Honors of honor
Throughout last weekend’s Final Exercises, the University of Virginia honored the victims of November’s fatal shooting. In his opening remarks, President Jim Ryan spoke about how the loss of Devin Chandler, D’Sean Perry, and Lavel Davis Jr. has impacted the university community. However, one of the most powerful tributes was paid by Happy Perry, who walked the Lawn to honor her son D’Sean during the May 20 Arts and Sciences ceremony.
Posting on Instagram about the experience, Perry shared, “You never know how ‘STRONG’ you are until being strong is the only choice you have.” She concluded, “There is definitely Power in Numbers and Together We Are UVA Strong.”
In her address to the College of Arts and Sciences, Athletics Director Carla Williams said it was Perry who inspired her to accept the invitation to speak at graduation.
“When I was invited to speak, I had decided to politely decline,” Williams said. “But as fate would have it, I received a text from D’Sean Perry’s mom—Miss Happy Perry—asking me if I thought the university would consider allowing her to stand in D’Sean’s place today. … When I called her back to tell her, I said, ‘It’s permissible, but are you sure you can do it?’ She paused and said, ‘Yes, he would be very proud of me, and I will power through to do it for him.’ It was in that moment that I knew I would be speaking today.”
Since her son’s death, Perry has continuously memorialized D’Sean online, and has called for gun reform and mental health legislation.
Gunter goes
The Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA has named Sue Friedman its interim executive director. Friedman has leadership experience on multiple nonprofit boards, including as the executive director of the Jefferson School Foundation and as the president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association of Central and Western Virginia.
“I look forward to working with the team of talented staff, Board members, volunteers, and community partners to enhance our ability to not only meet, but exceed, our commitments to animal welfare and our communities,” said Friedman.
In the same statement, the SPCA announced the departure of controversial former executive director Angie Gunter. Based on the language of the press release, it is unclear if Gunter was fired or resigned. Gunter was placed on administrative leave earlier this year following an independent investigation conducted by law firm McGuireWoods.
Friedman starts work on Wednesday, May 24, and will remain as interim executive director until the board finds a new permanent director.
In brief
Tennis triumph
The University of Virginia men’s tennis team won its second consecutive NCAA championship on May 21. Despite an early lead by Ohio State, the Cavaliers came back for a 4-0 victory over the Buckeyes. Several Virginia players were named to the 2023 NCAA All-Tournament Team, with two doubles pairs and four singles players selected from the UVA roster. Third-year Chris Rodesch was also honored as the tournament’s most valuable player.
Audra awes
Six-time Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald made a local business owner’s day when she visited MarieBette Café & Bakery on May 18. During her show at the Paramount Theater the night before, McDonald asked the audience for bakery recommendations, prompting her to stop by the shop. MarieBette co-owner Jason Becton is a longtime fan of McDonald’s, and presented her with a cake with an image of her face on it during her visit.
Montpelier messes
Rep. Bob Good has joined Republican colleague Eli Crane in publicly accusing the National Trust for Historic Preservation of using federal funds for “propaganda” at James Madison’s Montpelier. Good and Crane take issue with the coverage of slavery and founding documents at the historical site, with Good tweeting that the exhibits are an example of the “‘wokeification’ of American history.” The representatives claim that the coverage of these topics at Montpelier amounts to “historical dishonesty.” Madison’s complicated historical legacy on the issue of slavery has long been a topic of debate, as the former president was both a slave owner and an opponent of the slave trade.