Dear Editor,
I am writing to express my profound outrage regarding the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors’ (BOV) reckless proposal to continue to dismantle our Living-Learning Communities (LLCs). Both Ujima and Lavender House were already removed earlier this school year. This is not merely an administrative shift; it is a continued assault on the well-being of our students and the very soul of Virginia Tech.
The previous removal was influenced by a larger shift in our country by the Trump administration’s anti-DEI policies. We cannot stand still and watch the BOV do it again—at an even larger scale. It’s wrong and we should ALL push back.
Virginia Tech’s now 20 LLCs are the bedrock of student success. They transform sprawling dormitories into tight-knit communities where academic rigor meets personal growth. The data is undeniable: these programs boost retention, foster belonging, and create a thriving campus culture. Yet, the BOV is actively choosing to ignore this research and deny student support in order to pursue personal political agendas and profit. It is unethical and we should not ignore it and let them vote this way.
The glaring conflicts of interest on this board are a betrayal of public trust. When a BOV member – who also happens to be one of Blacksburg’s largest private real estate developers – champions policies that force thousands of upper-class students off campus, the financial motives are impossible to ignore. By canceling the 5,000-bed Student Life Village (proposed by the same real estate developer) and shuttering LLCs, the board is deliberately exacerbating a local housing crisis. They are driving up rents for Blacksburg residents and treating our students as their personal revenue streams.
This cannot stand. It is time for our community, our alumni, and our local leadership to draw a line in the sand. We must demand immediate accountability and transparency from the BOV.
Our students have the power to push back. On May 5–6, a critical referendum vote will take place. We need one-third of the undergraduate student body -approximately 10,000 students – to sign and push back against the BOV to prevent these closures.
I urge every eligible undergraduate student to vote and make their voices heard. Share these dates far and wide with undergraduate students who need to VOTE on May 5-6.
Virginia Tech’s motto is Ut Prosim (That I May Serve). It is time we demand our leadership serve the students, not themselves.
Sincerely,
Alexa Casey
Blacksburg
