New allegations are
emerging that University of Virginia President Teresa Sullivan's departure wasn't
as sudden as it seems. Sources say this
has been weeks in the making, with Sullivan being offered an ultimatum just
last Friday.
In addition, former UVA
President John Casteen spoke out on Tuesday about the forced resignation of
President Sullivan.
Quoted in a Chronicle of
Higher Education article, he says
the first woman president of UVA and the board of visitors should work things
out. He is hopeful that Sullivan and the
board of visitors can come to terms, but he understands mending fences can be
difficult at this point.
Former UVA President John
Casteen says he is hopeful that Sullivan and the board could work
together. He said, "In the best of
all worlds, I'd like to see them find a way to reconcile their
differences. I don't know what their
differences are."
The board of visitors said
Sunday it wanted a different approach in leadership and that Sullivan is
resigning after leading the university for two years.
Sources tell NBC29 the
board of visitor's rector Helen Dragas and vice rector Mark Kington requested
her resignation with no prior warning or board action. The rectors met with
Sullivan Friday and claimed they had a unanimous vote among the board to force
her resignation. However, sources tell NBC29 that some senior staff members are
disputing that claim, and that no board of visitors members are willing to
speak on the issue.
Nevertheless, Sullivan
agreed to step down, rather than force a public vote.
One former UVA student
agrees with Sullivan's departure. Logan
Martin with the UVA Class of 1995, "I'd like to see people not rush to thinking
it was a bad decision. The board is
looking out for not just the faculty and staff but the students and the state
of Virginia."
Martin says UVA needs
someone who will protect Thomas Jefferson's legacy.
A senior member of the
faculty tells NBC29 that the situation has tossed the university into a public
relations nightmare, and that 90 percent or more of people at UVA are against
the board of visitors' actions. The
source went on to say that the situation, which was kept under wraps from just
about everyone, has caused turmoil on the ground at the university and that
many thought the initial email was a hoax.
Sullivan and the board of
visitors are currently working out the terms of her departure, including how
much she will be paid to end her current contract. Those terms are expected to
be released in the next week or two.
According to Sullivan's
contract, if the
university labels her termination "for cause", she receives a year's
worth of her base salary, which is $485,000.
But if it's a resignation, she's entitled to nothing.
A search for an interim
president is currently underway.
