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Here’s a recap of the top stories on the morning of Dec. 5, 2024:
Records: Pro-Palestine demonstrations drove university policy changes
Reported by VPM News’ Megan Pauly and Jahd Khalil
At least 10 public Virginia universities, including Virginia Commonwealth University, have tightened their rules governing students’ use of campus space in response to pro-Palestine protests by students. In some cases, the rules were revised shortly after demonstrations.
State and university officials have said the policy changes were made due to safety concerns unrelated to the protests' messaging or timing.
"[W]e don't take sides. We're just here to provide a safe space for our students,” Aaron J. Hart, VCU’s vice president of student affairs, told VPM News in a September interview. “We never get into the politics, and we make sure that we enforce all the rules equally.”
But the changes at VCU were made days after statewide officials announced their support for Israel’s military operations and opposition to pro-Palestinian protests. And since the implementation of those new policies, student protests on Gaza have become less frequent.
VPM News obtained hundreds of pages of communications — through records requests, interviews and press inquiries with state and university officials — that shed light on the links between the protests and the policy changes.
Richmond registrar Keith Balmer resigns
Reported by VPM News
Richmond’s top two election officials resigned Wednesday after an investigation by the city’s inspector general found evidence of the office misusing half a million dollars in taxpayer money.
Inspector General James Osuna released a November report that found support for 25 of 26 allegations of misconduct in General Registrar Keith Balmer’s office.
The claims included the Office of Elections spending more than $200,000 on a security service hired without the proper procurement process — despite the city already having a security service under contract.
Balmer and others in the election office also allegedly used funds to decorate their offices — including a $7,585 order from local furniture store LaDIFF.
In other news:
- Demolition starts on Daniel Call House as preservationists plead for access (Richmond BizSense)*
In case you missed it:
- Four centuries in, Virginia could be on track for its first female governor (The Washington Post)*
*This outlet utilizes a paywall.
