When the UVA Faculty Senate passed a motion urging an independent, external review of the May 4 arrests of more than two dozen pro-Palestinian protesters on Grounds, criticism was swift from many who had wanted to the motion to include a condemnation of violence against peaceful protesters.

“I think our group as a faculty senate, it’s fair to criticize,” UVA Faculty Senate Chair Michael Kennedy told Charlottesville Right Now.  

“I personally think we could have gone further on Friday. Given the events we know transpired, I think the Senate could have taken a stronger stance. And in my personal view, I wish we had,” he said. “However, I do understand on the other side, as the leader of the Senate, that a level of caution does make sense.”

Kennedy said the motion including the condemnation of violence originated in the Senate’s diversity, equity and inclusion subcommittee.

“They wanted to both call for this investigation and to also condemn violence that would happen on Grounds, not naming anyone specifically in their condemnation,” Kennedy said.

The Senate’s executive council amended the original motion to remove the condemnation of violence paragraph, and motions to restore that paragraph failed in both the executive council meeting on Thursday, May 9 and the meeting of the full senate on Friday, May 10. 

Kennedy explained that the UVA Faculty Senate comprises approximately 84 senators drawn by population of faculty and students from across the university. About 30 senators are from the College of Arts and Sciences, 20-22 are from the School of Medicine, and other schools within the university have fewer representatives

“So while the folks that have been very vocal to a large extent have come from the College of Arts and Sciences, many other constituencies across the university, including our colleagues in the law school, really have felt the other way,” Kennedy said, noting a statement of support for UVA President Jim Ryan from School of Law faculty. He said many of the senators wanted to know the facts of the case before making any definitive statements. 

Kennedy said he’s received feedback on the final motion, “particularly [from] my colleagues who were most dejected that the original DEI resolution was watered down the first time, then watered down again and then finally defeated.”

Kennedy hopes the Senate can take additional time to come together as a group to talk the issue through.

“It would make sense to me that bringing together a very diverse group of senators, which is exactly what we have, to have further dialogue without the pressure of that one final meeting, I believe would be very healthy.”

Listen to the full interview with UVA Professor Michael Kennedy here.