Why Your Voice Matters More Now Than Ever

For over sixty years, the name Virginia Wesleyan has stood for more than just a collection of bricks and mortar in Virginia Beach. It has represented a promise—a commitment to a liberal arts education grounded in a specific set of values, a storied Methodist heritage, and a community of "Marlins" that spans the globe.

But today, that identity is under siege. The proposal to strip away our name and replace it with Batten University isn't just a rebranding exercise; it is a fundamental erasure of our history.

If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines, waiting for someone else to speak up, the time for waiting is over. Your voice matters more now than ever. Here’s why.

A Name is a Covenant, Not a Billboard

A university’s name is its soul. It is the header on your diploma, the cheer at sporting events and your graduation, and the legacy you leave behind. To change the name to "Batten University" is to treat a sixty-year legacy like a corporate naming rights deal. While we respect the contributions of the Batten family, a university is not a stadium. You cannot swap out its identity for the highest bidder without breaking the covenant made with every student and alum who invested their time and tuition in Virginia Wesleyan.

The "Deep State" of Academia

We see it happening in Richmond, and we see it happening on campus: decisions are being made in rooms you aren't invited to. When leadership moves to erase a school’s identity without a transparent, grassroots dialogue with the alumni and student body, it’s a red flag. This "top-down" approach assumes that stakeholders—the people who actually built the school’s reputation—will simply roll over.

Silence is interpreted as consent. If we don't speak up now, we are telling the Board of Trustees that our history is for sale.

The Power of the Marlin Network

The administration might have the gavel, but the alumni have the power. Institutions rely on the goodwill, the donations, and the recruitment efforts of their graduates. When the Marlin network speaks with one voice, the ground shakes.

We have seen elsewhere—from Sweet Briar to other small liberal arts colleges—that a dedicated group of stakeholders can halt a radical shift in direction. We aren't just "complaining" on social media; we are defending the value of our degrees and the integrity of our institution.

This is a Precedent, Not a One-Off

If the name can be changed today, what happens tomorrow?

What programs will be cut next?

Which traditions will be "optimized" out of existence?

Fighting against the Batten University rebrand is about drawing a line in the sand. It’s about demanding that Virginia Wesleyan remains a place of tradition and academic honor, not a trend-chasing entity.

What You Can Do Right Now

We aren't just fighting against a name change; we are fighting for the survival of Virginia Wesleyan.

• Sign the Petition: Join the thousands of others who have already said "No" to Batten University.

  
  

• Write the Board: Personal letters carry weight. Tell them what the name Virginia Wesleyan means to your career and your life.

  
  

• Support SavingVirginiaWesleyan.org. You can sign up for our newsletter. You can join the team. We're a scrappy group that's working to assure our message is heard through advertising, outreach, and advocacy.

  
  

The Board of Trustees needs to know that the "Wesleyan" in our name isn't just a word—it's who we are. They can change the signs, but they can't change our hearts. Let’s make sure they hear us.

Keep the name. Keep the legacy. Save Virginia Wesleyan.