Student self-governance through “extraordinary” COVID-19 semesters As much emphasis has been placed on student self-governance the past two semesters, it is important to dive deeper into its history and context Words by Ella Fesler
Looking back, looking forward
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s of the first week of March, the University had tracked over 3,000 COVID-19 cases. Emails from members of the University administration regarding the fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters emphasized the importance of student self-governance and the Community of Trust. In an email to the student body last summer, Dean of Students Allen Groves called behavior of students at midsummers “selfish and ignorant” while highlighting the concept of community of trust — the idea that all University students are trusted to maintain morally sound ideals. The University has placed much responsibility on its students this past year, urging individuals to choose to abide by COVID-19 guidelines. There are serious consequences to those who do not uphold the community of trust — including temporary interdisciplinary suspensions from the University for egregious violations and a University Judiciary Committee trial for actions that violate University, state or local COVID-19 restrictions. Now is a good time to dive deeper into the Community of Trust and the institutions that play a role in its enforcements, to further understand the University’s approach to the fall 2020 and the spring 2021 semesters.
What is student self-governance? Community trust is meant to foster the idea that every student is a part of something bigger than themselves at the University, and student self-governing bodies are meant to uphold this idea. “The Honor System, in the end, is just the ad-
judicatory body, while the Community of Trust itself is comprised of every single student, faculty member, administrator and community member who comes into contact with U.Va. students,” said Isabelle Edwards, vice chair for communications on the Honor Committee and fourth-year student in the Curry school, in an email to The Cavalier Daily. Meanwhile, student self-governance is less straightforward. “Student self-governance is a more abstract or meta idea of how students self-govern,” said Noah Strike, Director of University Relations for Student Council and third-year College student. “For example, the Living Wage Campaign for the past two decades has been doing a lot of things that I think traditionally wouldn’t be considered self-governance. Holding a rally outside the Board of Visitors is absolutely an example of self-governance.” When it comes to self-governance, the University often highlights three main organizations, though student leaders believe the concept extends well beyond that. “The University points to the University Judiciary Committee, Honor Committee and Student Council [when it comes to self-governance],” said Abel Liu, chair of Student Council’s representative body and third-year College student. “Honestly, though, the area where I personally see students picking up the University’s slack the most has to be in engaging, retaining and welcoming marginalized students. Immediately, I think of undocUVA, Muslim Institute for Leadership and Empowerment, Latinx Leadership Institute and the Black Presidents Council.” As already mentioned, often the three examples
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