University of Virginia President Jim Ryan spoke out about the NCAA women’s swimming controversy while attending an alumni function at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Dallas, Texas last Wednesday. The result of the 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA Women’s Division I Swimming and Diving National Championship, in which UVA swimmer Emma Weyant placed second to transgender competitor Lia Thomas from the University of Pennsylvania, has fueled a nationwide debate over the competition’s fairness.
During a Q&A session with Ryan, an alumna in the crowd frustratedly spoke out about the result of the race, arguing that it undermined the efforts of the UVA athletes and all other female swimmers competing. She mentioned her concern for the potential erosion of women’s athletic scholarships in the future, and asked Ryan what his answer was in regards to handling the matter.
In response, Ryan claimed to have spoken with the University’s athletic director, Carla Williams, as well as other coaches and staff implicated, and said they all wished not to involve themselves “into this particular controversy” and instead wanted only to “abide by the rules given to them and compete as hard as they can.” He claimed Weyant, who “came in second to the swimmer from Penn,” did not wish to be involved either, and that the athletics department and its staff “don’t want to take away attention from UVA swimming and diving” and all of their accomplishments.
“I’m not an expert on this and I haven’t been following it as closely as others,” Ryan claimed, before saying he believed the NCAA rules would soon be changed “to be fairer.” He then admitted to be in agreement with concerned alumni in the crowd: “I have to say it seems unfair to me, at a very basic level.”
The comment comes as many other national figures voice their support for the UVA swimmer and Olympic silver medalist. Ron DeSantis, the governor of Weyant’s home state of Florida, declared her the “rightful winner” in a signed proclamation which “disapproves of the NCAA elevating ideology over biology, and takes offense at the NCAA trying to make others complicit in a lie.” Other athletes affected, including Virginia Tech swimmer Reka Gyorgy, who was placed out of the race because of Lia Thomas’s permission to compete, and the entire University of Arizona women’s team, have written letters to the NCAA decrying the transgender rule, which they argue ignores Title IX.
Ryan’s comment is so far the only statement that has been made by any UVA administrator amid calls to deem Weyant the “real winner” of the race. Neither the University, nor the athletics department, released any official statements following the matter. University spokesperson Brian Coy did not answer calls for comment.
This is a developing story.
This shows how afraid anyone in the public eye is afraid of being targeted by the woke mob.
As bespoken by his past actions (or lack thereof), Ryan is nothing but a gutless, Lib-pawn-figurehead. Because of his panic-generated, three-year contract extension granted by the Lib BOV, we’re perhaps saddled with Ryan for longer than expected… but, being optimistic, let’s hope that perhaps he’ll resign prematurely as he witnesses the arrivals of new BOV members over the next four years as brought about by Gov. Youngkin’s efforts. Keep your fingers crossed!
I hope so. I have a story to share. President Ryan is a very bad man
Tom we can only hope.
Thanks for the article, Will. It’s a pity President Ryan would not speak out emphatically in support of Emma Weyant. He claims to not be an “expert.” This one’s pretty simple. Biological men who are discernably bigger and stronger should not be competing with women. Stand up for common sense fairness, not to mention Title IX which women fought decades to pass.
From the tepid response of the team and Athletic Department, it almost sounds like there’s an informal gag order on the women athletes to not speak up. If UVA wants to be “great and good” as President Ryan professes, then the Administration should forcefully support Emma Weyant and the primacy of a “biological women only” policy in NCAA sports. Some principles are worth strongly defending. This is surely one of them.
President Ryan’s lack of concern for women’s right to fair competition is on full display. President Ryan could clearly have gotten involved, if he had wanted to. Evidently biological men beating women in competitions is not a priority for him. But women care. I’ve also heard that the female swimmers were told not to speak about it. That says it all. Just let it go ladies. I don’t think so. Emma, stand up for your rights and the rights for all women present and future. This is your moment, make a difference.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-peoples-champion-11647620766?st=w3mi8rvhh2sa76m&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
James Freeman of the Wall Street Journal said it best. Ignore the noise and focus on the winner, Emma Weyant. Speak freely to defeat the woke mob. They are outnumbered in the real world.