<p>[Sullivan</a> stripped: V-P Simon hints at quitting if BOV doesn’t change | The Hook - Charlottesville’s weekly newspaper, news magazine](<a href=“http://www.readthehook.com/104263/simon-says-v-p-hints-quitting-if-bov-doesnt-change]Sullivan”>http://www.readthehook.com/104263/simon-says-v-p-hints-quitting-if-bov-doesnt-change)</p>
<p>The Batten(major donors) and Dragas family names are well known in the Tidewater(Hampton Roads) Virginia area. The families probably run in some of the same circles .The Battens are well known in Norfolk and both families are well known in Virginia Beach. I believe they both have ties to Norfolk Academy (founded in the 1700’s) so this gets stranger by the minute. All of this is very sad and I hope the meetings of today and tomorrow start turning things around.</p>
<p>The linked article above says the Rector has assumed dictatorial power over the University. She has told everyone that the President has no authority, even though she will be President for 2 more months, and her resignation has not even been accepted by the full board. The Rector has told top administrators that they must report directly to her. She has told the University’s public relations/communications department that they work personally for her. </p>
<p>The faculty leaders begged for a meeting with her, and she agreed to meet with a couple of them tomorrow morning. However, they have to call a special number tomorrow morning to find out the location of the Rector’s secret undisclosed bunker.</p>
<p>The Hook seems to have removed that article from its website.</p>
<p>JHS, Just google The Hook. The article is there.</p>
<p>Regarding The Hook-- be wary of stories there. This is the second story affecting UVa I have followed thru that paper, and I have observed the same problems with their coverage each time. While The Hook does dig in and often teases out information not reported in other media, it’s coverage is prone to hyping “scandal” often based on poorly sourced information and even rank speculation – see e.g., the Jones article talk and blueiguana’s observations above. Equally troubling, The Hook is prone to factual mistakes, such as misreporting Dragas’ degrees from UVa in a story Friday. The slant of the story was to further bash Darden, and the paper conveniently omitted Dragas’ BA from the College until called out on it by a reader. I apologize in advance for typos. I am not used to typing long messages on my phone. </p>
<p>Tomorrow will be interesting. I hope it brings a constructive start to moving forward from this debacle.</p>
<p>What a blow in the face to UVa grads (especially for recent job hunting grads like me) to hear from the president that UVa is not as good as its rankings would say. Although I did feel the same on (very few) occasions, the way I heard it now makes me sad.</p>
<p>This whole thing makes me sick. I have a HS senior that will be attending there in the fall and I dont know what to expect anymore (dept cuts, staff leaving, tuition hikes, etc.). He gave up so many other schools - some better in my mind. Now I worry how this will affect his education due to cuts and professors possibly leaving. Then potential tuition hike due to law suits etc. And why the governor doesn’t get involved. It’s a political drama! ughh</p>
<p>I think this whole thing is a dis-service to many…including incoming students because the board waited to announce anything. My son would have gone to another school. Now its to late. </p>
<p>Also I am angry that UVA has done nothing (at least to my knowledge) to send parents of the incoming class a letter of reassurance and “please hang in there” with us type letter. It would have been a professional thing to do and respectful to incoming and current students. Perhaps they have- but as a parent, we received nothing. As a side note: One of the schools my son thought of going to (BU), has sent a letter to all acceptances regarding a problem on campus a few mos ago. And they had no money from us…nor commitment. Yeah, I read about whats in the paper…</p>
<p>Furthermore, Dragus should be fired. Perhaps there were reasons for Sullivan, but the way Dragus went about, FIRE HER.</p>
<p>And where’s the Governor…sounds like a wimp…</p>
<p>livelaugh, don’t forget that UVa is a full college experience, meaning if a few professors leave, your son will still have a fantastic 4 years and education. It has always been a research oriented state school, meaning that the undergrad education is likely better at a private or at least non-research (undergrad only) counterpart. That doesn’t mean UVa is less awesome - a smaller school can’t compete with UVa sports, UVa clubs, and the entire experience. That also doesn’t mean this won’t affect its rankings, but your education is what you make of it.</p>
<p>Livelaugh, I have a child currently at the University and like you, worry about the repercussions of all of this. I do not live in Charlottesville, or NOVA, and find that outside my circle of other UVA parents, many others in my community are out of the loop on most of the dialogue. How this might affect UVA’s reputation and future job seeking efforts of grads is an unknown. I would hope that with time, neither will be affected. However, I have concerns about the loss of great professors, increased enrollment and online education. I have never even heard Teresa Sullivan speak and have no idea if this action was warranted or not. I do trust the faculty to know that however, and have been watchful of their response. I completely agree that the Rector must go. Furthermore, I am appalled that our Governor has taken no action. I am sorry I voted for him. He needs to take immediate action (prior to July 1) before any more contributions are withdrawn and before more professors choose to leave! If what I have read is correct, it is hard to believe that the BOV and Rector of a university that only receives 10 percent of its funding from the state, can have so much control over it. Scary.</p>
<p>[Casteen</a>, Toscano call for Sullivan’s reinstatement | Daily Progress](<a href=“http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2012/jun/17/casteen-toscano-call-sullivans-reinstatement-ar-1994702/]Casteen”>http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2012/jun/17/casteen-toscano-call-sullivans-reinstatement-ar-1994702/)</p>
<p>If you are a Virginia resident and feel the governor should be more involved in this, or want to make sure he knows your opinion (specifically regarding BOV appointments) prior to July 1, now is the time to contact him. It’s easily done through his webpage.</p>
<p>[Sullivan</a> was seen as unwilling to make big cuts | Daily Progress](<a href=“http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2012/jun/17/sullivan-was-seen-unwilling-make-big-cuts-ar-1994486/]Sullivan”>http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2012/jun/17/sullivan-was-seen-unwilling-make-big-cuts-ar-1994486/)</p>
<p>Teresa Sullivan has hired an attorney.</p>
<p>[Former</a> U-Va. president John Casteen urges board to meet in public - The Washington Post](<a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/former-u-va-president-john-casteen-urges-board-to-meet-in-public/2012/06/18/gJQAYO4BlV_story.html]Former”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/former-u-va-president-john-casteen-urges-board-to-meet-in-public/2012/06/18/gJQAYO4BlV_story.html)</p>
<p>An interesting quote from the above article, “Dragas has asked for 15 minutes to speak at the start of the afternoon meeting and has told school officials she will offer a statement to try to calm the campus.”</p>
<p>NBC29 just reported that there is graffiti on the Rotunda that crews are working to remove. I hope that does not continue.</p>
<p>I caught that too. I don’t know what she could possibly say with the exception of “I was wrong, I’m resigning and moving to Siberia, and Dr. Sullivan has graciously agreed to stay on”. As much as I admire the efforts and support of people requesting that Sullivan stay, I can’t imagine any scenario in which she would consider it now.</p>
<p>Oh sabaray, that breaks my heart!!</p>
<p>D reports that it was “GREEED” spray painted across the columns. </p>
<p>Please stop.</p>
<p>Beta was also painted “Strategic Transparency”.</p>
<p>I am so sad about the Rotunda! I hope that this type of behavior stops.</p>