The University of Virginia has certainly had more than its share of publicity, most of it unpleasant, in the past few years. The unceremonious firing of President Sullivan closely followed by her re-instatement, the tragic killings of two young women, the murder of a female student by a university lacrosse athlete, the sad, sad affair of Jackie and the University’s lackadaisical approach to the investigation, the disastrous and false article in Rolling Stone unleashing a flurry of lawsuits, and the very disturbing allegation about thug-like hazing of a varsity football player . . . all that is a lot to overcome.
Just when we thought things might be settling down we have the student/faculty protest to amend the Jeffersonian legacy to conform to the social standards of today. One wonders how many more shoes must drop before we can once again point with pride to what has been widely regarded as one of the top public universities in the country.
The most recent imbroglio of the staged fight between the football players is worth a closer look. In an excellent letter to The Roanoke Times, Kellogg Hunt, MD decried the lack of official comment since the incident came to light a month ago. Dr. Hunt knows whereof he speaks. The elderly among us will remember him as a star football player at Andrew Lewis High School and a scholarship player at UVa. He had the misfortune of playing behind Jim Bahktiar, an All American fullback, so Kellogg had more than his share of “pine time,” but he understands varsity football at a high level.
After graduation from medical school Hunt went on to a military career concluding as the Chief of the Department of Medicine at Walter Reed and then becoming Director of Medical Education at Carilion Clinic. Everyone who knows Dr. Hunt listens when he speaks and I would encourage readers to go to roanoke.com and check out his letter to the editor on November 17. The officials at UVa would be well advised to do the same.
It is difficult to discuss the emphasis placed on collegiate athletics. The financial gain realized is vital to the operation of a major university and the transition to condoning improper behavior is sometimes overlooked.
Few, indeed, are the programs that don’t bend the rules in the direction of improving their universities’ bottom line. Officials at UVa may be within their rights when they do not want to discuss an incident that is under investigation, but given the problems cited above, it becomes imperative that the public is apprised of where things stand.
Judgments should not be made until the facts are fully known and disclosed. If the allegations are true, the dismissal from the team/university should apply to coaches and players alike. To do less is surely to dishonor Jefferson’s concept of his Academical Village.
We should not be revising history. We should not judge the behavior of the Founders by current standards. They were wrong in the light of current knowledge . . . let’s agree to that, but we should honor their contributions that have endured until today.
As Dr. Hunt quoted Jefferson, “Here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it.”
That is excellent advice for the university and it should be applied to our country in this highly uncertain time.
Hayden Hollingsworth
