Top Story Virginia Tech to close living communities focused on Africana studies, LGBTQ+ LUKE WEIR The Roanoke Times Oct 1, 2025 Oct 1, 2025 Updated Feb 19, 2026 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Virginia Tech plans to close two of its living-learning communities tailored for students interested in Africana and LGBTQ+ studies.kAmp7764E65 DEF56?ED H6C6 ?@E:7:65 :? $6AE6>36C E92E E96 F?:G6CD:EJ H:== 462D6 E@ @776C E96 &;:>2 {:G:?8\{62C?:?8 r@>>F?:EJ 2?5 {2G6?56C w@FD6 27E6C E96 DAC:?8 D6>6DE6C 6?5D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 F?:G6CD:EJ]k^AmkAm%96C6 2C6 >@C6 E92? a__ DEF56?ED 6?C@==65 36EH66? E96 EH@ 5:776C6?E C6D:56?E:2= AC@8C2>D[ F?:G6CD:EJ DA@<6DA6CD@? |2C< ~H4K2CD<: D2:5 G:2 6>2:=] %96 492?86 H:== ?@E :>A24E 4FCC6?E A2CE:4:A2?ED 5FC:?8 E96 a_ad\ae 24256>:4 J62C[ E96 6>2:= D2:5]k^Am kAm“%9:D 564:D:@? H2D >256 3J E96 F?:G6CD:EJ H:E9 E9@F89E7F= C67=64E:@? 2?5 42C6[” ~H4K2CD<: D2:5] “#64@8?:K:?8 E96 >62?:?87F= 6IA6C:6?46D 2?5 4@??64E:@?D E92E 92G6 567:?65 3@E9 4@>>F?:E:6D 2?5 E@ DFAA@CE 4@?E:?F@FD 677@CED E@ :>AC@G6 24256>:4 AC@8C2>>:?8 :? H2JD E92E DFAA@CE :?4=FD:G6[ 6?C:49:?8[ 2?5 24256>:42==J 8C@F?565 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C 2== DEF56?ED]”k^Am People are also reading… Virginia Tech student expelled for sexual abuse settles lawsuit against school Franklin official resigns abruptly 2 days after disclosing data center's demise 3 injured as boat runs ashore at night on Smith Mountain Lake Impacts of possible Franklin County data center the topic of Sunday meeting Virginia Tech’s Jackson making strong impression at receiver 'Project Flash' data center proposal fizzles out in Franklin County Boones Mill's revitalization of historic downtown ready for next phase Families of JMU students killed in crash collect $2 million in settlements 94-year-old woman's death at Va. assisted living facility ruled a homicide Family sues over Virginia Tech student's suicide Berglund Center, with casino or not, at 'critical point,' city manager says Cole Byrd's emergence key for Virginia Tech's special teams Where college football preseason rankings went wrong Grant will help Franklin County Habitat's affordable housing efforts Virginia Tech’s young safety corps tested by experience kAm%96 564:D:@? E@ 4=@D6 E96D6 EH@ @FE @7 E96 F?:G6CD:EJ’D a` =:G:?8\=62C?:?8 4@>>F?:E:6D H2D >256 E9C@F89 E96 @77:46 @7 &?56C8C25F2E6 p4256>:4 p772:CD 2?5 $EF56?E p772:CD[ 96 D2:5]k^Am kAm“xE :D ?@E F?4@>>@? 7@C C6D:56?46 =:76 E@ 492?86 =:G:?8 =62C?:?8 4@>>F?:EJ @AE:@?D 7C@> J62C E@ J62C[” ~H4K2CD<: D2:5]k^AmkAmx? y2?F2CJ[ !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A :DDF65 2? 6I64FE:G6 @C56C 32??:?8 5:G6CD:EJ[ 6BF:EJ 2?5 :?4=FD:@? AC@8C2>D 7C@> :?DE:EFE:@?D @7 9:896C 65F42E:@? E92E C646:G6 7656C2= 8C2?ED] ~H4K2CD<: 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ 2 7@==@H\FA BF6DE:@? @? H96E96C 7656C2= AC6DDFC6 A=2J65 2 C@=6 :? E96 564:D:@? E@ 6?5 E96 EH@ =:G:?8 4@>>F?:E:6D]k^Am kAm%96 >@G6 4@>6D 27E6C 2 |2C49 G@E6 3J E96 F?:G6CD:EJ 3@2C5 @7 G:D:E@CD E@ D9FEE6C :ED @77:46 @7 :?4=FD:@?[ :? C6DA@?D6 E@ E96 %CF>A AFD9 282:?DE stx :? 9:896C 65F42E:@?]k^Am kAm{:G:?8\=62C?:?8 4@>>F?:E:6D 2C6 2 4@>>@? 9@FD:?8 762EFC6 @? 4@==686 42>AFD6D[ H96C6:? DEF56?ED H:E9 D:>:=2C :?E6C6DED[ 6IA6C:6?46D @C 324<8C@F?5D =:G6 :? E96 D2>6 2C62 2?5 D92C6 4@FCD6D]k^AmkAm%96C6 2C6 `gb DEF56?ED 6?C@==65 :? E96 &;:>2 {:G:?8\{62C?:?8 r@>>F?:EJ[ ~H4K2CD<: D2:5] xE 3682? :? a_`g[ “E@ DFAA@CE 4F=EFC2= 6?C:49>6?E 2?5 24256>:4 6I46==6?46[ @776C:?8 DEF56?ED @7 2== 324<8C@F?5D @AA@CEF?:E:6D E@ 6?8286 :? AC@8C2>>:?8 2?5 5:2=@8F6 46?E6C65 @? q=24< :56?E:EJ[ 4F=EFC6[ 2?5 9:DE@CJ[” 96 D2:5]k^Am Ujima is a Virginia Tech living-learning community based in Peddrew-Yates Hall focused on Black identity, culture and history. kAm{2G6?56C w@FD6 6?C@==D bd DEF56?ED[ 2?5 DE2CE65 :? a_aa 2D 2 C6D:56?E:2= DA246 7@C {vq%"Z DEF56?ED 2?5 E96:C 2==:6D] xE H2D 4C62E65 “E@ 7@DE6C =62C?:?8[ DFAA@CE[ 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ 3J 6?828:?8 DEF56?ED :? 4@?G6CD2E:@?D 23@FE {vq%"Z =:G65 6IA6C:6?46D[ A2CE:4F=2C=J 2D E96J :?E6CD64E H:E9 @E96C :56?E:E:6D[” ~H4K2CD<: D2:5]k^Am Students have been notified that Lavender House will close at the end of the academic year. kAm$@>6 @7 E96 G2C:@FD @E96C =:G:?8 4@>>F?:E:6D 2E ':C8:?:2 %649 2C6 7@4FD65 @? :?E6C72:E9[ >2=6 2?5 76>2=6 6?8:?66CD[ E96 2CED[ E96 r@CAD @7 r256ED[ 2?5 A6CD@?2= 8C@HE9[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 F?:G6CD:EJ H63A286]k^AmkAmrFCC6?E 2?5 7@C>6C 724F=EJ 2?5 DE277 7@C E96 =:G:?8\=62C?:?8 4@>>F?:E:6D 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ :?BF:C:6D 23@FE E96 4=@DFC6D] ~? 2 u2463@@< A286 42==65 ':C8:?:2 %649 !2C6?ED[ @?6 2?@?J>@FD >6>36C D2:5 E96J H6C6 “36J@?5 5:D2AA@:?E65” E@ =62C? @7 E96 492?86D]k^Am kAm“|J 52F89E6C ;@:?65 {2G6?56C w@FD6 2D 2 7C6D9>2? E9:D J62C 2?5 :E 92D 366? 2? :?4C65:3=6 8@5D6?5 7@C 96C 2?5 7@C D@ >2?J @7 96C A66CD[” E96 A@DE6C D2:5] “%92E 766=:?8 @7 36EC2J2= :D ;FDE ]]] C62==J 92C5 E@ DE@>249 — 7@C 3@E9 DEF56?ED 2?5 A2C6?ED]”k^Am kAm“%96 564:D:@? H2D >256 367@C6 DEF56?ED 3682? E96 9@FD:?8 D6=64E:@? AC@46DD 7@C ?6IE J62C[” ~H4K2CD<: D2:5] “%9C@F89@FE E9:D EC2?D:E:@?[ H6 C6>2:? 8F:565 3J ':C8:?:2 %649’D !C:?4:A=6D @7 r@>>F?:EJ[ H9:49 277:C>D @FC D92C65 4@>>:E>6?E E@ C6DA64E[ 5:G6CD:EJ[ 2?5 E96 AFCDF:E @7 <?@H=6586 H:E9:? 2 H6=4@>:?8 2?5 DFAA@CE:G6 6?G:C@?>6?E]”k^Am Luke Weir (540) 566-8917 | luke.weir@roanoke.com 0 comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Virginia Tech prepared to dissolve inclusion office A group of concerned alumni is urging Virginia Tech leadership to preserve the school’s commitment to its principles in the face of federal pressure. Student questions Virginia Tech's ties to defense sector, president's compliance with Trump edicts A student questioned Virginia Tech’s president during the annual State of the University address, raising concerns about defense partnerships … Watch Now: Related Video A1 Minute! August 18, 2026: BLK RVA Community Awards; Williams on Petersburg’s gamble; Local farmers see growing demand Counties with the most gun deaths Counties with the most gun deaths Could AI Forecast Your Home's Future Value? Could AI Forecast Your Home's Future Value? A1 Minute! August 12, 2026: Richmond Raceway teams up with The Museum DC for the Richmond Drop; Where Richmond Eats podcast; UR women’s b-ball schedule A1 Minute! 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Virginia Tech prepared to dissolve inclusion office A group of concerned alumni is urging Virginia Tech leadership to preserve the school’s commitment to its principles in the face of federal pressure.
Student questions Virginia Tech's ties to defense sector, president's compliance with Trump edicts A student questioned Virginia Tech’s president during the annual State of the University address, raising concerns about defense partnerships …
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