<p>As a current parent and strong University supporter, I have very mixed feelings about the recent events. </p>
<p>I have been very impressed with Terry Sullivan from first meeting her. She is without a doubt one of the brightest and most personable people I have ever met. I also love that she is a “sports chick,” who rabidly follows all UVa athletics. Indeed, I have marveled at when she could possibly find the time to sleep, as she appeared to be everywhere on Grounds. I was truly saddened when the email came through two Sundays ago. I have been amazed, though not really surprised, by the grace she has shown throughout this debacle, and my support for her went through the roof when she issued her statement yesterday urging civility. I am cautiously optimistic she will be reinstated and that the University will benefit from, and face its many challenges, under her direction for the next several years.</p>
<p>I am very impressed with the university deans and their statement yesterday. It was a brilliant statement and a helpful roadmap forward. By acknowledging some of the challenges outlined in Helen Dragas’s statement (written with the help of Hill and Knowlton), accepting the urgency of some of them, and agreeing to work with Terry on addressing them, the statement helps the BoV and the University move forward from this.</p>
<p>I have major reservations with some faculty after this. I appreciate the Faculty Senate’s actions to band together to fight the lack of due process and transparency in the BoV’s actions, but the snark and antibusiness tirades of some faculty and staff on the various comment boards out there really trouble me. Perhaps in my years involved with UVa I saw what I wanted to regarding the faculty when I viewed them as a group of learned men and women who by and large want to interact with undergraduates and who are not overtly hard left in their views (at least as university faculty in 21st century US go). Before this, I did not have to see the university politics or the condescending views of many faculty toward those not up in the ivory tower with them, able to spend the days merely thinking great thoughts . . . . I was also concerned that the price of getting Terry back might be the stifling of discussion of some of the legitimate issues facing UVa (and many other schools) as governmental subsidies dwindle. But, the Deans’ statement gives me hope that will not be the case.</p>
<p>Others in the university community – especially alumni – also get a mixed review. One of the nicks on UVa both in state and out is that is overly snobby and impressed with itself. Many of us on this board and others have tried to quell that view. Unfortunately, in my opinion, many alums have set those efforts back immensely with over the top rhetoric during this, admittedly trying time. The flip side was an immense display of school spirit though, so in the end the alumni behavior may come out as a wash “reputationaly” for the school. </p>
<p>To any who have read this far – bottom line, I don’t think the events of the past two weeks will adversely impact UVa’s reputation. To those instate, it is still the flagship university, and OOS, this hasn’t gotten that much play. With 28,000 applicants last year, there is ample demonstrated interest in the school to populate it with outstanding students for years to come. For future faculty recruitment, UVa still is a big name institution in an idyllic place to live. Accordingly, it will continue to be an attractive place to teach.</p>