University of Virginia President Teresa A. Sullivan announced the appointment of a 27-member commission to investigate the university’s historical relationship with slavery.
The commission is made up of faculty, staff, students, alumni and nearby residents.
In fall 2012, the university discovered 67 unmarked graves-which were thought to be graves of slaves-near a university cemetery. According to a university news release, other discoveries related to the university’s history with slavery have been found in recent years.
Sullivan said the work by the commission will aim to raise awareness about UVA’s relationship with slavery and “commemorate the role of enslaved persons in appropriate ways.”
