Doug Wetmore, a member of the Virginia Board of Director of University of Virginia, showed his full support for the Jewish students on the UVA campus after October 7. He quickly shot down a student referendum that students approved demanding that UVA’s endowment divest corporations doing business in Israel. He declared the vote to be “one of the most shameful things to happen in the history of the university.” Wetmore firmly stated, “Jewish students do not feel safe.” The University had received a total of 19 reports “related to potential antisemitism” from students, faculty and staff. Wetmore also stated said that he received “500 emails” earlier the same day from concerned parents. He took the strong stance to make it clear, “We need to distance ourselves categorically from horrible things like this referendum.”
