UVA: Spanberger tells BOV to put presidential search on hold, Ryan issues letter laying out BOV/DOJ malfeasance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Didn't UVA violate federal discrimination law because of DEI? What is the point of this, more wasted money to show they are fighting Trump, despite the entire state and country agreeing that DEI is discriminatory?

Yes, absolutely UVA policies violated federal law, including the Civil Rights Act.

This fact cannot be challenged. Ryan resigned due to his desire to continue violating federal law.

No, they did not. This cynical attack on civil rights by twisting the Civil Rights Act is beyond the pale. Sort of like using Title IX (which these mouth-breathing knuckle-draggers opposed at the time) to attack trans people.

The mindset of conservatives is so vile and evil.

The situation is more complicated than saying UVA “violated federal law” or, on the other side, that this is simply a conservative attack on civil rights. The facts show that the federal Department of Justice under the Biden administration opened the investigations into UVA’s DEI-related practices. These inquiries began long before Trump was elected and were conducted under existing civil-rights statutes, not new partisan interpretations. The result was a formal agreement in October 2025 requiring UVA to make adjustments and submit quarterly compliance reports through 2028. Importantly, the agreement did not declare UVA guilty; it explicitly states that UVA denied liability and was entering the agreement to resolve concerns and protect its federal funding. President Ryan’s resignation was framed around the risk of an extended fight with the federal government and the potential impact on the university, not a personal desire to continue breaking the law.

At the same time, it is also not accurate to dismiss the federal scrutiny as a “twisting” of civil-rights law by conservatives. The investigation, the compliance demands, and the Board’s earlier decision to dissolve the standalone DEI office all took place during the Biden DOJ, under standard civil-rights enforcement. That removes the claim that this was a right-wing political invention. The dispute isn’t about who is “evil” or “vile” but about how certain DEI structures intersect with long-standing federal requirements tied to funding. The record shows federal concern existed regardless of which party was in power, and UVA made changes in response to that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The situation at the University of Virginia is a clear example of how DEI policies have entered a new legal and political environment. UVA’s governing board shut down the university’s DEI office earlier this year after federal investigators questioned whether some of its past programs gave advantages based on race or other protected characteristics. The Department of Justice signaled that the university was at real risk of losing federal funding if it did not fully bring its policies in line with civil rights law. Under that pressure, President James Ryan chose to resign rather than drag the institution into a long fight with the federal government.

This was not simply a clash of politics. It was the result of a legal landscape that changed after the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling on race conscious admissions. Since then, federal agencies have scrutinized any DEI program that might involve quota systems or zero sum benefits tied to race or sex. UVA’s leadership had already started dismantling its DEI structure, but critics argued the changes were cosmetic. That disagreement created a credibility problem with federal regulators, which is ultimately what forced the crisis.

Anyone coming into office now needs to understand that this environment has not shifted back. If the new governor tries to push the same style of DEI programs that brought scrutiny to UVA, she risks repeating the same cycle. The issue is not whether diversity or inclusion can be supported. Those goals are legal and widely accepted. The problem is that certain DEI models rely on decision making that treats protected characteristics as factors in hiring, admissions, or funding. That is exactly what federal investigators are now targeting.

Unless future state policies focus strictly on equal opportunity approaches that avoid these legal pitfalls, the governor could walk straight into the same trap UVA just fell into.

Someone didn’t read the letter.

I read Spanberger’s letter, and the problem isn’t what she says it is. The crisis at UVA didn’t start with the Board’s presidential search. It started when federal investigators questioned whether parts of UVA’s DEI framework violated civil rights law. That pressure put federal funding at risk and is what led Ryan to step down. Calling it simple “federal overreach” skips the reason the scrutiny happened in the first place.

The governor-elect frames the Board as illegitimate, but the faculty votes and unconfirmed appointees are fallout from the same dispute about UVA’s direction. The Board acted to bring DEI policies into compliance with current federal standards. People may not like those decisions, but compliance is not optional.

Spanberger’s demand to pause the search until she can install new members isn’t just about transparency. It’s an attempt to reclaim control and potentially revive the same DEI approach that triggered federal intervention. If she pushes UVA back into that territory, she’ll run into the same legal and federal problems all over again. UVA needs stability and a president chosen on the university’s timeline, not a political one.

I meant Ryan’s letter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Didn't UVA violate federal discrimination law because of DEI? What is the point of this, more wasted money to show they are fighting Trump, despite the entire state and country agreeing that DEI is discriminatory?

Yes, absolutely UVA policies violated federal law, including the Civil Rights Act.

This fact cannot be challenged. Ryan resigned due to his desire to continue violating federal law.

No, they did not. This cynical attack on civil rights by twisting the Civil Rights Act is beyond the pale. Sort of like using Title IX (which these mouth-breathing knuckle-draggers opposed at the time) to attack trans people.

The mindset of conservatives is so vile and evil.

The situation is more complicated than saying UVA “violated federal law” or, on the other side, that this is simply a conservative attack on civil rights. The facts show that the federal Department of Justice under the Biden administration opened the investigations into UVA’s DEI-related practices. These inquiries began long before Trump was elected and were conducted under existing civil-rights statutes, not new partisan interpretations. The result was a formal agreement in October 2025 requiring UVA to make adjustments and submit quarterly compliance reports through 2028. Importantly, the agreement did not declare UVA guilty; it explicitly states that UVA denied liability and was entering the agreement to resolve concerns and protect its federal funding. President Ryan’s resignation was framed around the risk of an extended fight with the federal government and the potential impact on the university, not a personal desire to continue breaking the law.

At the same time, it is also not accurate to dismiss the federal scrutiny as a “twisting” of civil-rights law by conservatives. The investigation, the compliance demands, and the Board’s earlier decision to dissolve the standalone DEI office all took place during the Biden DOJ, under standard civil-rights enforcement. That removes the claim that this was a right-wing political invention. The dispute isn’t about who is “evil” or “vile” but about how certain DEI structures intersect with long-standing federal requirements tied to funding. The record shows federal concern existed regardless of which party was in power, and UVA made changes in response to that.

Interested in your source for these “facts.” It’s true that Youngkin’s appointees on the BOV long had it out for Ryan, and it wouldn’t surprise me that they were making complaints to the DOJ during the Biden administration, but where’s the evidence that there were active investigations under Biden?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Didn't UVA violate federal discrimination law because of DEI? What is the point of this, more wasted money to show they are fighting Trump, despite the entire state and country agreeing that DEI is discriminatory?

Yes, absolutely UVA policies violated federal law, including the Civil Rights Act.

This fact cannot be challenged. Ryan resigned due to his desire to continue violating federal law.

No, they did not. This cynical attack on civil rights by twisting the Civil Rights Act is beyond the pale. Sort of like using Title IX (which these mouth-breathing knuckle-draggers opposed at the time) to attack trans people.

The mindset of conservatives is so vile and evil.

The situation is more complicated than saying UVA “violated federal law” or, on the other side, that this is simply a conservative attack on civil rights. The facts show that the federal Department of Justice under the Biden administration opened the investigations into UVA’s DEI-related practices. These inquiries began long before Trump was elected and were conducted under existing civil-rights statutes, not new partisan interpretations. The result was a formal agreement in October 2025 requiring UVA to make adjustments and submit quarterly compliance reports through 2028. Importantly, the agreement did not declare UVA guilty; it explicitly states that UVA denied liability and was entering the agreement to resolve concerns and protect its federal funding. President Ryan’s resignation was framed around the risk of an extended fight with the federal government and the potential impact on the university, not a personal desire to continue breaking the law.

At the same time, it is also not accurate to dismiss the federal scrutiny as a “twisting” of civil-rights law by conservatives. The investigation, the compliance demands, and the Board’s earlier decision to dissolve the standalone DEI office all took place during the Biden DOJ, under standard civil-rights enforcement. That removes the claim that this was a right-wing political invention. The dispute isn’t about who is “evil” or “vile” but about how certain DEI structures intersect with long-standing federal requirements tied to funding. The record shows federal concern existed regardless of which party was in power, and UVA made changes in response to that.

Agree, particularly to the part in bold.

Ryan’s problems long predated even the election of trump, let alone any action by AG Bondi.

UVA’s DEI office had been violating federal law and guidelines for quite some time and Ryan was well aware of it, but he refused to do anything about the violations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Didn't UVA violate federal discrimination law because of DEI? What is the point of this, more wasted money to show they are fighting Trump, despite the entire state and country agreeing that DEI is discriminatory?

Yes, absolutely UVA policies violated federal law, including the Civil Rights Act.

This fact cannot be challenged. Ryan resigned due to his desire to continue violating federal law.

No, they did not. This cynical attack on civil rights by twisting the Civil Rights Act is beyond the pale. Sort of like using Title IX (which these mouth-breathing knuckle-draggers opposed at the time) to attack trans people.

The mindset of conservatives is so vile and evil.

The situation is more complicated than saying UVA “violated federal law” or, on the other side, that this is simply a conservative attack on civil rights. The facts show that the federal Department of Justice under the Biden administration opened the investigations into UVA’s DEI-related practices. These inquiries began long before Trump was elected and were conducted under existing civil-rights statutes, not new partisan interpretations. The result was a formal agreement in October 2025 requiring UVA to make adjustments and submit quarterly compliance reports through 2028. Importantly, the agreement did not declare UVA guilty; it explicitly states that UVA denied liability and was entering the agreement to resolve concerns and protect its federal funding. President Ryan’s resignation was framed around the risk of an extended fight with the federal government and the potential impact on the university, not a personal desire to continue breaking the law.

At the same time, it is also not accurate to dismiss the federal scrutiny as a “twisting” of civil-rights law by conservatives. The investigation, the compliance demands, and the Board’s earlier decision to dissolve the standalone DEI office all took place during the Biden DOJ, under standard civil-rights enforcement. That removes the claim that this was a right-wing political invention. The dispute isn’t about who is “evil” or “vile” but about how certain DEI structures intersect with long-standing federal requirements tied to funding. The record shows federal concern existed regardless of which party was in power, and UVA made changes in response to that.

Agree, particularly to the part in bold.

Ryan’s problems long predated even the election of trump, let alone any action by AG Bondi.

UVA’s DEI office had been violating federal law and guidelines for quite some time and Ryan was well aware of it, but he refused to do anything about the violations.

This is true. Read this article, from 2020:

https://jamesgmartin.center/2020/11/uva-and-the-dangerous-politicization-of-our-college-campuses/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Didn't UVA violate federal discrimination law because of DEI? What is the point of this, more wasted money to show they are fighting Trump, despite the entire state and country agreeing that DEI is discriminatory?

Yes, absolutely UVA policies violated federal law, including the Civil Rights Act.

This fact cannot be challenged. Ryan resigned due to his desire to continue violating federal law.

No, they did not. This cynical attack on civil rights by twisting the Civil Rights Act is beyond the pale. Sort of like using Title IX (which these mouth-breathing knuckle-draggers opposed at the time) to attack trans people.

The mindset of conservatives is so vile and evil.

The situation is more complicated than saying UVA “violated federal law” or, on the other side, that this is simply a conservative attack on civil rights. The facts show that the federal Department of Justice under the Biden administration opened the investigations into UVA’s DEI-related practices. These inquiries began long before Trump was elected and were conducted under existing civil-rights statutes, not new partisan interpretations. The result was a formal agreement in October 2025 requiring UVA to make adjustments and submit quarterly compliance reports through 2028. Importantly, the agreement did not declare UVA guilty; it explicitly states that UVA denied liability and was entering the agreement to resolve concerns and protect its federal funding. President Ryan’s resignation was framed around the risk of an extended fight with the federal government and the potential impact on the university, not a personal desire to continue breaking the law.

At the same time, it is also not accurate to dismiss the federal scrutiny as a “twisting” of civil-rights law by conservatives. The investigation, the compliance demands, and the Board’s earlier decision to dissolve the standalone DEI office all took place during the Biden DOJ, under standard civil-rights enforcement. That removes the claim that this was a right-wing political invention. The dispute isn’t about who is “evil” or “vile” but about how certain DEI structures intersect with long-standing federal requirements tied to funding. The record shows federal concern existed regardless of which party was in power, and UVA made changes in response to that.

Agree, particularly to the part in bold.

Ryan’s problems long predated even the election of trump, let alone any action by AG Bondi.

UVA’s DEI office had been violating federal law and guidelines for quite some time and Ryan was well aware of it, but he refused to do anything about the violations.

This is true. Read this article, from 2020:

https://jamesgmartin.center/2020/11/uva-and-the-dangerous-politicization-of-our-college-campuses/

Once again: where’s the evidence that Biden’s DOJ was investigating?

[Anonymous]

Looks like UVa will be falling more in US News. Translation- hold off until I reward some of my big contributors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Didn't UVA violate federal discrimination law because of DEI? What is the point of this, more wasted money to show they are fighting Trump, despite the entire state and country agreeing that DEI is discriminatory?

Yes, absolutely UVA policies violated federal law, including the Civil Rights Act.

This fact cannot be challenged. Ryan resigned due to his desire to continue violating federal law.

No, they did not. This cynical attack on civil rights by twisting the Civil Rights Act is beyond the pale. Sort of like using Title IX (which these mouth-breathing knuckle-draggers opposed at the time) to attack trans people.

The mindset of conservatives is so vile and evil.

The situation is more complicated than saying UVA “violated federal law” or, on the other side, that this is simply a conservative attack on civil rights. The facts show that the federal Department of Justice under the Biden administration opened the investigations into UVA’s DEI-related practices. These inquiries began long before Trump was elected and were conducted under existing civil-rights statutes, not new partisan interpretations. The result was a formal agreement in October 2025 requiring UVA to make adjustments and submit quarterly compliance reports through 2028. Importantly, the agreement did not declare UVA guilty; it explicitly states that UVA denied liability and was entering the agreement to resolve concerns and protect its federal funding. President Ryan’s resignation was framed around the risk of an extended fight with the federal government and the potential impact on the university, not a personal desire to continue breaking the law.

At the same time, it is also not accurate to dismiss the federal scrutiny as a “twisting” of civil-rights law by conservatives. The investigation, the compliance demands, and the Board’s earlier decision to dissolve the standalone DEI office all took place during the Biden DOJ, under standard civil-rights enforcement. That removes the claim that this was a right-wing political invention. The dispute isn’t about who is “evil” or “vile” but about how certain DEI structures intersect with long-standing federal requirements tied to funding. The record shows federal concern existed regardless of which party was in power, and UVA made changes in response to that.

Agree, particularly to the part in bold.

Ryan’s problems long predated even the election of trump, let alone any action by AG Bondi.

UVA’s DEI office had been violating federal law and guidelines for quite some time and Ryan was well aware of it, but he refused to do anything about the violations.

This is true. Read this article, from 2020:

https://jamesgmartin.center/2020/11/uva-and-the-dangerous-politicization-of-our-college-campuses/

If all of this malfeasance was going on in 2020, why didn’t the first Trump administration investigate, I wonder?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Didn't UVA violate federal discrimination law because of DEI? What is the point of this, more wasted money to show they are fighting Trump, despite the entire state and country agreeing that DEI is discriminatory?

Yes, absolutely UVA policies violated federal law, including the Civil Rights Act.

This fact cannot be challenged. Ryan resigned due to his desire to continue violating federal law.

Fake news!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Didn't UVA violate federal discrimination law because of DEI? What is the point of this, more wasted money to show they are fighting Trump, despite the entire state and country agreeing that DEI is discriminatory?

Yes, absolutely UVA policies violated federal law, including the Civil Rights Act.

This fact cannot be challenged. Ryan resigned due to his desire to continue violating federal law.

No, they did not. This cynical attack on civil rights by twisting the Civil Rights Act is beyond the pale. Sort of like using Title IX (which these mouth-breathing knuckle-draggers opposed at the time) to attack trans people.

The mindset of conservatives is so vile and evil.

The situation is more complicated than saying UVA “violated federal law” or, on the other side, that this is simply a conservative attack on civil rights. The facts show that the federal Department of Justice under the Biden administration opened the investigations into UVA’s DEI-related practices. These inquiries began long before Trump was elected and were conducted under existing civil-rights statutes, not new partisan interpretations. The result was a formal agreement in October 2025 requiring UVA to make adjustments and submit quarterly compliance reports through 2028. Importantly, the agreement did not declare UVA guilty; it explicitly states that UVA denied liability and was entering the agreement to resolve concerns and protect its federal funding. President Ryan’s resignation was framed around the risk of an extended fight with the federal government and the potential impact on the university, not a personal desire to continue breaking the law.

At the same time, it is also not accurate to dismiss the federal scrutiny as a “twisting” of civil-rights law by conservatives. The investigation, the compliance demands, and the Board’s earlier decision to dissolve the standalone DEI office all took place during the Biden DOJ, under standard civil-rights enforcement. That removes the claim that this was a right-wing political invention. The dispute isn’t about who is “evil” or “vile” but about how certain DEI structures intersect with long-standing federal requirements tied to funding. The record shows federal concern existed regardless of which party was in power, and UVA made changes in response to that.

Agree, particularly to the part in bold.

Ryan’s problems long predated even the election of trump, let alone any action by AG Bondi.

UVA’s DEI office had been violating federal law and guidelines for quite some time and Ryan was well aware of it, but he refused to do anything about the violations.

This is true. Read this article, from 2020:

https://jamesgmartin.center/2020/11/uva-and-the-dangerous-politicization-of-our-college-campuses/

If a right-wing "think tank" says it, it must be true!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lol halt search until we install a qualified, intelligent human being.

FIFY

same thing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lol halt search until we install a lefty liberal.

As an alum, a parent, a supporter, and a "lefty liberal" that's NOT what we are saying at all.

Mcalfeasance and collusion between our government and higher education - that you should have an opinion of and it scares me to think you don't care about that!

Um

- how is Spanberger inserting herself into the process (and essentially demanding a different UVA president), anything other than: “Malfeasance and collusion between our [Commonwealth] government and higher education” ??

Please explain.

Because it's literally part of her job. She appoints BOV members (Approved by VA legislature) who select the President. Just like Youngkin did, she wants to make sure the BOV is comprised of people she and the legislature would have in place to make this decision.

You know - like how Mitch McConnell wouldn't confirm Supreme Court Justices at the end of the Obama administration?

Is she the governor?

No, not yet.

But her statement reveals her obvious plan to install one of her rich campaign donors as the next UVA president, rather than letting UVA conduct a thorough, transparent search process for someone competent to lead UVA.

No, it doesn't.

Republicans are lying POSs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Didn't UVA violate federal discrimination law because of DEI? What is the point of this, more wasted money to show they are fighting Trump, despite the entire state and country agreeing that DEI is discriminatory?

No. The appropriation of federal discrimination law to attack DEI was dishonest, disingenuous and borderline criminal. These are the same knuckle-draggers who muttered about "reverse discrimination" for years. May they all get theirs.

Exactly

[Anonymous]

I am concerned about reading comprehension and critical thinking skills of this forum in light of these posts.

Are the people posting here teenagers? Bots? You're claiming things for which there is zero evidence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Welp, the battle has been joined by the gov-elect and the president emeritus.

Spanberger says BOV should pause presidential search, implicitly suggesting the search is not valid because of missing visitors: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/politics-elections/2025/11/13/spanberger-calls-uva-pause-president-search

Ryan issues a 12-page letter describing the months leading up to his firing, implying collusion between DOJ and BOV members, and refusal of current rector/vice rector to inform other visitors (including then rector/vice-rector) of DOJ threats: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26278550-jim-ryan-letter/

It’s really worth reading Ryan’s letter in full; it’s written very clearly and is an easy read, despite being long.

What a disaster for UVA. I’m an alum and am furious. I really hope Spanberger can turn things around and restore the school’s credibility.

I'm *shocked* that Governor Sweater Vest and the dipshit AG Miyares (who got beat by an incompetent political foe, natch) were in cahoots with the most corrupt DOJ in US history. SHOCKED, I tell you.

+1 A lot of the politicians involved are alumni or parents of students. The DOJ lawyers who are UVA Law grads said they wanted to bleed UVA dry? It's not normal to be this intent on destruction. They sound unhinged.

The part of Ryan's letter in which he says he overlapped with one of the DOJ lawyers as a student at the law school was interesting. He doesn't really remember her, but it sounds like she has a personal vendetta against him.