Alumna expresses her thoughts on the university’s name change.
There is overwhelming alumni resistance to the Virginia Wesleyan University name change, but it’s not just the alumni. It’s also students, parents, faculty, staff, community members and other stakeholders — some of whom are afraid to speak up because of fear of retribution by President Miller. Since the renaming announcement on Aug. 20, almost 6,000 people have signed the Change.org petition against it.
Let it be known: we alumni truly respect and appreciate Mrs. Batten. She has been a guardian angel for our school, but she’s not the only part of who we are.
Founded over 60 years ago, Virginia Wesleyan is still young in the realm of American higher education. When I chose Virginia Wesleyan in 1989, none of my Northern Virginia friends knew where I was going. Virginia Wesleyan’s name recognition was vague beyond the region, academia and the Virginia United Methodist Church. But that’s changed. Our recognition has grown as we have, and our name is strong as it is. “Virginia” identifies our location in a historic state with highly regarded schools. “Wesleyan” associates us with both the 18th century theologian influencer, John Wesley, and the more than 20 other Wesleyan colleges across the country. A name change fundamentally destroys all of that and more.
Miller and the Board of Trustees have undermined and insulted the Virginia Wesleyan legacy in the self-serving pursuit of prestige. Citing older, larger schools like Duke, Rutgers and Vanderbilt as examples of university renames in honor of key benefactors is without merit. We are not them. “Batten University” would be a completely unknown entity without the name awareness and reputation that Virginia Wesleyan has built over the past six decades. Contrary to what Board members believe, the name “Batten” is not well known outside of Hampton Roads and Virginia. We — the alumni — are the ones who have taken the Virginia Wesleyan name out into the world in personal and professional capacities. We are the ones who have built the university’s foundation and cultivated its growing stature. We are its soul and its spirit. Without us, there would be no Virginia Wesleyan. Without us, “Batten University” will have a critical identity problem and a precariously unstable foundation.
By: Jessica Bartee Thompson ‘94
