Stiff as a Board

O hallelujah! Finally, the Board of Visitors demonstrates the same diversity as the university, nay, the entire state! It reflects the varied viewpoints present here at U.Va., and promises to usher in a new era of happiness, love, and multiculturalism. Hooray for Governor Gilmore!

Oh, wait.

In an effort to promote "geographic diversity," which is, of course, the most important kind, Gilmore appointed three new members to the board, all male, each from a different part of the state. Well, thanks, Jim, thank you so much. After all, geography can divide like nothing else. I'm sure every student from Wise county is thanking his lucky stars for the appointment of Joseph Wolfe (who, rumor has it, is a real big asshole).

Sarcasm aside, this trend is more than a little disturbing. Apparently Gilmore is as bad as I thought. This is his version of diversity: there are fourteen men on the B.O.V., and only two women. The Board is overwhelmingly white. And of the newly appointed members, two are lawyers, and one, Timothy Robertson, is a businessman. Robertson ... Robertson ... where have I heard that name before? Oh yes: he's the son of Pat Robertson (who, incidentally, gave $50,000 to Gilmore's campaign). It might be unfair to assume that Tim professes the same politics as his father, but this still ought to terrify anyone who doesn't consider Brother Jim the final word in religious enlightenment.

Look around as you sit in class today. I guarantee you'll see a vast number of viewpoints, ethnicities, career aspirations, religions, political parties (only one B.O.V. member was appointed by a Democrat), and at least a couple of genders. Shouldn't we, as students and voters, have the right to a Board of Visitors that at least approaches our level of diversity? Granted, any governor is going to appoint friends and those who donate to campaigns, but for God's sake, doesn't Gilmore have any friends who aren't practically mirror images of him?

Think about it: these people make important decisions that -- yes -- actually affect you. They have power over you. And they're nothing like more than half of the student body. Be skeptical ... be very skeptical.

Above all else, don't let it happen again.

-- JLP