WASHINGTON — A week after a deadly white nationalists rally that rocked the country, life in Charlottesville is slowly returning to normal.
Students are beginning to move in to the University of Virginia, along with some help from their parents. Classes are set to begin on Tuesday.
But with the events of last weekend, including torch-weilding white supremacists on university grounds, casts a long shadow on campus.
“Emotions remain raw in our community,” wrote U. Va. President Teresa Sullivan. “We all mourn the loss of life on Saturday, the injuries and the resulting distress. And we feel anger and frustration at the hateful messages that were directed to valued members of our community.”
In the wake of these events, U. Va. is making safety its top priority and asking students to put an end to what’s been a move-in weekend tradition: the Wertland Street Block Party.
Since the event is private and off campus, U. Va. cannot flat out ban it. But Sullivan says the event is harmful for the health of students, and law enforcement.
“This gathering of students and the public has as its single purpose pursuing risky and harmful behavior, including but not limited to consuming dangerous amounts of alcohol,” Sullivan wrote. “It also places a tremendous strain on local law enforcement and health officials, all of whom have only begun recovering from the violence of the past weekend. Our students are prepared for leadership, and now is the time for leaders to step forward.”
Sullivan said U. Va. is offering alternative events on university grounds.
You can read her whole statement on the university’s website.
WTOP’s Neal Augenstein contributed to this report
