Sen. Tim Kaine held a conversation with a group of graduate University students and faculty members Friday at the Central Library of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library system. In an informal Q&A session, audience members asked about threats to federal research, the future of diversity, equity and inclusion at the University, potential shifts in the Democratic Party and more.
According to Alexia Childress, event co-organizer and School of Medicine student, event co-organizer and Medicine student, the event was organized by several medical students in the wake of former University President Jim Ryan’s resignation. Many of those in attendance on Friday were from the School of Medicine, but there were faculty and staff from various other University departments and schools as well.
Kaine began by saying that he firmly opposed the circumstances under which President Ryan resigned. He cited his gubernatorial experience as the 70th Governor of Virginia in his claim that the silence of Gov. Youngkin and the current Board of Visitors was “unfathomable.”
“As a former Governor, what Governor would be quiet during something like this? What Board of Visitors would allow this to happen?” Kaine said.
Kaine emphasized that while he would do his best to answer every question, he was also interested in receiving feedback from the audience.
“If the Governor isn’t going to stand up for Virginia higher ed somebody’s got to, and so [Senator Mark Warner and I] want to,” Kaine said. “But we want to do it in a way that's strategically smart and makes sense and makes matters better for our universities, not worse.”
Several audience members asked what actions Kaine is able to take as the University moves towards finding an interim president, as well as what Kaine would advise the Charlottesville community to do.
Noting that the Republicans currently hold the majority in the U.S. Senate, one audience member asked if there is anything Kaine can do on a federal level in response to the Department of Justice’s pressure on the University. Kaine said that it is “tough” to take direct, tangible action currently, but that he is working with Sen. Mark Warner to figure out ways, and that he is interested in communicating with members of the Republican Party.
In an interview with The Cavalier Daily, Kaine said that the state legislature has more room to act if the University decides on a controversial interim president.
“The question would be, what could the legislative majorities do?” Kaine said. “[The University] would really hurt themselves by putting in a contentious figure … anybody who’s focused on the good of the University would know that.”
Kaine said that his advice for the Charlottesville community would be to slow down the process of deciding on an interim president, for both political and practical reasons. In recent weeks, many community members have been pointing to the upcoming gubernatorial election in November as an opportunity to change the political climate in Virginia. Kaine reiterated this sentiment.
He also pointed out that it would be best for the University to take time with the process, in order to select the strongest candidate and to create an environment where this candidate can succeed.
“Somebody is just walking in with a target already painted on,” Kaine said. “You kind of need to let the situation cool.”
Kaine also spoke to more localized strategies that could be used by University constituents facing pushback against DEI and research cuts.
For example, one faculty member said that a course he teaches in the School of Medicine was recently under review for DEI compliance and several slides focused on health disparities were pulled. He asked Kaine for advice on what health professionals should do in these circumstances.
Kaine said that — though it is not what he personally believes in — sometimes the terminology has to be changed.
“I hate to give you this advice,” Kaine said. “But, if you have to change the terminology, because these guys have five buzz words they don't like, as long as you can serve the same people, change the terminology.”
Other medical students raised concerns over previous and potential threats to funding for research and health services. Childress asked Kaine about tangible actions University researchers can take to protect their work.
“How can we make policy techniques that ensure that we're protecting our research funds to our institution and depoliticizing the leadership of the University?” Childress said.
Kaine emphasized the importance of continuing to engage constructively with your members of Congress. He said that sometimes politicians do not want to walk into large town halls, where they can expect to be yelled at. Creating a calmer, low-stakes environment can often lead to a more productive conversation.
“Make it a more comfortable environment,” Kaine said. “10 [constituents] want to sit down and have a conversation with [their member of Congress] about the importance of research at U.Va. That may have more of an impact than 500 people.”
Childress and Vignesh Senthil — another event co-organizer and Medicine student — said they were both grateful Senator Kaine and his staff were able to participate in this conversation on such short notice. Senthil was additionally grateful for Kaine’s honesty about what he can and cannot accomplish as of now.
“There are people out there that will sometimes over promise things. We appreciate being honest about what abilities [Kaine] has and the party has in Congress to try to help out in some of these issues,” Senthil said.
Looking forward, Senthil hopes the University’s interim, and future permanent president, will bring a return to normalcy for him and his classmates.
“What we really want to do is be able to go back to being students. I don’t think it's in [mine or Childress’s] career plans to be actively reaching out to senators and Congress people to alert them about what's going on in higher education,” Senthil said. “We are here to train to be physicians, to train to take care of patients to the best of our abilities, to be great scientists and researchers… We want a president that will defend our rights to do so.”
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