Since University of Virginia President Teresa Sullivan was fired—and reinstated—in 2012, there have been calls for change in both how the Board of Visitors is governed and who is on the board. With Governor Terry McAuliffe’s last round of five appointees, critics say there’s still too little diversity in who gets appointed. And one tradition—that […]
UVA
Former UVA swimmer files lawsuit against five ex-teammates, alleges hazing
A former member of the University of Virginia swim team has filed a lawsuit against five of his former teammates for incidents including hazing, false imprisonment, and assault that occurred last fall. Anthony Marcatonio’s suit, filed in federal court on June 26, alleges that in the late night/early morning of August 27/28, Marcantonio and other […]
UVA spending $450K to give Rotunda that ’70s look
The Rotunda is the central structure of University of Virginia’s present and past. It’s a neoclassical architectural masterpiece designed by the founder, Thomas Jefferson, that has become so revered that the UN named it a World Heritage Site. And now, as part of a $52-million renovation, it’s getting a rooftop paint job costing over $450,000. […]
Sabato, Center for Politics nominated for Emmys
UVA’s pundit emeritus and head of the Center for Politics, Larry Sabato, has been nominated for an Emmy for his massive open online course The Kennedy Half Century. And the center snagged a nomination for best historical documentary for its Bombs Away: LBJ, Goldwater and the 1964 Campaign that [...]
Sullivan extended
The University of Virginia Board of Visitors voted May 19 to extend President Teresa Sullivan’s contract until July 31, 2018. Her current contract is set to end on July 31, 2016. A provision in the newly passed contract stipulates that Sullivan’s successor could assume office as early as [...]
Mascot unmasked
Three students who graduated from the University of Virginia last weekend additionally gave up their coveted positions as Cav Man, the University’s official game day mascot. Though the students who assume the Cav Man role are anonymous, Sam Meredith, class of 2015, revealed his identity as one [...]
Eramo v. Rolling Stone: UVA dean takes magazine to court over rape story
Ever since Rolling Stone’s shocking November 2014 story on an alleged gang rape at UVA began to fall apart, media watchers have speculated whether the magazine would end up the defendant in a defamation suit. The local chapter of Phi Kappa Psi, where the story’s key figure, a student named [...]
21st century lens: UVA’s troubled history of race
When she came from Rhode Island to the University of Virginia, Alice Burgess was aware there was a dark side to the school’s racial history, but figured she’d be too immersed in pre-med sciences to have to deal with what some call “the elephant in the room.” It didn’t work out that way. As a [...]
Anything’s Posse’ble: Nonprofit program helps Houston students find success in first year at UVA
De’Lena Martin didn’t grow up in a wealthy family. A Houston native and the fourth of five kids, she brought home A’s and filled her time with sports and activities like model UN and the debate team. College was always on her radar, and she “figured the money would figure itself out,” most [...]
Terry’s track record: Five years in, how should we measure Sullivan’s success?
As the class of 2015 prepares to walk away from UVA, the University’s Board of Visitors is weighing whether President Teresa Sullivan will stay. Sullivan’s current contract ends next summer, and Rector George K. Martin has said the governing board will likely determine whether to extend it by [...]
Book purge? Alderman renovation foments faculty fear
The University of Virginia’s main research library, built in 1938, has never had a major renovation. And when funding for such a project comes through, some faculty fear 2 million of Alderman’s 3 million books will be shipped to the Ivy Stacks, off-campus storage on Old Ivy Road, never to [...]
Who sues? Parsing a possible Phi Kappa Psi v. Rolling Stone suit
The Columbia Journalism Review’s 13,000-word report dismantling Rolling Stone’s retracted account of a violent gang rape at UVA was less than 24 hours old when the UVA chapter of Phi Kappa Psi, whose unnamed members the magazine’s story accused of a heinous crime, announced via press release it [...]
Miller cuts UVA Board term short, blasts leadership
Dr. Edward D. Miller, former Johns Hopkins medical school dean and health system CEO, resigned from UVA’s Board of Visitors March 15, and said in a statement he could “no longer support the direction the University of Virginia’s leadership continues to pursue.” His resignation is effective June [...]
Compassionate care? UVA Medical’s firing of nurse rejected three times
When Susan Jordan’s ex-husband learned he had cancer, he named her as his agent for both his power of attorney and advanced medical directive. And when Kurt Jordan asked her to help him access and understand his medical records, she did. Both Jordans worked at UVA Medical Center. And nearly a [...]
UPDATED: Announcement of lawsuit among reactions to review of retracted Rolling Stone story
This is an updated story. The original is included below. On Sunday, just shy of five months after Rolling Stone posted its explosive and flawed report on an alleged gang rape at UVA online, The Columbia Journalism Review made public a 13,000-word analysis of the reporting and editing failures [...]
Tuition spike: Sudden increase in UVA’s sticker price sparks protest
Last week, the University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors approved a plan to increase tuition and fees for incoming first-years by 11 percent, a hike that will largely go to pay for grants to lower-income students. The plan’s engineers say it aims to put a UVA education within reach of those [...]
Police: No evidence to support Jackie’s claims in Rolling Stone rape story
Charlottesville Police Chief Timothy Longo said in a press conference Monday, March 23 that investigators have found no evidence to support the claims of a 2012 gang rape at UVA’s Phi Kappa Psi fraternity detailed in an explosive Rolling Stone story and attributed to a University student [...]
UVA students express anger at forum with police, march out in protest
Tensions ran high in UVA’s Newcomb Hall Theater Friday afternoon as students confronted police and other public officials at a forum organized by the University’s Student Council in response to the arrest of Martese Johnson, the African-American third-year student involved in a bloody [...]
Prosecutor asks for criminal investigation of ABC officers in Martese Johnson arrest
Charlottesville Commonwealth’s Attorney Dave Chapman has requested the Virginia State Police to launch a criminal investigation into ABC agents’ arrest of UVA student Martese Johnson early March 18. Governor Terry McAuliffe had already asked state police to investigate the arrest of [...]
ABC, UVA in national spotlight again after Martese Johnson arrest
The image of bloodied third-year University of Virginia student Martese Johnson on the ground being arrested by a uniformed ABC agent has put UVA—and the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control—in the national spotlight again, with Governor Terry McAuliffe calling for an independent investigation [...]
Democracy U: Nonprofit unites schools, presidential homes to support global development
On the day that this paper hits stands, a small Charlottesville nonprofit is stepping out on an international stage. The Presidential Precinct, a consortium that brings together UVA, William & Mary and four historic properties in Central Virginia with the lofty goal of advancing democracy [...]
Wrapped around Justin Anderson’s finger?
Star guard Justin Anderson’s fractured finger did not stop Virginia from topping ninth-ranked Louisville 52-47 February 7, nor did it prevent Virginia from being ranked No. 2 in the country again this week. But what does it mean for the Cavaliers for the rest of the regular season, with [...]
UVA sorority sister: Why I quit
Last week UVA’s Greeks showed up on the national news once again, this time thanks to a decision by sorority leaders to ground their UVA chapters on Boys’ Bid Night, a men’s pledging celebration and one of the biggest party nights of the year. The mandate infuriated sorority members at the [...]