"URGENT: NYTimes Report — DOJ Threatening UVA’s Federal Funding Over President Ryan"

Dear Wahoos4UVA Members,

Last night, The New York Times published an article revealing that the Trump

Administration’s Justice Department is pressuring the University of Virginia to

force President Jim Ryan to resign or risk losing all federal funding. This

unprecedented political interference threatens the independence of our

University and its fundamental values. Whatever reason the Department of

Justice gives for taking this action is only a pretext thinly masking a partisan

agenda. What’s happening is clear: the Trump administration has made

UVA the next target in its escalating attack on higher education in

America.

The Department of Justice’s attempt to force the removal of the University’s

president by threatening to withhold federal funding is an assault not only on

UVA, but on the principles of academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and

democratic governance.

We must act immediately. It is the UVA Board of Visitors’ and elected state

officials’ responsibility to defend the University against these illegal and

extortionist actions, and they must move with all speed to do so.

What You Can Do – Today:

1. Contact the UVA Board of Visitors
2. Virginia residents: Contact the Governor and lawmakers in the Virginia
3. General Assembly
4. Contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives

1. Contact the UVA Board of Visitors:

Urge both the current and incoming Rectors of the Board of Visitors to use

every resource at their disposal to resist these threats and other illegal actions

against UVA.

Incoming Rector (as of July 1): Rachel W. Sheridan rlw2r@virginia.edu

Incoming Vice Rector (as of July 1): Porter Wilkinson pnw5v@virginia.edu

Outgoing Rector: Robert D. Hardie rdh3k@virginia.edu

Messages You Can Use in Your Email:

• Defend the University’s Independence: “The Board of Visitors has a
• fiduciary responsibility to the University and the Commonwealth. By
• continuing to stand by in silence or, worse, enabling the Justice
• Department’s bullying, you will have failed in the execution of your duties
• and to stand up for the principles the University represents.”
• Act with Integrity and Courage: “The University must remain
• independent, and the Board must act with integrity and courage in
• defending that independence.”
• Protect UVA from Federal Overreach: “The Department of Justice has no
• authority to dictate the leadership of the state of Virginia’s public
• universities. Do not allow UVA to become a national political pawn.”
• Use Every Resource at Your Disposal: “You must use every legal, procedural, and public platform available to protect the University and its leadership from outside coercion.”

2. If you’re a Virginia resident:

Contact lawmakers in the Virginia General Assembly and Governor Glenn

Youngkin. It is their duty to defend UVA from federal overreach and political

bullying and act forcefully in defense of UVA’s institutional autonomy. The

DOJ’s actions set a dangerous precedent, and Virginia’s elected leaders must

not stand by.

Call Governor Youngkin’s Office: (804) 786-2211

Find your Virginia Delegate and Senator here:

https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/

Messages You Can Take to Your Call:

• Defend UVA from Political Interference: “I’m a proud UVA alum/supporter
• and I’m alarmed by reports that the DOJ is threatening to withhold federal
• funding unless UVA forces President Jim Ryan to resign. Virginia state
• lawmakers, the Governor, and Attorney General have a solemn duty to take
• action to fight this. Doing otherwise is a betrayal of the University’s founding
• principles of truth, honor and its freedom to govern itself in service to the
• Commonwealth and the public good.”
• Preserve Higher Education Independence: “This kind of pressure
• undermines the very foundation of public education in Virginia. UVA must
• remain free to govern itself without political threats from Washington, D.C.”
• Protect Academic Freedom for All: “No matter your political beliefs, this is
• bigger than any one university or its president. It’s about ensuring that no
• government—state or federal—is allowed to dictate the leadership of our
• universities based on ideology or political loyalty.”
• Take a Stand for Virginia: “As a member of the General Assembly, you
• have a responsibility to protect our Commonwealth’s institutions. We must
• not allow the federal government to arrogate powers that belong to the
• Commonwealth. UVA’s founder Thomas Jefferson would have rejected this
• federal intrusion in the strongest possible terms.”

3. Contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives right now:

Urge them to protect UVA from political coercion and defend the principle of

institutional autonomy in higher education.

Click here to find your elected officials:

https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member

Messages You Can Take to Your Call:

• Protect University Autonomy: “I’m a proud UVA alum/supporter and I’m
• deeply concerned that the DOJ is bullying UVA into forcing President Jim
• Ryan to resign. This kind of political pressure is unacceptable in a
• democracy.”
• Oppose Authoritarian Tactics: “No federal agency should use funding as
• a weapon to punish a university president for political reasons. That’s not
• governance—that’s extortion. Impounding federal funds for political reasons
• is illegal and unconstitutional.”
• Defend Academic Freedom: “Universities must be free to govern
• themselves without fear of political retaliation. The future of higher
• education in America depends on it.”
• Stand Up for Virginia’s Sovereignty: “We must not allow the federal
• government to arrogate powers that belong to the Commonwealth. UVA’s
• founder Thomas Jefferson would have rejected this federal intrusion in the
• strongest possible terms.”
• My Opposition Isn’t About Partisan Politics: “This is about the core
• principle that no matter who’s in power, universities must be protected from
• political interference. I urge you to speak out publicly and take action to
• protect UVA.”

This is a critical moment. The University of Virginia—founded to follow truth

wherever it may lead—is under threat. And it is up to us, the UVA community,

to stand up and say: enough.

Please also share this information with your UVA networks. If Wahoos all stand

up and speak out, we will be much harder to ignore!

Thank you for your courage, your conviction, and your love for this University.

Ann Brown and Chris Ford

Co-Chairs, Wahoos4UVA Advisory Council

P.S. We understand members of our community are organizing a protest at the

Rotunda at 3pm. If you're in Charlottesville, please join!

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