Student Council leaders are urging unity following recent controversy surrounding a resolution expressing support for University President Scott Beardsley, emphasizing that the legislation was intended to represent student interests during a period of institutional instability and was developed independently of funding discussions.
The resolution, passed Jan. 27 by the Representative Body, affirmed student support for institutional stability while also expressing concern about the process by which Beardsley was appointed.
“[The] Student Council Representative Body supports Scott Beardsley in his role as the 10th President of the University of Virginia, and we look forward to a period of institutional stability," the resolution stated.
Days earlier on Jan. 23, Clay Dickerson, Student Council president and fourth-year College student, met with Beardsley to discuss student priorities and advocate for continued financial support of student programs and other initiatives historically funded through the president’s office.
In that meeting, Beardsley committed to providing $500,000 over two years to Support and Access Services — a Student Council branch that provides textbook reimbursements, student legal services and other assistance to students, extending funding for the program through fiscal year 2031. The commitment continues financial support previously established under former University President Jim Ryan, which Student Council leaders said was intended to ensure long-term stability for student assistance programs.
In the weeks since, members of the University’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors raised concerns about the timing of funding commitments made by Beardsley to student initiatives and whether those commitments influenced the resolution. These concerns were reported in The Daily Progress, which quoted AAUP leadership characterizing the funding as a potential quid pro quo. Student Council leaders and University officials have denied any connection between the funding discussions and the resolution.
The Cavalier Daily reached out to the University’s AAUP chapter for comment but did not receive a response.
In interviews with The Cavalier Daily, Dickerson and Imane Akhanous, chair of the Representative Body and fourth-year College student, described the resolution as part of the Council’s role to express student perspectives and advocate for resources.
Akhanous said the resolution followed the standard legislative process, beginning with initial drafting in mid-January, prior to Dickerson’s meeting with Beardsley, and continuing through multiple rounds of amendments, deliberation and eventual passage.
Representatives were unaware of Dickerson’s Jan. 23 meeting with Beardsley while drafting the resolution, she said, emphasizing that Student Council’s legislative branch operates independently from the executive leadership.
Additionally, she explained that while the Student Council president can advise representatives, only representatives have voting authority over legislation. The Representative Body, composed of approximately 38 members, is responsible for drafting and passing resolutions that express the view of the Body but do not carry binding authority.
Akhanous said the resolution was intended to communicate student priorities during a period of leadership transition, particularly the importance of stability and student engagement in governance processes.
“We weren’t trying to shield current leadership from any accountability, but rather, we were trying to protect the institution from the destabilizing cycle,” Akhanous said. “We did say we supported Beardsley … but we also expressed concern about destabilization [and] that we wanted constructive engagement. [We state] that we disagree with the process in which he was selected, but now that he’s in — what is the most productive way forward that could benefit students?”
Dickerson similarly said that the discussions with Beardsley were completely unrelated to the Jan. 27 resolution passed by Student Council. He said the meeting was part of his responsibility to advocate for student needs and ensure continuity for student programs during the leadership transition.
To contextualize Dickerson’s outreach with Beardsley, Student Council leaders and previous administrations have routinely engaged in dialogue with University presidents as part of the organization’s advocacy and governance role. In 2023, Student Council members prepared to meet with then-President Jim Ryan about creating a dedicated endowment to provide long-term financial stability for the organization. That same meeting led to Ryan pledging $250,000 in discretionary funds for the next three years and assistance in helping Student Council raise $5 million for the creation of an endowment.
Dickerson said one of the most significant outcomes of the meeting with Beardsley was securing continued funding for Support and Access Services. Dickerson said he also received commitments from Beardsley to continue discretionary funding for student traditions, such as Lighting of the Lawn, the third-year ring ceremony and class councils, which had previously relied on support from the president’s office.
“The general goal [was] to institutionalize the Support and Access Services, as they uplift the student experience for thousands of people every semester,” Dickerson said. “Those are the same folks who don't really talk about the support they receive, but they exemplify it for their outstanding contributions to our University community, which is why this means so much.”
Dickerson said he also raised concerns in his meeting with Beardsley about housing accessibility, mental health resources and long-term affordability of student life at the University. He said discussions with the president’s office and Student Affairs are ongoing to address wait times for Counseling and Psychological Services and to explore improvements to housing availability as well.
University Spokesperson Bethanie Glover confirmed in a statement to The Cavalier Daily that Beardsley requested the meeting as part of broader outreach efforts following his appointment and affirmed continued support for student initiatives.
“[Beardsley] requested a meeting with Student Council President Clay Dickerson shortly after he was appointed and they had a productive discussion,” Glover wrote. “President Beardsley's purpose for the meeting was the same as his outreach to other University stakeholders following his appointment — to listen, learn and discuss how he can best support the University community. He did not have a specific agenda or purpose other than listening.”
Glover added that Beardsley pledged continued funding for initiatives such as Support and Access Services and student traditions, confirming that these commitments have been previously made under prior administrations.
In the days following the controversy over the resolution and funding commitments, Student Council leaders met with faculty members who had expressed concerns about the timing of the funding commitments. Dickerson said those conversations helped clarify misunderstandings and emphasized shared goals across the University community.
“This is a learning opportunity for everyone,” Dickerson said. “We have met with a number of faculty since. We have cleared up concerns and we've gotten on the same page. And we invite any and all to come to our meetings every week or reach out through the means available to them.”
He added that Student Council and faculty ultimately share a common interest in supporting the University and its students.
“At the end of the day, we are all serving the same institution … and while our goals may differ, [that] doesn't mean we can't proceed in unity and have sympathy for each other's causes and concerns,” Dickerson said. “I don't blame anyone for this mix up, and in fact, I invite conversations surrounding it.”
Dickerson and Akhanous also emphasized that resolutions serve as part of the University’s institutional record, documenting student perspectives during major moments of transition and signaling student priorities to University leadership. Akhanous said that Student Council’s role is fundamentally rooted in advocating for student needs within the University’s governance structure.
“We bargain every day in the sense that … we’re passing resolutions in hopes that administrators look at [them] and listen,” Akhanous said.
Student Council leaders said the resolution ultimately aimed to ensure student perspectives were formally represented during a significant leadership transition while establishing a foundation for continued collaboration between students and the administration.
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