Tour program put on hold after criticism from alumni group and issues with volunteer attendance.
The University of Virginia has suspended its campus tour program after facing backlash for allowing tour guides to mention the university’s founder, Thomas Jefferson’s, ties to slavery. The tours, conducted by student volunteers from the University Guide Service, had drawn criticism from the Jefferson Council, a conservative alumni group, which argued that discussing Jefferson’s role as a slaveowner was tarnishing his legacy.
The university acknowledged ongoing concerns about the program, citing problems with inconsistent content and the attendance of student guides. University officials noted they had been in communication with the University Guide Service for two years to address these issues and improve the tours. However, the decision to suspend the program was not framed as a direct response to the criticism from the Jefferson Council, although the alumni group’s campaign played a role in bringing the issue to light.
The Jefferson Council had been actively lobbying for a change to the program, claiming that the guides were unfairly focusing on Jefferson’s slavery connections rather than his contributions to founding the university. In a statement, Council president Thomas Neale suggested that their advocacy, along with the influence of Governor Glenn Youngkin’s appointees on UVA’s board of trustees, led to the suspension of the tours.
Despite the university’s assertion that the suspension was primarily due to logistical issues, the Jefferson Council celebrated the move, claiming it as a victory for their cause. Neale pointed to the recent appointments to the university’s governing board as key to changing the direction of the school’s approach to Jefferson’s legacy. While some of the new appointees are considered moderate, the alumni group believes the board’s actions were influenced by their efforts to protect the founder’s reputation.
The controversy surrounding the tours highlights a broader debate over how to address historical figures’ complex legacies, especially when their actions, like Jefferson’s involvement in slavery, are at odds with modern values. As the university reviews the program, it remains to be seen how it will balance historical accuracy with respect for the founder’s legacy.
