UVA’s Miller Center for Public Affairs ignited controversy in July when it announced it had appointed a former Trump administration official to a senior fellowship. In the ensuing outcry, two nationally renowned history professors resigned from the center, and a petition protesting the appointment gathered more than 3,400 signatures.
The official, Marc Short (Darden ’04), served until mid-July as President Donald J. Trump’s legislative affairs director; prior to that he was VP Mike Pence’s chief of staff.
The resulting petition, signed by UVA faculty, staff and alumni, among others, cited the white nationalist violence of August 11-12, 2017, saying, “It is unconscionable that we would add to our university a person who served in a high-level position for the administration that first empowered, then defended, those white nationalists.”
Miller Center Director & CEO William J. Antholis (Col ’86) has stood firm. “Marc brings a missing critical voice—one that represents members of Congress and the Republican Party who continue to support the president in large numbers,” he wrote in a statement defending the appointment and acknowledging its divisiveness within the center. “Our focus on the presidency, our commitment to nonpartisanship, and our demonstrated ability to promote civil discourse are worth defending, especially in trying times.”
Two weeks after the initial announcement, scholars William I. Hitchcock and Melvyn Leffler, who will remain in the history department in the College, severed their ties with the center. “[T]he issue at stake is larger than Short, who is just a foot soldier in this destructive presidency,” they wrote in a joint resignation letter. “We refuse to reward and honor people who have spent their time in public service working only to elide the truth, to bend facts to serve partisan purposes, to mock the free press and to scorn the very act of free thinking.”
Confronted with the controversy his first day in office, UVA President James E. Ryan (Law ’92) told an Aug. 1 media gathering that he supports Antholis’ decision as consistent with the Miller Center’s mission of studying the presidency. “It’s also consistent,” he added, “with the idea that some find passé but I think is as deeply a part of the University’s core as anything; that is, that we should be willing to engage with those with whom we disagree, even if we disagree with them very strongly.”
Short began his one-year paid fellowship at the nonpartisan center in August, where he will participate in events, engage with members of the UVA community and contribute to Miller Center publications, according to the original announcement. —Judy Le
Comments (17)
R. Russell Beers College 1964 on 10/10/2018
Do we not remember the invites to George Lincoln Rockwell (US Nazi Party) & Gus Hall (US Communist Party) to speak on The Grounds in 1960/1961? As a naïve but curious first year, I attended each; neither became in any way violent; no protest, just some vocal disapproval for Rockwell from the primarily Jewish fraternity members present during his obnoxious presentation. I went because I began my four year journey into the institution reflecting Mr. Jefferson’s vision as part of my search for knowlege. Please advise the two now less distinguished professors that UVa is not only better than this but remains a more truly liberal beacon of what a true “institute of higher learning ” should continue to be. Thank you President Ryan. Hopefully, the two history professors will soon learn that Mr. Trump is not only part of but, indeed, making, history in his own right, assisted in a small way by Mr. Short, who obviously learned something as an alumnus of The University.
R. Russell Beers College 1964 on 10/10/2018
Do we not remember the invites to George Lincoln Rockwell (US Nazi Party) & Gus Hall (US Communist Party) to speak on The Grounds in 1960/1961? As a naïve but curious first year, I attended each; neither became in any way violent; no protest, just some vocal disapproval for Rockwell from the primarily Jewish fraternity members present during his obnoxious presentation. I went because I began my four year journey into the institution reflecting Mr. Jefferson’s vision as part of my search for knowlege. Please advise the two now less distinguished professors that UVa is not only better than this but remains a more truly liberal beacon of what a true “institute of higher learning ” should continue to be. Thank you President Ryan. Hopefully, the two history professors will soon learn that Mr. Trump is not only part of but, indeed, making, history in his own right, assisted in a small way by Mr. Short, who obviously learned something as an alumnus of The University.
ROBERT MOORE on 10/10/2018
I want to compliment President Ryan for supporting the Miller Center’s retention of Mr. Short, for not caving in to the two liberal professors. Let’s try to be by-partisan. Thanks President Ryan!
Thomas J Doran on 10/10/2018
Thank you UVA for the return to courage in defending the principle of allowing
and hopefully promoting a diversity of views in academia. About time!
Thomas J Doran on 10/10/2018
Thank you UVA for the return to courage in defending the principle of allowing
and hopefully promoting a diversity of views in academia. About time!
G Harold Baker on 10/10/2018
McCarthyism making a comeback.
G Harold Baker on 10/10/2018
McCarthyism making a comeback.
Thomas Owens on 10/02/2018
What a major sacrifice to resign from the Miller Center! Hitchcock and Leffler should impress us all with their high-minded values and resign from the University. Kudos to Mr. Antholis, his statement in the Post was right on the mark! That said, I suppose the Rotunda dome could crumble from just the presence of Mr. Short. I suspect that the dome will remain in-tact. On the other hand, the Jefferson statue’s future is probably shaky given the political leanings of some faculty, local SJWs and out of state congregates that are offended by the imperfect Founder - some historians say he consumed beer and sometimes acted foolishly in his youth.
Seward Anderson on 09/05/2018
Craig: You’re a ‘Hoo— that bridges all gaps.
Craig R. Jones on 09/05/2018
Sorry Mr Anderson, I’m just an engineer… or toolie if you will.
Seward Anderson on 09/05/2018
In re Mr. Jones’s comment : “one would have thought he were a felon….”. Conditional perfect and past subjunctive tenses.
Seward Anderson on 09/05/2018
In re Mr. Jones’s comment : “one would have thought he were a felon….”. Conditional perfect and past subjunctive tenses.
Warren J Hall 09/05/2018 on 09/05/2018
I could not have been happier with the appointment of Of President Ryan as our new President.
As for the two professors who resigned from the Miller Center I say good riddance. They both should have left The University. It looks to me like they both seemed to have forgotten, or never knew, the purpose that Mr Jefferson had for our University.
In my 4 years on the Grounds I never once saw President Shannon out walking around the Grounds welcoming new students to The University let alone at Scott stadium doing the coin toss for the opening season home football game.
All I can say is God Bless You President Ryan for bringing a refreshing presence to Mr Jeffersons University.
Margie Grosfeld on 09/05/2018
Thank you, Mr Jefferson, and thank you, President Ryan for upholding our University’s solid foundation. Bravo!!!
bill houck on 09/05/2018
I guess these history professors forgot Mr. Jefferson’s words: “This institution will be based on the illimitable freedom of the human mind. For here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it.”
Gordon C. Strauss on 09/05/2018
I am a second generation graduate, my daughter being a third, I am a proud member of Col ‘61, and I am a life member of the Alumni Association.
What President Trump said and did re “Charlottesville” last year has been distorted and become “false news.” The Snowflake Liberals who now teach at The University make me sick. They are ruining it and life as it should be.
Thank you, President Jim, for standing up to them.
Craig R. Jones on 09/05/2018
Such vile and irrational reactions; you’d thought he was a felon….