A coalition of concerned students and alumni will host an open forum this Thursday in Wilson Hall to discuss pressing issues facing the University. The event aims to transform the energy from online campaigns SpeakUpUVa and #WeAreAllUVA into definitive action and structural change, ultimately making the University a more enjoyable and accessible community.
At the end of the event, the group will create a plan to address the concerns the raise in the meeting, according to one of the event’s organizers, third-year College student Ashley Blackwell said.
“The key issues we will be addressing include, but are not limited to, transparency in the University’s administration, self-governance, tuition, AccessUVa, diversity among faculty, and students and labor issues,” Blackwell said.
According to the Facebook event description, a large number of students are concerned with the high cost of attending the University, as well as students’ lack of voice in how the University operates and spends its money.
The event itself will begin with an information session providing an overview of financial aid and services, demographics, and the general student experience. Participants will then be encouraged to share their views with smaller groups, where they will discuss their ideal vision for the school along with the values they believe it should uphold, Blackwell said.
“Each group will provide their vision for the University and we will develop a collective vision and an action plan to work towards this vision by transforming the informal and formal structures at the University,” Blackwell said.
The action plan will ultimately be made public, available to both administrators and the general student body.
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