A Fairfax Circuit Court judge has ordered that eight Virginia university board appointees be removed from their posts. The newly appointed members were Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s picks for governing boards seats at George Mason University, the University of Virginia, and the Virginia Military Institute.
Judge Jonathan D. Frieden’s ruling comes amid recent political scrutiny over DEI policies at Virginia public universities. Federal investigations have already led to the resignation of the presidents at VMI and UVA. And this month, the administration launched four federal probes into GMU’s diversity policies — two by the Department of Justice and two by the Department of Education.
Judge’s Ruling on Board Appointees
Frieden’s ruling was the result of a lawsuit filed last month by nine Virginia Senate Democrats. The suit requested immediate action be taken against the heads of the university boards. The senators said that, despite the legislative committee rejecting the membership of the eight board members, the chairs continued acknowledging them as members.
The eight appointees include former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli at UVA and former state Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick at GMU.
Support for GMU President Gregory Washington
In response to the recent federal investigations into GMU, a group of the school’s professors wrote a letter in support of the university’s president, Gregory Washington. The group also issued a no confidence vote against Mason’s Board of Visitors, and is urging concerned individuals to show their support for Washington at the next Board of Visitors meeting on Friday, August 1. A press conference and community assembly event are planned on campus following the meeting.
Several Northern Virginia business organizations also sent a letter to GMU’s Board of Visitors in support of Washington. The letter is signed by the Northern Virginia Technology Council, the Northern Virginia Chamber, and the Loudoun County and Prince William chambers of commerce.
Washington Called to Testify Before a House Committee
On July 29, two U.S. representatives sent a letter to Washington calling him to testify before a House Judiciary Committee. The letter requests “information about George Mason University’s compliance with applicable civil rights law,” and states that, “According to public reports and documents obtained by the Committee, it appears there is a pervasive culture of intolerance at George Mason that violates the spirit, if not the letter, of the Civil Rights Act.”
The letter says that all requested documents are due on August 12, and that Washington must schedule his testimony by August 12 as well.
Feature photo of the GMU campus by Maggie Roth
