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The gates of Virginia Wesleyan University saw a different kind of gathering this weekend as the advocacy group "We Are Virginia Wesleyan"  launched its "No Home Homecoming" —a powerful alternative celebration designed to unite decades of graduates in a singular mission: stopping the transition to Batten University. As the administration moved forward with official campus festivities, hundreds of alumni chose to stand at the perimeter, signaling that their loyalty lies with th

By  Letters to the Editor  | The Virginian-Pilot & Daily Press PUBLISHED: September 30, 2025 at 6:00 PM EDT It’s homecoming week at Virginia Wesleyan University, but we alumni don’t feel like we have a home anymore. In August, VWU announced that it will be renaming itself Batten University to honor long-time mega-donor Jane Batten. The announcement shocked us. We know and appreciate the Batten family’s investment in VWU, but sacrificing our identity, history and heritage in h

Column: Virginia Wesleyan taught that my voice mattered. Is that still true?  https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/09/06/column-virginia-wesleyan-taught-that-my-voice-mattered-is-that-still-true/ By  Bob Valvano  | Guest Columnist PUBLISHED: September 6, 2025 at 6:05 PM EDT As a young, aspiring basketball coach, I relied on my far more accomplished brother Jim for advice. One of the simple rules he taught me, when I asked if a certain coaching job was worth pursuing, is what I ca

The announcement on August 20, 2025 , was intended to be a celebration. Under the bright lights of TowneBank Arena, during a luncheon honoring the Batten family’s undeniable generosity, the administration dropped a bombshell that would shake the foundations of our community: Virginia Wesleyan University would be renamed Batten University  effective July 1, 2026. While the "standing ovation" inside the room was televised, the reaction outside—across decades of alumni networks

Letters for Aug. 27: Preserve the name, legacy of Virginia Wesleyan
By Letters to the Editor
 PUBLISHED: August 26, 2025 at 6:00 PM ET
Batten University
 origin
Re “Virginia Wesleyan to change name” (A1, Aug. 21):  My father Robert F. Boyd was crucial in building Virginia Wesleyan College, giving a very large part of the foundational money to start the school.

The one and only reason for naming the school after John Wesley is the tremendous spiritual influence Wesley left, l

Preserve the name, legacy of Virginia Wesleyan
 By Letters to the Editor
 PUBLISHED: August 26, 2025 at 6:00 PM ET
Batten University
 Re “Virginia Wesleyan to change name”  As a proud alumnus of Virginia Wesleyan University, Class of 1980, I was shocked and saddened to learn of the proposed name change to Batten University, effective on July 1.
While I deeply appreciate the Batten family’s generous contributions, I believe the name of a respected academic institution should n

By  Brian Kirwin  | Guest Columnist PUBLISHED: August 26, 2025 at 6:05 PM EDT In 1991, I walked the stage for my degree from Virginia Wesleyan College. The experience from those four years leading up to that day I can’t imagine anywhere else. I found Virginia Wesleyan to be a unique mix of what I found Hampton Roads to be in that fall of 1987 — a little urban and a little rural. It had a character I didn’t find elsewhere. There I met a gentleman named Lambuth Clarke, presiden

Alumni say the change erases the school's history, Methodist roots and athletic legacy. You can read the original article on WHRO.org . Click HERE to go directly to the story. The article is abbreviated below in excerpts. Virginia Wesleyan University’s decision to change its name to Batten University is drawing strong pushback from alumni. Alumni said they were blindsided and shocked by the announcement, which was made on Aug. 20 during an event celebrating the Batten famil

The decision to erase the Virginia Wesleyan University name in favor of "Batten University" has sparked a wave of disbelief across the Marlin community. Among those leading the charge is Devin Cowhey, a standout athlete from the historic 2006 Final Four soccer team and a former faculty member. For Cowhey, the 2026 rebrand is more than a clerical change—it is a disruption of a deeply rooted identity. "How do we stop this? How do we make sure our voices—and the voices of curren

Eliza Noe of the Virginian-Pilot wrote a story on the name change announcement that is available through the newspaper's website. Below is a brief synopsis of the story. Original article available here: Virginia Wesleyan Name Change Virginia Wesleyan University, a private institution founded in 1966 by the United Methodist Church, will undergo a total rebranding. The new name honors Jane Batten, a longtime board member and philanthropist, and her late husband, Frank Batten