RICHMOND — The General Assembly approved a new four-year term Tuesday for the University of Virginia rector whose failed attempt to fire the school’s president prompted a two-week campus revolt and a warning from an accrediting agency.
The House of Delegates voted 66-33 to confirm the reappointment of Helen Dragas to the university’s Board of Visitors. Last week, the Senate approved Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell’s reappointment of Ms. Dragas, a Virginia Beach developer.
Ms. Dragas orchestrated last summer’s surprise firing of university President Teresa Sullivan, igniting a firestorm of protests by faculty, students, alumni and the public. The Board of Visitors later reinstated Ms. Dragas. She and Ms. Sullivan have publicly reconciled and pledged to work together for the good of the university.
“I deeply appreciate the support of the Virginia House of Delegates,” Ms. Dragas said in a statement. “Many members clearly insisted on basing their final decision on objective facts. This vote affirms the critical value of independent board leadership and suggests a vote of confidence in our ability to work productively to address issues facing all of higher education.”
Reappointment opponents argued that Ms. Dragas should be held accountable for damage to the university, including the loss of donations and a decision by the Southern Association of College and Schools’ Commission on Colleges to place the school on warning for possibly breaking governance rules in the secretive ouster attempt.
Delegate David J. Toscano, Charlottesville Democrat and a graduate of the Virginia law school, said “there were no rumblings of discontent” at the university before last June’s hastily called Board of Visitors meeting where Ms. Sullivan’s departure was announced. Subsequent inquiries into the firing found that Sullivan had done nothing wrong, he said.
“She had received a sterling evaluation just that previous October,” Mr. Toscano said. Nevertheless, he said, Ms. Sullivan was fired “without due process by a relatively small group of people who plotted secretly for months.”
He said it remains unclear whether Ms. Dragas recognizes the magnitude of the damage she caused.
Delegate Mark L. Cole, Spotsylvania Republican and chairman of the House committee that endorsed the reappointment, defended Ms. Dragas’ actions. He said that while she admits things could have been handled better procedurally, most board members were dissatisfied with Ms. Sullivan’s performance.
“They wish to put this behind them,” Mr. Cole said.
Other lawmakers noted that the General Assembly traditionally gives great deference to gubernatorial appointments. Delegate Lacey E. Putney, Bedford independent and the longest-serving member of the assembly, said “tons of controversial appointees” have been confirmed in his 51 years in office — and most legislators felt Mr. McDonnell deserved the same consideration on the Dragas matter.
Opponents of Ms. Dragas disagreed, saying their authority to confirm appointments is more than a rubber stamp.
“If anything ever called out for rejection, this is it,” Mr. Toscano said.
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