Kimberly Acquaviva (she/her) 🏳️🌈
@kimacquaviva.bsky.social
Preppy queer @UVA professor striving to make healthcare LGBTQIA+ inclusive. Views are my own & don't represent my employer.
Reposted by Kimberly Acquaviva (she/her) 🏳️🌈
The incredible shrinking attack on U.S. universities continues.
Cornell has signed an agreement—but unlike the UVA agreement, instead of pledging to follow the gov't's highly questionable July "guidance" on discrimination, Cornell simply agrees to hand it out to faculty as a "training resource"!
Cornell has signed an agreement—but unlike the UVA agreement, instead of pledging to follow the gov't's highly questionable July "guidance" on discrimination, Cornell simply agrees to hand it out to faculty as a "training resource"!
November 7, 2025 at 5:32 PM
The incredible shrinking attack on U.S. universities continues.
Cornell has signed an agreement—but unlike the UVA agreement, instead of pledging to follow the gov't's highly questionable July "guidance" on discrimination, Cornell simply agrees to hand it out to faculty as a "training resource"!
Cornell has signed an agreement—but unlike the UVA agreement, instead of pledging to follow the gov't's highly questionable July "guidance" on discrimination, Cornell simply agrees to hand it out to faculty as a "training resource"!
Reposted by Kimberly Acquaviva (she/her) 🏳️🌈
Some UVA faculty urged that a “no confidence” vote in the Board of Visitors would spoil the chance of productive partnership moving forward.
But if the BOV won’t even respond to this polite (secret) letter FROM THE DEANS… the problems run so much deeper.
But if the BOV won’t even respond to this polite (secret) letter FROM THE DEANS… the problems run so much deeper.
“New hires are rethinking joining our ranks” at UVA (per 12 of 14 deans).
Still silence from our Board of Visitors as their top-secret “negotiations” continue.
(Again, great work from the student journalists at the Cav Daily: www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2025...)
Still silence from our Board of Visitors as their top-secret “negotiations” continue.
(Again, great work from the student journalists at the Cav Daily: www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2025...)
July 16, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Some UVA faculty urged that a “no confidence” vote in the Board of Visitors would spoil the chance of productive partnership moving forward.
But if the BOV won’t even respond to this polite (secret) letter FROM THE DEANS… the problems run so much deeper.
But if the BOV won’t even respond to this polite (secret) letter FROM THE DEANS… the problems run so much deeper.
Reposted by Kimberly Acquaviva (she/her) 🏳️🌈
State Sen. Creigh Deeds asks the BOV: “What is your understanding of the importance of shared governance in a university? What is your understanding of the significance of having lost the confidence of the people who educate students in that university?” www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2025...
Virginia General Assembly demands answers about Ryan's resignation in Aug. 1 letter
In a 10-page letter obtained by The Cavalier Daily, State Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, demanded written responses and documentation from University Rector Rachel Sheridan and University Vice ...
www.cavalierdaily.com
August 2, 2025 at 9:24 PM
State Sen. Creigh Deeds asks the BOV: “What is your understanding of the importance of shared governance in a university? What is your understanding of the significance of having lost the confidence of the people who educate students in that university?” www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2025...
Reposted by Kimberly Acquaviva (she/her) 🏳️🌈
Columbia and Brown, by settling, have encouraged this tactic. Authoritarians are emboldened by capitulation, and they won't stop until the cost outweighs the benefits.
Breaking: NSF is suspending roughly 300 grants with UCLA, following a DOJ finding on Tuesday that the university violated Title VI by "creating a hostile educational environment for Jewish and Israeli students."
July 31, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Columbia and Brown, by settling, have encouraged this tactic. Authoritarians are emboldened by capitulation, and they won't stop until the cost outweighs the benefits.
Reposted by Kimberly Acquaviva (she/her) 🏳️🌈
Statement from the largest economics association about the BLS firing
As context: AEA approximately never makes such public statements
This is a big deal
As context: AEA approximately never makes such public statements
This is a big deal
August 2, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Statement from the largest economics association about the BLS firing
As context: AEA approximately never makes such public statements
This is a big deal
As context: AEA approximately never makes such public statements
This is a big deal
Reposted by Kimberly Acquaviva (she/her) 🏳️🌈
These are exactly the questions that need to be answered.
August 2, 2025 at 8:51 PM
These are exactly the questions that need to be answered.
Reposted by Kimberly Acquaviva (she/her) 🏳️🌈
And, thank you @creighdeeds.bsky.social!
August 2, 2025 at 9:42 PM
And, thank you @creighdeeds.bsky.social!
Reposted by Kimberly Acquaviva (she/her) 🏳️🌈
Cavalier Daily reports an important development that will certainly be on the mind of many BOV members on Monday. While I am not a lawyer, it appears to me that Deeds is establishing a legal basis for the GA to seek an injunction on the enactment of any Voluntary Settlement
bsky.app/profile/dem8...
bsky.app/profile/dem8...
To clarify, the scope of closed session provides ample room for the BOV to approve a Voluntary Settlement with the DOJ. So, it would not be shocking if they announce that as early as Monday.
For anyone curious about such things, here's the agenda and meeting packet for Monday's special meeting of the UVA Board of Visitors
bov.virginia.edu/meetings/aug...
bov.virginia.edu/meetings/aug...
August 2, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Cavalier Daily reports an important development that will certainly be on the mind of many BOV members on Monday. While I am not a lawyer, it appears to me that Deeds is establishing a legal basis for the GA to seek an injunction on the enactment of any Voluntary Settlement
bsky.app/profile/dem8...
bsky.app/profile/dem8...
Reposted by Kimberly Acquaviva (she/her) 🏳️🌈
Good meeting with @uvahealth.bsky.social and @creighdeeds.bsky.social to discuss how UVA and schools in our Research Diamond are paving the way for medical innovation and economic opportunity. Our UVA Manning Institute For Biotechnology will be a hub to turn science into medicine that heals.
July 30, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Good meeting with @uvahealth.bsky.social and @creighdeeds.bsky.social to discuss how UVA and schools in our Research Diamond are paving the way for medical innovation and economic opportunity. Our UVA Manning Institute For Biotechnology will be a hub to turn science into medicine that heals.
Reposted by Kimberly Acquaviva (she/her) 🏳️🌈
If you care about #UVA, sign this letter to the BoV and share the link. win.newmode.net/wahoos4uva/u...
New/Mode | Make your voice impossible to ignore
win.newmode.net
August 1, 2025 at 6:24 PM
If you care about #UVA, sign this letter to the BoV and share the link. win.newmode.net/wahoos4uva/u...
Reposted by Kimberly Acquaviva (she/her) 🏳️🌈
Seems clear that the Columbia capitulation crosses the red line of academic freedom, if what Rashid Khalidi says here is accurate (and I have no reason to think it is not)
August 1, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Seems clear that the Columbia capitulation crosses the red line of academic freedom, if what Rashid Khalidi says here is accurate (and I have no reason to think it is not)
Reposted by Kimberly Acquaviva (she/her) 🏳️🌈
“The focus on monetary damages paid by the university and restrictions on campus protests and diversity policies obscures the Trump administration’s imposition of the right to interfere directly in university admissions, hiring, and promotion decisions.”
—Aaron Nisenson, AAUP Senior Counsel
New on Academe Blog: academeblog.org/2025/08/01/g...
Government Intrusion at Columbia Has Only Just Begun
BY AARON NISENSON The Trump administration has successfully buried a key component of the Columbia settlement agreement. The focus on monetary damages paid by the university and restrictions on cam…
academeblog.org
August 1, 2025 at 4:02 PM
“The focus on monetary damages paid by the university and restrictions on campus protests and diversity policies obscures the Trump administration’s imposition of the right to interfere directly in university admissions, hiring, and promotion decisions.”
—Aaron Nisenson, AAUP Senior Counsel
Reposted by Kimberly Acquaviva (she/her) 🏳️🌈
DOJ put out a memo stating that all recipients of federal funding must ban trans people from bathrooms.
www.justice.gov/ag/media/140...
www.justice.gov/ag/media/140...
July 31, 2025 at 1:58 PM
DOJ put out a memo stating that all recipients of federal funding must ban trans people from bathrooms.
www.justice.gov/ag/media/140...
www.justice.gov/ag/media/140...
Reposted by Kimberly Acquaviva (she/her) 🏳️🌈
A typical summer in Charlottesville where everything looks the same around the grounds. Mothers in loose linen dresses and fathers in khaki cargo shorts, their children—prospective UVA students—in tow, tour the grounds. Nothing is the same. Everything has changed. For me, dread is redolent.
July 26, 2025 at 7:04 PM
A typical summer in Charlottesville where everything looks the same around the grounds. Mothers in loose linen dresses and fathers in khaki cargo shorts, their children—prospective UVA students—in tow, tour the grounds. Nothing is the same. Everything has changed. For me, dread is redolent.
Reposted by Kimberly Acquaviva (she/her) 🏳️🌈
For higher education to function, students and faculty must be free to think and speak their minds. Students, faculty, and all who care about higher education must stand up and fight back against this unprecedented continuing assault. We have no choice.
4/4
4/4
July 24, 2025 at 6:11 PM
For higher education to function, students and faculty must be free to think and speak their minds. Students, faculty, and all who care about higher education must stand up and fight back against this unprecedented continuing assault. We have no choice.
4/4
4/4
Reposted by Kimberly Acquaviva (she/her) 🏳️🌈
coming here next, UVA. trump's doj is negotiating with our trumpist board as represented by a pet trump law firm to sell us out the same way. up to all of us to show them they are not the university
July 24, 2025 at 6:23 PM
coming here next, UVA. trump's doj is negotiating with our trumpist board as represented by a pet trump law firm to sell us out the same way. up to all of us to show them they are not the university
Reposted by Kimberly Acquaviva (she/her) 🏳️🌈
it is absolutely critical that the first priority of the new Virginia state legislature that will sit next January is to drastically reform the UVA Board of Visitors in both membership and organization, or they will be dismantling UVA next.
Columbia University has handed over its undergraduate admissions process to Donald Trump and his MAGA allies, who will now decide at their sole discretion whether the university has admitted enough white people. It's no longer an independent institution.
July 24, 2025 at 1:15 PM
it is absolutely critical that the first priority of the new Virginia state legislature that will sit next January is to drastically reform the UVA Board of Visitors in both membership and organization, or they will be dismantling UVA next.
Reposted by Kimberly Acquaviva (she/her) 🏳️🌈
UVA announces presidential search committee. Noticeably few faculty members are on the list.
view.mc.virginia.edu?qs=e828e5831...
view.mc.virginia.edu?qs=e828e5831...
UVA announces presidential search committee
view.mc.virginia.edu
July 25, 2025 at 5:50 PM
UVA announces presidential search committee. Noticeably few faculty members are on the list.
view.mc.virginia.edu?qs=e828e5831...
view.mc.virginia.edu?qs=e828e5831...
Reposted by Kimberly Acquaviva (she/her) 🏳️🌈
Terrified that this is what's next for UVA.
July 24, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Terrified that this is what's next for UVA.
Reposted by Kimberly Acquaviva (she/her) 🏳️🌈
There are 28 members on the committee to select a new president at UVA. There's exactly one faculty member from Arts & Sciences, the biggest school and the heart of undergraduate education. There are 10 members from a discredited board news.virginia.edu/content/uva-...
UVA announces special committee to help select 10th president
The committee includes current and past University leaders, faculty members, students and several alumni.
news.virginia.edu
July 25, 2025 at 7:27 PM
There are 28 members on the committee to select a new president at UVA. There's exactly one faculty member from Arts & Sciences, the biggest school and the heart of undergraduate education. There are 10 members from a discredited board news.virginia.edu/content/uva-...
Reposted by Kimberly Acquaviva (she/her) 🏳️🌈
State senators express concern over political pressure at UVA
State senators express concern over political pressure at UVA
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) — Ongoing leadership changes at the University of Virginia are drawing concern on Capitol Hill, with Virginia Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner warning that political
www.cbs19news.com
July 18, 2025 at 11:10 AM
State senators express concern over political pressure at UVA
Reposted by Kimberly Acquaviva (she/her) 🏳️🌈
We condemn this campaign to exert ideological & political control over higher ed in Virginia, including these attempts to attack & displace our campus leaders. We will fight for the independence of George Mason, UVa, & every public college & university in VA.
— Tim Gibson, AAUP Virginia President
— Tim Gibson, AAUP Virginia President
Right-wing publications called for ousting George Mason University's president just after a federal probe was launched.
“When you start seeing these hit pieces come out one after another in a matter of days, you know it’s coordinated,” said a faculty member.
“When you start seeing these hit pieces come out one after another in a matter of days, you know it’s coordinated,” said a faculty member.
George Mason Is the Latest University Under Fire From Trump. Its President Fears an “Orchestrated” Campaign.
When university president Gregory Washington received notice that the Trump administration had opened an investigation into complaints of antisemitism, he was “perplexed.” But there are signs it may…
www.propublica.org
July 16, 2025 at 3:04 PM
We condemn this campaign to exert ideological & political control over higher ed in Virginia, including these attempts to attack & displace our campus leaders. We will fight for the independence of George Mason, UVa, & every public college & university in VA.
— Tim Gibson, AAUP Virginia President
— Tim Gibson, AAUP Virginia President
Reposted by Kimberly Acquaviva (she/her) 🏳️🌈
Reposted by Kimberly Acquaviva (she/her) 🏳️🌈
it’s not even that the board is only giving lip service to the idea of working with anyone else in the community—everyone knows they’re lying about that—it’s that the lip service they’re giving is the rector pursing hers in sheer shock & disdain at the idea she ever might have to face a question
July 16, 2025 at 8:55 PM
it’s not even that the board is only giving lip service to the idea of working with anyone else in the community—everyone knows they’re lying about that—it’s that the lip service they’re giving is the rector pursing hers in sheer shock & disdain at the idea she ever might have to face a question