas and her cronies think the University should be run like a business, then she should remember the cardinal rule of any business…the customer comes first. And who are the customers of the University? The students, their parents (if they are paying the bill), and the alumni. </p>
<p>As a legacy parent of one grad and one current student, I have no intention of “butting out”.</p>
<p>The elected officials in Virginia have an obligation or two here. One is to listen to their constituents, and those fall generally in two groups here. Friendsand alumni and students who care about the University and want Dragas gone are one, and the the other is the rest of the people, who could care less. Secondly, they are to do what is best for the school. Losing accreditation because of a poorly thought out and even more poorly received move by the board Dragas chairs hardly enhanced UVA in any way. How this is even a conversation now is beyond me. I’m sure there are plenty of others who have done favors and given money to the ‘worthy’ politicians and could be ‘rewarded’ instead of Dragas.</p>
<p>I think that is a great observation, 89wahoo. While there are many of us who care passionately about the Dragas affair, many of my neighbors in a very “Red” area of Virginia view UVA as a bastion of privilege and entitlement. They’d be inclined to support a Dragas reappointment simply to teach those uppity academics who’s really in charge. Speaking very generally, I’d posit that most Virginians don’t care and that’s really too bad.</p>
<p>I just received this reply from Delegate Dave Albo…</p>
<p>Robert:</p>
<p>The reason her re-appointment seems to be advancing is that Pres Sullivan is now asking for Dragas to be reappointed</p>
<p>Dave</p>
<p>This is the first I’ve heard about this.</p>
<p>More from Delegate Albo…</p>
<p>I wrote:</p>
<p>Thanks, Dave. First I’ve heard of this. She must be doing it privately. Shows what a class act she is, but it’s still wrong to re-appoint Dragas.</p>
<p>He responded:</p>
<p>She sent out a public letter. Ses that both sides realize they each had problems</p>
<p>Has anybody seen this public letter?</p>
<p>
It’s news to be and I’m pretty sure I follow the Facebook groups that are staying on top of all the developments.</p>
<p>These groups seems to be most active:
<a href=“https://www.facebook.com/HoosUniversity[/url]”>https://www.facebook.com/HoosUniversity</a>
<a href=“https://www.facebook.com/groups/347537338649665/[/url]”>https://www.facebook.com/groups/347537338649665/</a></p>
<p>If we lose this fight, it was not in vain. We may have still won the war. The board is instituting some important reforms. The legislature may eventually reform the process of selecting board members for universities throughout Va. Two bills have been introduced. Hopefully, boardmembers will be chosen for their relevant knowledge and insight instead of the size of their political checks.</p>
<p>Also, Dragas has been de-fanged. She will no longer be Rector. Most of her henchmen are gone from the board. Every meeting the board has is now being broadcast over the net (except executive sessions that can only cover very limited topics under the law).</p>