The event was not registered as required by university policy. But Virginia Tech allowed it to proceed unimpeded at McBryde Hall, Room 202.

Context: The administration’s decision to permit Mohamed Abdou to speak in violation of university policy follows the April 9 announcement that Tech President Timothy Sands will be stepping down “in the coming months.” The stated reasons were vague and unconvincing: to provide the next president the opportunity to “take the baton at full stride.”

Senator Tim Kaine (D) saw political forces at work: Sands’ departure “has the earmarks of previous well-publicized efforts to oust Presidents at other Virginia public universities.”

Governor Abigail Spanberger selected four new members to join the search committee for the school’s next president.

Lots of questions. Did the Board of Visitors pressure Sands to step down? Was there bad blood behind the scenes? Was the administration’s decision to allow America-hater Abdou to speak in violation of university policy a big fat middle finger to the BoV?