The Board of Visitors passed a resolution at its recent meeting expressing the University's regret for its reliance on slave labor from 1819 to 1865.
The resolution commends a similar statement of regret released by the General Assembly, which was signed by Gov. Tim Kaine during this winter's session.
"It expresses a deep sentiment that we all have," Board member John Wynne said. "Our General Assembly took that action this past year and we felt it was appropriate for us to do the same thing."
According to Warren Thompson, Board member and Special Committee on Diversity chair, the Board hopes to make the University a more hospitable place for all students.
"We wanted to clearly recognize the contribution of slaves to the building of the University and to emphasize our continued effort to make the University a welcoming environment for people of all backgrounds," Thompson said.
Plans for the resolution began in February with the creation of a memorial marker dedicated to the enslaved people who built the Rotunda, University Rector Thomas F. Farrell said.
The resolution is just one part of an ongoing process that began with the creation of the position of vice president and chief officer for diversity and equity, according to Thompson.
"The goal is to think of ways to increase diversity at the University and to make it more reflective of the world in which we live," Thompson said.
According to Farrell, responses to the resolution seem to be positive.
Thompson, who said his great-great-grandfather was a slave near Charlottesville, expressed personal satisfaction with the resolution.
"I take a lot of pride in this," Thompson said. "My father was not allowed to come to the University because of his race, but he made sure that all of his children graduated with a degree from here."
According to Farrell, while the resolution is a reflection on the University's regret for the past, it also sets a tone for the school's future.
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