In an op-ed written by Scarlett Sullivan last year in The Cavalier Daily, the student writes that it is "exceptionally disappointing that the University is concerningly inaccessible — the lay-out of certain dorms and paths to class engender a culture of ableism." Accessibility maps ostensibly illustrate accessible pathways and buildings at UVA, but as Sullivan notes, "In fact, these accessibility maps perpetuate falsehoods about the actual accessibility of major structures and paths on Grounds. Many of the most popular areas on Grounds are patently inaccessible and inconveniently laid out on the accessibility maps provided by the University." Sullivan continues to explain that "For a student to get from Brandon Avenue to the Lawn, it would require a labyrinthine route through various elevators, ramps and buildings that are not clearly labeled or detailed on the map itself. If a student with disabilities had a fifteen-minute space between their classes, it would be difficult for that student to make it on time even from New Cabell Hall to Monroe Hall — two buildings that are relatively close together."
UVA has made some improvements to the campus' accessibility in recent years. For example, in 2019, UVA installed ramps on the main lawn to provide a wheelchair-accessible path from the Rotunda to Old Cabell Hall. However, as The Cavalier Daily reported in 2022, "there are still physical and cultural barriers that create ongoing challenges for those with disabilities." For example, many buildings, including most residential buildings, are only partially accessible.
Wait times for free counseling services at the Women's Center are reportedly longer than a semester. A student tells us, "My school needs to hold mental health in a higher regard, especially for its students of color."
UVA has two faculty members who sit on the board of the Charlottesville Police Foundation: Brian Williams, Associate Professor of Public Policy; and Annie Kim, Assistant Professor at the University of Virginia School of Law.
U.S. News ranks University of Virginia 24th among national universities in 2025. It was also ranked 24th in 2024.
Third-year College student Alex Briegel wrote an open letter to the Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship at the University after they pressured him to step down from his leadership position, citing disagreement in religious beliefs after Briegel told them he was in a relationship with another man.
Briegel posted the letter to Reddit on Nov. 19 where it has since garnered over 150 comments from people who both echo and contradict Briegel’s experiences in Chi Alpha.
“I disclosed to Chi Alpha that in early 2020 I had a boyfriend,” Briegel wrote in the letter. “XA wanted me to step down as a leader because they claimed my views and actions clearly contradict Bible teaching.”
Briegel joined Chi Alpha in his first year and by his second year was leading a small group of students, called a Core Group, in weekly Bible studies and individual meetings.
“[Second year] was a difficult time … I really came to realize that I was gay, and by that time I was already beginning the process of becoming a leader in [Chi Alpha],” Briegel said in an interview with The Cavalier Daily.
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