A long week

It's been a busy and somewhat controversial week for the University's administration. The selection of Judge Harvey Wilkinson as Commencement speaker drew the ire of more than a few students. Then came the termination (or “resignation”) of men's basketball coach Dave Leitao after four stunning seasons on the job. Surely these two things are enough to keep President Casteen's and Craig Littlepage's inboxes overflowing this St. Patrick's Day.
On the point of Commencement speaker, I personally have no qualms over the choice. While Judge Wilkinson and I don't necessarily see eye to eye on every issue, there's no question that he's an influential and accomplished person. He also happens to be strongly affiliated with our University—a Law School alumnus and Charlottesville resident, for starters. While some may argue that his occasionally radical political leanings will detract from the ceremony in May, I believe that this response is inconsistent. After all, unless we solely choose apolitical figures as Commencement speakers—a viable option, to be sure, but also a severely limiting one—there will always be those disappointed with the selection. I dare say that if a liberal orator were selected instead of Wilkinson, the left-wing critics would be decidedly less vocal (and, likewise, conservative students and faculty would be more annoyed). Opponents of the selection have tried to paint Wilkinson as an extremist for his views against affirmative action and gay marriage, among other things. His positions on these matters aren't particularly radical; they're just staunchly conservative. Who knows, maybe next year our speaker will be Al Gore or some other lefty. I would welcome that choice as well.
Oddly enough, I'm much more reluctant to come down on a side in the Dave Leitao issue. When I look at the numbers from his four seasons in Hooville, it's easy to write him off: a barely over .500 overall record (the worst of any Virginia coach since before Terry Holland, in fact), and a dismal 1-4 ACC tournament record. It's certainly nothing to write home about, especially when given a brand new, first-in-its-class arena to use as a recruiting tool. Still, four seasons is a short time to work your magic on any program. The end of the Gillen years were painful, and nobody could reasonably expect a miracle turnaround.
Just this once, I'll trust in an administration that has given me little reason to do so. Maybe they've finally gotten things right this time. I hope to see a topnotch coach perusing the sidelines next year, one that inspires confidence in the program and rekindles hope for the future. That's the kind of victory Littlepage and company could use sorely use right about now.