HELEN DRAGAS AT UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
“With state governments
slashing allocations
for higher
education, public
universities have tried to
fill the gap through fund-raising campaigns, opening the way for wealthy donors and trustees to gain a greater say in their operations. The most highly publicized case came in 2012 at the University of Virginia, when Teresa Sullivan was suddenly forced out as president. As was widely reported, her
ouster was engineered by Helen Dragas, the real estate developer who headed the university's Board of Visitors and who acted in concert with a small group of board members. They gave only vague
explanations for their decision, and as protests by students, faculty, and alumni mounted, the board reversed its decision and Sullivan continues to be president.
fill the gap through fund-raising campaigns, opening the way for wealthy donors and trustees to gain a greater say in their operations. The most highly publicized case came in 2012 at the University of Virginia, when Teresa Sullivan was suddenly forced out as president. As was widely reported, her
ouster was engineered by Helen Dragas, the real estate developer who headed the university's Board of Visitors and who acted in concert with a small group of board members. They gave only vague
explanations for their decision, and as protests by students, faculty, and alumni mounted, the board reversed its decision and Sullivan continues to be president.
“Similar but
far less publicized
clashes have occurred
in Texas, Massachusetts,
Wisconsin, Oregon, and, most
recently, North
Carolina.
There, the Board
of Governors
of the University of North Carolina,
working with Republican legislators, pushed
out Tom Ross, the popular
president, and in
October they
announced his replacement: Margaret Spellings, who served as secretary of education under George W. Bush and, more recently, as the president of his library. Many students and faculty protested the decision as reflecting political considerations.”
announced his replacement: Margaret Spellings, who served as secretary of education under George W. Bush and, more recently, as the president of his library. Many students and faculty protested the decision as reflecting political considerations.”
Massing, Michael, ‘How to Cover the One Percent,’ The New
York Review, January 14, 2016, pp: 74-76.
