CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — The University of Virginia (UVA) has suspended its student volunteer-led University Guide Service for the Fall semester, but officials say it's not related to recent criticism that the tours cast UVA in a negative light.
For several years, The Jefferson Council, a conservative alumni organization, accused the University Guide Service of giving "a woke version of history."
The Jefferson Council states one of its goals as preserving Thomas Jefferson's legacy, and it has historically criticized tour guides for sharing the school's history with slavery.
A university spokesperson said that's not why the tour service was suspended. Instead, they listed the reasons for suspension as the tours being inconsistent, and that the service doesn't have the necessary resources for the tours.
This doesn't mean the tours will stop altogether; the University said they will have student interns instead of volunteers give these tours.
The University Guide Service said they plan on giving admissions tours again in Spring 2025, according to a recent Instagram post.