CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Former federal prosecutor and WINA Chief Legal Analyst Tim Heaphy joined Morning News to weigh in on the University of Virginia’s current leadership and the recent efforts by the Jefferson Council to challenge it. The group, composed of some alumni, has accused President Jim Ryan of pushing a “woke agenda” and straying from the university’s values. However, Heaphy says a counter-petition supporting Ryan has gained far more traction. “The vast majority of the people that I speak to, faculty, students, parents, alum, are very pleased with the direction of the university,” he said. 

Heaphy pointed to Ryan’s ability to take accountability as a sign of effective leadership. “Jim’s made mistakes and Jim’s admitted that he’s made mistakes, which to me is the mark of a good leader,” he said, referencing a recent apology Ryan gave to medical school faculty after reevaluating a prior stance. 

Reflecting on the challenges Ryan has faced, from student protests and campus tragedies to the COVID-19 pandemic, Heaphy expressed confidence in the university’s direction. “I think we’re in really capable hands at the university,” he said. “These voices of dissent, I just think that they’re a very small kind of fringe group.” 

Listen to the full conversation here: