Univ of Virginia President resigns in the face of Trump's threats to financially ruin the school

[AverageOldGuy]

From NYT, behind a paywall.

The University of Virginia’s president, James E. Ryan, has told the board overseeing the school that he will resign in the face of demands by the Trump administration that he step aside to help resolve a Justice Department inquiry into the school’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, according to three people briefed on the matter.

For the leader of one of the nation’s most prominent public universities to take such an extraordinary step demonstrates President Trump’s success in harnessing the investigative powers of the federal government to accomplish his administration’s policy goals.

The New York Times reported on Thursday evening that the Justice Department had demanded Mr. Ryan’s resignation as a condition to settle a civil rights investigation into the school’s diversity practices.

In a letter sent on Thursday to the head of the board overseeing the university, Mr. Ryan said that he had planned to step down at the end of the next academic year but “given the circumstances and today’s conversations” he had decided, “with deep sadness,” to tender his resignation now, according to one of the people familiar with the matter who was briefed on the contents of the letter.

This is an important point by UVA Prof. Larry Sabato, well-known commentator on VA politics: "Note that he didn’t stay and fight because the Trump Administration would have cut UVA’s federal funding drastically, cutting hundreds of jobs, financial aid for students, even visas for international students."


THOMAS JEFFERSON -- FOUNDER OF UNIV OF VIRGINIA -- JUST ROLLED OVER IN HIS GRAVE TO SEE THE REPUBLIC HE ESTABLISHED TURNED INTO A FASCIST DICTATORSHIP.

[erronis]

1. I understand why he resigned but it just reinforces the mobster.

[Lonestarblue]

2. Trump wants final say over who gets hired as university presidents, who gets admitted, and what is taught.

Only white males who believe that women and minorities are lesser beings need apply. White males, followed by white females, must be admitted over any female or minority regardless of grades or ability. Conservative doctrine will be taught, such as eugenics, fake economic theories that tax cuts for the wealthy benefit the whole country, and women’s proper role is having as many babies as possible (if they’re white) with no economic independence ever. Plus, if she gets abused by her husband, it’s always her fault and she needs to stay silent and tolerate the beatings. I’m sure the authors of Project 2025 are busy writing new college textbooks to teach their backward ideas.

[dalton99a]

7. +1

[elduge]

9. he will probably appoint himself.

he appointed himself head of the Kennedy center for performing arts didn't he? dumb ass has probably pondered the idea of taking over he school. the only thing he is intested in is glorifying himself.

[off-the-clock]

3. Bet he's going to shatter UV anyway n/t

[Bread and Circuses]

4. Daily , more evidence that we're in an authoritarian state

More will come, daily. And it will get worse.

[msongs]

5. give the fascists what they want one step at a time nt

[dalton99a]

6. Do not resist, or the tyrant will strip you of your livelihood

[EndlessWire]

8. This is why I feel we are headed to an armed conflict.

He has only been in office what, 5 months? and he's taking over everything. Who would have thought that DEI, of all things, would be deemed a bad thing? I want to cry, but instead I am making plans.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

10. Maddow Blog-Why the University of Virginia's president will resign under pressure from Trump admin

When making a list of the White House’s authoritarian-style tactics, be sure to include “trying to dictate how universities operate” to the growing list.

[e-mail] ‬recently said the Trump admin “is trying to kill American higher education.” There should be no doubt that he’s right.

When making a list of the White House’s authoritarian tactics, be sure to include “trying to dictate how universities operate” to the growing list.

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-06-27T18:38:07.548Z

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/university-virginia-president-jim-ryan-resigned-pressure-trump-rcna215620

Over the course of the president’s second term, Donald Trump and his team have waged a multifaceted campaign to bring universities to heel, cutting off grants, targeting tax exemptions, proposing tax increases on university endowments, taking steps to block international students, targeting schools’ accreditation and seeking unprecedented control over how prominent academic institutions function.

Alas, that’s not all they’re doing. The New York Times reported:

The University of Virginia’s president, James E. Ryan, has told the board overseeing the school that he will resign in the face of demands by the Trump administration that he step aside to help resolve a Justice Department inquiry into the school’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, according to three people briefed on the matter.

The developments have been confirmed by NBC News, The Washington Post and The Daily Progress in Charlottesville, where the university is located.

The trouble apparently began when the Justice Department opened an investigation into the school’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, which was itself a radical move. As the process unfolded and Trump’s DOJ concluded that the University of Virginia hadn’t gone far enough to destroy its DEI programs, the school’s oversight board — the members of which were appointed by the commonwealth’s Republican governor, Glenn Youngkin — reportedly reached out to administration officials, asking what could be done to avoid Trump-imposed punishments......

If the reporting is accurate, the circumstances are rather bonkers. The Republican administration launched an unnecessary investigation into a prominent university and concluded that the school cared too much about having a diverse student body. It was at that point that the institution was forced to confront extortion-like tactics: Oust the university president, or face the kind of consequences the White House has already imposed on other schools that refused to appease Trump’s demands.

Note: The president doesn’t have the legal authority to fire a university president on his own, but by embracing these heavy-handed tactics, he doesn’t need the authority; Trump and his confederates can simply force the issue by way of credible threats.

When making a list of the president and his team embracing an authoritarian-style tactics, be sure to include “trying to dictate how universities operate” to the growing list.