By Leila Cox
University of Virginia President Jim Ryan announced his resignation in a letter to the University on June 27.
Ryan stated he is inclined to fight for what he believes in but will not fight the federal government to save his job.
This comes as University of Virginia faces pressure from the Department of Justice over the university’s diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger, who is an alumna of University of Virginia, says Ryan’s resignation is outrageous and forced.
“It’s an assault on independent inquiry. It’s an assault on our educational system here in Virginia and academic freedom everywhere,” said Spanberger.
Spanberger tells 13News Now in an exclusive interview that UVA might be today’s target, but “there’s no reason to think that they won’t continue these assaults on academic freedom elsewhere in Virginia or elsewhere in the country.”
Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell also weighed on Ryan’s resignation during a Democratic press conference.
“The Trump Administration have been laying the groundwork to do what you saw yesterday from day one, to destroy values that are fundamental to our Commonwealth, to destroy our institutions that are central to our democracy,” said Surovell.
Since the sudden resignation, UVA students, staff, faculty and alumni have been vocal about their opposition to Ryan’s resignation.
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside of the Rotunda on Friday to show their support for Ryan, including long-time faculty member Peter Norton.
“There was some anger, that’s not surprising. But, mostly very positive, a lot of support expressed for President Ryan. There were a lot of others who said I’m not a big fan of President Ryan, I just think we need to make these decisions in a collaborative way. It doesn’t feel right to have a small number of insiders make this decision on behalf on the rest of us,” said Norton.
Norton, a historian for over 20 years, says the recent events at UVA are alarming.
“I have never heard of a White House Administration interfering in the administration of a university to this point. I think that’s shocking and should shock us,” said Norton.
What is specifically shocking to Norton, he says, is finding himself back at the Rotunda almost exactly 13 years after he spoke out against the resignation of the eighth UVA President Teresa Sullivan.
Sullivan ended up returning as president with support from the campus community, which Norton says makes him optimistic for the future of UVA.
“I want people who don’t know about the 2012 case to recognize that it gives us grounds for hope that we can actually do something about these situations,” said Norton.