Topics of the Week: Leitao's sudden resignation & Commencement speaker controversy

photo from Wikipedia
Just yesterday, head men's basketball coach Dave Leitao announced his resignation shortly after meeting with University Athletics Director Craig Littlepage. Some feel this resignation was forced and amounts to a contract buy-out or firing. Players have come forward to say they did not expected this resignation. Others think this was a mutual decision between Littlepage and Leitao. If this was essentially a firing, was it deserved? Virginia did have the worst basketball season in recent memory. Leitao's overall coaching record at Virginia was 63-60. However, it is obvious he was beloved by his team and Virginia only had two returning seniors. There was plenty of room for the team to grow and get better as the promising new recruits, such as Slyven Landesberg, matured.

President Casteen's selection of Judge Harvie Wilkinson as commencement speaker last week has set off a buzz around Grounds about Wilkinson's judicial and political leanings. Many students are opposed to such a divisive speaker being given such a prominent place in the commencement exercises.
On the one hand, Wilkinson is a very distinguised University alumnus and considering the University's policies against paying for speaker or awarding honorary degrees, it is quite a feat to find a speaker. The University could revise these policies to attract more prominent speakers in the future but that seems unlikely given the current economy. But expecting noteworthy figures to travel to Charlottesville and deliver a major address solely for the honor of doing so is a lot, and it's easy to understand why Wilkinson, a Charlottesville resident, was chosen.
On the other hand, a commencement speaker, one of the last people to officially speak to a graduating class, should always reflect well on the University and should not generate controversy among the graduates. Commencement is about their achievements and not any particular political views. While Wilkinson's address will undoubtedly be designed to please the majority of attendees, will the focus shift from the students to the speaker?