It’s not enough for the University of Virginia to become an incubator of wokeness and let its ideas seep into the broader community. Now it is proactively exporting its leftist ideology. The latest initiative is the Equity Cohort, a shared project of the Virginia Institute of Government (VIG) and the School of Data Science.
“The core of local government is public service, of course, but there’s also the question of service for what?” said Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Siri Russell. “The fact of the matter is, I’ve never lived in an equitable community. I’ve never been able to see it. It’s almost like a thing that you’re aspiring to. This dream where your race, your ethnicity, your age, your gender, your income does not define your outcomes.”
And what does Russell propose? WVIR News says this: “She wants to see more governments creating and staffing equity offices, as well as implementing more equitable policies.”
The Virginia Equity Cohort held an open call for applications across Virginia this fall. Participants are encouraged to have expertise in local government, but more important is a passionate commitment to “the wellbeing and quality of life in their communities through equity and inclusion.”
“This is an opportunity for individuals to build a broader understanding of what taking action can look like in their community,” Russell explained.
The UVa Data Science department highlights the program here. The article does not say how much in public funds will be devoted to this initiative. However, it does say that the VIG will fund the Equity Cohort “at no cost to the participants.”
— JAB
Great to see other universities pushing back on this woke lunacy. https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/alumni-withhold-donations-demand-colleges-enforce-free-speech
Is it not clear that university presidents who blindly follow and conform to this groupthink cult woke orthodoxy open a pandora’s box of hate and anger which inevitably leads to students turning on the very administration and university hierarchy that foolishly funds and promotes such? Can’t help but think Casteen now looking back might have second thoughts as to having been complicit in allowing this which resulted in his eventually being barricaded in Madison Hall and retiring earlier than originally planned. Sullivan similarly also feeling relieved now in her retirement. I would not want to be in their shoes as to the guilt over having set the early actions leading to the present situation.
Measures currently in place at Madison Hall include a locked front door with a video doorbell system. And when you now walk the Lawn security people in yellow vests standing around. Never such when I was a student in the ’70s and each time I now visit the Lawn the sight of these security personnel is disappointing, unsettling, dispiriting, chilling and downright wrong and inconsistent with what Jefferson envisioned as to a learning atmosphere.
Much has been lost as to the UVA experience as many of us have witnessed and it all comes down to who is in charge in Madison Hall. As my late father, whose entire career was spent in education in various leadership roles, succinctly would warn, “a fish rots from the head down.” Ryan simply lacks self awareness as to the ultimate effect he creates, and in this very way is in over his head. While voicing his intention as to making the University “great and good,” he nevertheless acts to sabotage such. Just one more example of one who is unconscious and lacking self awareness. The right hand does not know what the left hand is doing. One would hope for better.