Collegiate Times

“The Principles of Community were kind of a hallmark of those discussions,” Sutphin said. “We came out as a stronger community.”

The issue was quickly overshadowed by both positive conversations about diversity and a highly publicized dust-up between Tech and the Big East and Atlantic Coast sports conferences later that spring.

“The world has moved on,” Davenport said.

Rocovich said the issue had not been brought up again until Cuccinelli’s recent actions drew a parallel.

“All I know is what I saw in the paper, and I wasn’t involved with that ... but it sounded to me like Cuccinelli ruled on what the law was as to what boards and schools would and couldn’t do and the governor expressed the view that merit ought to be the determinate, not skin color, race, creed, religion,” Rocovich said. “(Cuccinelli’s letter) was about sexual orientation, I guess. It ought to be merit regardless, and that seems right to me.”

He said he respected Cuccinelli’s interpretation of the law.

“I think merit’s the only standard you ought to use, period,” Rocovich said. “So I don’t have any argument with the governor or Cuccinelli.”

Rocovich’s political history may garner him consideration for reappointment to the board. At this time, however, neither Rocovich nor the university is aware of any potential candidates that McDonnell may appoint in June.

Rocovich said that in his past experiences with former governors George Allen, Gilmore and Warner, potential new BOV members weren’t notified until a month or two before their term would begin on June 30.

“If the governor wanted you to serve, you’d hear from him about a month before,” Rocovich said.

Tillar said this first round of appointments would be a guide for how McDonnell plans to handle the next four years.

“You never know,” he said. “Generally, appointments over the last eight years have come in early July.”

Rocovich said he also was not sure of McDonnell’s selection process. He had no knowledge of whether he was a candidate for appointment.

“I don’t know what Bob’s approach will be,” he said.

Lawson said that although he had “no knowledge” if Rocovich would be reappointed, he had heard indirectly that some previous members might be returning to the board.

Sutphin said he had heard Rocovich’s name being thrown around as possibly returning to the BOV, but “right now, it’s just a rumor,” he said.

McNamee said in the nine years he has been employed at Tech, “I don’t think that anyone who’s been on has gotten to come back ... (but) everything would be on a case by case basis.”

To McNamee’s knowledge, no university officials have been informed of McDonnell’s possible actions.

“We’re just as curious as everyone else,” he said.

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A version of this article appeared in the Apr 6 issue of the Collegiate Times.