Virginia Senate Reappoints Controversial UVA Rector

The Virginia Senate has voted to reappoint Helen Dragas to the board of the the University of Virginia.

The Senate voted 29 to 9 on Monday in favor of Dragas' reappointment. Last year, Dragas lead an effort to remove UVA president Theresa Sullivan from her position.

Sullivan's dismissal was reversed after an outcry by students and alumni, but it was a public relations debacle for the university.

Opponents argued that it would send the wrong signal to reward Dragas by reappointing her. Sen. Creigh Deeds told his colleagues that the incident also set a bad example.

"Each member should  ask himself how students can be expected to act in accordance to the high standards of the honor hode in their relationships with other students, if there is no real consequence when the Rector goes to the President and asks her to resign," Deeds says.

Other senators said meddling in the affairs of a higher education institution would, as one called it, open a "Pandora's Box."

Dragas was first appointed by then-Governor Tim Kaine, a Democrat, then reappointed last summer by Governor McDonnell, a Republican.