VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — The announcement that Virginia Wesleyan University would change its name to Batten University to honor benefactor Jane Batten and her family took place a week ago.
University President Dr. Scott Miller, who led a unanimous Board of Trustees to change the name, said he is not surprised by some of the backlash.
“I’m not surprised because unfortunately, this is where we are in this country where mean-spirited attacks have replaced constructive conversation,” Miller said in an exclusive, one-on-one interview, adding, "what disappoints me is that Virginia Wesleyan has always been known as an institution of constructive conversation, and yet, instead, what we have seen is mean-spirited attacks on social media.”
Virginia Wesleyan alum Devin Cowhey, who graduated in