This semester, the University’s independent student radio station, WUVA, scheduled an interview with Interim President Paul Mahoney, prepared to ask him a selection of difficult questions. After the interview was filmed, Sophia Bangura, a fourth-year producer for the station, claimed that she was fired due to journalistic suppression and a conflict of interest with the University.
Bangura began drafting questions for Mahoney in early September, preparing for what she described as a “hard hitting” interview. The plan was to discuss UVA’s stance on ICE and international students, Mahoney’s presidential ambitions, and issues related to DEI
“There was a general consensus,” Bangura said, “that we were going to ask the tough questions.”
Together with the interviewer, Cameron Motley, and another producer, Samuel Shube, Bangura reached out to Mahoney’s office in hopes of outlining the general direction of the interview. After sending an initial draft to the University, Motley and WUVA worked to redraft the conversation, unbeknownst to Bangura.
“[Motley] explained that the reason for her not posing those questions was that they felt Mahoney wouldn’t answer them,” Bangura said, “that we all go to this university and let’s not push too hard.”
Motley informed Bangura that the interview had been altered, but did not share those revisions prior to their meeting with the president. At the scheduled sit-down, Bangura and Shube were unaware of how they would deviate from the original document.
In addition to serving as editor-in-chief of WUVA, Motley also works as a media relations intern for University Communications.
During the interview, Motley questioned Mahoney on his priorities and tenure as interim president. She discussed Mahoney’s 35 years at UVA, as well as his engagement with students and student groups. Notably absent were the questions Bangura initially drafted: dealing with international students and deportation, the Board of Visitors, and DEI. Bangura responded by posing the omitted questions.
“She didn’t ask a lot of followup questions or clarifying questions,” Bangura said, “so
I spoke directly to Mahoney. He answered my questions and no one said it was inappropriate.”
According to Bangura, Mahoney answered these questions, they all shook hands, and the interview ended amicably. Immediately afterward, Motley spoke with Bangura, suggesting constructively that she coordinate with the interviewer in the future. Later, the criticism would compound.
“That day I got a call from the president of WUVA Conwell Morris,” Bangura shared, “he wanted me to apologize to the president’s office.”
She spoke with a number of advisors, including consulting the WUVA advisory board, teachers, and retired journalists. They suggested she refrain from apologizing, despite Morris’ belief that Bangura had “harmed WUVA’s relationship with the president” and that one story does not “make or break” the organization.
In response to her refusal, Bangura was fired from WUVA.
“The reason for your termination can be summed up quite briefly,” Morris wrote via email, “insubordination.”
Bangura reached out to Morris, Motley, and members of the advisory board but was urged by Morris to cut contact. At a live Town Hall edition of “The Jim Acosta Show,” Bangura related this story to the former CNN reporter.
“I think [the experience] reflected that even independent student journalists are feeling the pressure,” Bangura told Acosta, “of not saying certain things to institutions for fear of being reprimanded.”
Acosta commended her for “standing up for the First Amendment” and “doing [her] job.”
After speaking to a number of various local stations, including News10 ABC and C-Ville Weekly, the Society of Professional Journalists investigated the case. The organization, which advocates for Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press, contacted the interim president’s office and the leadership at WUVA. While WUVA declined comment, University spokesman Brian Coy released a statement:
“Neither the University nor President Mahoney objected to the line of questioning or the content of the interview or requested an apology or remedial action,” he wrote, “UVA has a tradition of student self-governance, which means that the decisions of student-operated organizations, like WUVA, are reserved to them.”
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