by James A. Bacon
Matthew Carroll, an event coordinator with the Office of Student Affairs, was in his office at the University of Virginia on April 12, 2023, when a professor in Garrett Hall called to say that someone outside the building was playing music so loudly that he couldn’t teach. Student Affairs needed to fix the problem. Pronto.
Carroll and a colleague hustled over to Garrett Hall. Several students had set up a table to conduct a fundraiser and were blasting out loud music. Explaining that they had not obtained a permit to set up at that location, did not have an approved table, and were not authorized to use amplified sound, he told them to move.
The students, who belonged to the Central Americans for Empowerment at UVA (CAFE), reacted defensively. They accused Carroll of being belligerent and disrespectful.
After a brief standoff, the students packed up their gear and departed. Carroll returned to the office and recounted the incident to his boss. He didn’t think much about it until the next day when he discovered that the confrontation had blown up on social media. People were assailing him as a racist and calling for him to be fired.
Six days later, UVA placed Carroll on administrative leave, made him turn in his work keys and laptop, and issued a No Trespass Order blocking him from setting foot on Grounds until an investigation could be completed. Despite their violation of University rules and disruption of other students’ classes, CAFE members received no sanction whatsoever.
