Thomas Jefferson's ideal notion of students and faculty cohabitating within the Academical Village was revolutionary, and went on to contribute greatly to the academic climate within the United States today. While this particular except talks about the ease that living in such close proximity provides to the students and teachers, Jefferson also wanted all of the academics in Charlottesville to live so close together to promote a constant culture of thinking and creating. If one is always surrounded by other students and professors, one will always be looking for new topics of discussion or soaking up knowledge from their peers. This culture of constant learning still exists at UVA today, with all student spending virtually all their time with other students, and meeting professors frequently both inside and outside of the classroom.

I find it interesting that the word "proper" is employed in this excerpt from the Rockfish Gap report. This sentence seems to be making the statement that the proximity to the white population correlates with how "proper" and "convenient" the location of the University (Charlottesville) was seen. The use of these two words shows to what extent race divided the southern states (along with the rest of the country). It would have been considered unfit of inconvenient for the University to be located any further from the white population, as the university was aimed to serve the white population and expand their power.

It is quite interesting and even surprising that the University's commitment against religious discrimination is stated so explicitly in its founding report, yet there is so clearly a major racial bias present in other sections of the Rockfish Gap report. In fact, the University is currently located in Charlottesville, VA as a direct result of its founders wanting to be closer to the white communities of Virginia. This sentence in particular, regarding the "equal footing" of all religions, raises the question and brings to light the degree to which the racially charged comments towards the beginning of the Rockfish Gap reports go against with the otherwise accepting and inclusive grain of the founding document.

While this is a self-centered and condescending view of neighboring societies and differing races, there lies an important truth in this matter. The idea that education plays a key role in leveling playing fields between races and classes remains prevalent in society today. This sentence remains consistent with the rest of the document as it ties ideas that matter a great deal today with outdated, racially charged claims that were common and accepted during Jefferson's era.