University of Virginia President Jim Ryan has announced that the University of Virginia will be conducting more than a dozen committees to consider whether, when, and how the university as an institution should consider national or global events occurring outside the university. A committee was convened, consisting of 3 members.
The goal of the Committee on Institutional Statements is to develop a set of principles to guide decisions on this topic.
The creation of this committee was announced by the Board of Visitors in December regarding the university’s role in addressing, or refusing to address, political and social issues that may impact students, faculty, and staff. This was done after discussion. The board’s discussion took place against the backdrop of the Middle East wars and focused on the challenges facing university leaders across the country in deciding whether their universities should issue statements on the conflict.
Apart from that, UVA Created various academic opportunities Help students, faculty, staff, and community members better understand the history of conflict in the Middle East.
The Institutional Statement Committee includes nine UVA faculty, one student, one alumnus, and one Board of Visitors member.
āIt seems like a simple question: When, if ever, should a āuniversityā comment on political or social events?ā Ryan said. āBut answering that question is more complex than it seems and raises a variety of additional questions and thorny issues. I would like to thank Chairman John Owen and all members for their willingness to take on this task. .ā
“The issues that President Ryan has raised are important ones,” said Owen, Ambassador Henry J. Taylor and wife of Marion R. Taylor Professor of Political Science. I look forward to working with the committee to develop a useful set of guidelines that will help focus the University’s thinking and decision-making on this topic. ā
In addition to Owen, the committee includes:
- Melody Burns, executive director of UVA’s Karsh Institute for Democracy.
- Kevin Gaines, Julian Bond Professor of Civil Rights and Social Justice; Professor of African American History.
- John Griffin, alumnus; Former visitor committee member. Founder and President of Blue Ridge Capital, an investment company.
- Michael Kennedy, professor of special education; Chair of the Faculty Senate.
- Jeanne Liedtka, Professor of Management, United Technologies Corporation.
- Paul Manning, Board of Visitors Member; Chairman and CEO of PBM Capital.
- Lilian Rojas, fourth grade; Student members of the visitors committee.
- Frederick Schauer, David and Mary Harrison Distinguished Professor of Law;
- Alan Stam, University Professor of Public Policy and Politics;
- Dr. Sana Saeed, Associate Professor of Pediatrics.
- Sarah Turner, professor of economics and education; Professor of the Sauder family.
The committee is scheduled to meet for the first time in February. Owen said he expects the committee to meet several times during the spring semester to discuss and develop guidelines.