Charlottesville Classical - Adam Cooper by wtju

Charlottesville Classical - Adam Cooper by wtju

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

Ken Elzinga, Robert C. Taylor Professor of Economics

“The event with Teresa Sullivan was one that affected me profoundly. I really admired Terry Sullivan immensely and was very opposed to the attempt to oust her.

“I was a speaker on the Lawn on her behalf. I said, ‘Two very difficult things have to happen here. The Board has to be willing to repent of a decision that was unwise and to admit that. Terry Sullivan might have just as difficult a job. She would have to be willing to forgive them for the wrong against her.

“It was very theological in a way because I’m theological, I’m a very committed Christian.

“And I was told that the main person opposing Terry Sullivan, Helen Dragas, when she heard me speak, she said, in effect, ‘We’ve lost the battle.’

“And shortly after that rally, Terry Sullivan’s job was preserved. If I had a role in that, that’s one of the most important things I’ve done at the University.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

Ken Elzinga, Robert C. Taylor Professor of Economics

“The event with Teresa Sullivan was one that affected me profoundly. I really admired Terry Sullivan immensely and was very opposed to the attempt to oust her.

“I was a speaker on the Lawn on her behalf. I said, ‘Two very difficult things have to happen here. The Board has to be willing to repent of a decision that was unwise and to admit that. Terry Sullivan might have just as difficult a job. She would have to be willing to forgive them for the wrong against her.

“It was very theological in a way because I’m theological, I’m a very committed Christian.

“And I was told that the main person opposing Terry Sullivan, Helen Dragas, when she heard me speak, she said, in effect, ‘We’ve lost the battle.’

“And shortly after that rally, Terry Sullivan’s job was preserved. If I had a role in that, that’s one of the most important things I’ve done at the University.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

Ken Elzinga, Robert C. Taylor Professor of Economics

“I had to cross a picket line to teach Econ 201. The Vietnam War was a time when this university was urged to go on strike, to cancel classes.

“I had bomb threats on me because I was one of the professors who refused to go on strike and that was seen as — by a lot of people — that I was a dangerous person because I taught the largest class, that if I wouldn't go on strike, then there might be a lot of other people who wouldn't go on strike.

“It was a matter of principle for me that a university should not take a political stand, or at least I shouldn't ask my students to take a political stand.

“There were hundreds of students arrested as a result of protest. Those were tumultuous times.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

Ken Elzinga, Robert C. Taylor Professor of Economics

“I had to cross a picket line to teach Econ 201. The Vietnam War was a time when this university was urged to go on strike, to cancel classes.

“I had bomb threats on me because I was one of the professors who refused to go on strike and that was seen as — by a lot of people — that I was a dangerous person because I taught the largest class, that if I wouldn't go on strike, then there might be a lot of other people who wouldn't go on strike.

“It was a matter of principle for me that a university should not take a political stand, or at least I shouldn't ask my students to take a political stand.

“There were hundreds of students arrested as a result of protest. Those were tumultuous times.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

Larry Sabato, Professor and Director of University Center for Politics

“Well, I was at UVA during the May Days. The University of Virginia was more radicalized than at any point it has ever been before or since.

“Because the state police came in in May of 1970 and they had been given orders to break up the demonstrations. They actually went into fraternities on Rugby road, and arrested people who were sitting watching TV. They went into Lawn rooms, which was absolutely forbidden, and arrested students who may or may not have been demonstrating. It was really a police riot.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

Larry Sabato, Professor and Director of University Center for Politics

“Well, I was at UVA during the May Days. The University of Virginia was more radicalized than at any point it has ever been before or since.

“Because the state police came in in May of 1970 and they had been given orders to break up the demonstrations. They actually went into fraternities on Rugby road, and arrested people who were sitting watching TV. They went into Lawn rooms, which was absolutely forbidden, and arrested students who may or may not have been demonstrating. It was really a police riot.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

Larry Sabato, Professor and Director of University Center for Politics

Sabato: “One night, there were 600 streakers at one time. 600! It made the newspapers, it was in the Cavalier Daily.

“I graduated from UVa in 1974. I did live on the Lawn my 4th year. That’s when streaking started.”

Interviewer: “Did you ever streak?”

Sabato: “No comment. I’ll go this far. I’ll tell you that my room on the lawn became the safe depository for clothing. And I guarded it to make sure that no one came in and took their clothes so they could dress again in private once they finished streaking.

“Look, it’s part of the spring ritual and it was fun and I was just trying to help out. I’m not going to go any further than that.”

For more: www.uvastories.org

UVA's Bicentennial Stories initiative from WTJU 91.1 FM tells our collective story. It helps us understand our shared history and make meaning in the University today. And as we look ahead, these stories help us shape the future of the University and our role in a democratic society.

Larry Sabato, Professor and Director of University Center for Politics

Sabato: “One night, there were 600 streakers at one time. 600! It made the newspapers, it was in the Cavalier Daily.

“I graduated from UVa in 1974. I did live on the Lawn my 4th year. That’s when streaking started.”

Interviewer: “Did you ever streak?”

Sabato: “No comment. I’ll go this far. I’ll tell you that my room on the lawn became the safe depository for clothing. And I guarded it to make sure that no one came in and took their clothes so they could dress again in private once they finished streaking.

“Look, it’s part of the spring ritual and it was fun and I was just trying to help out. I’m not going to go any further than that.”

For more: www.uvastories.org