When reading through this report it is easy to forgot that Slaves helped build the University of Virginia. In the Empirical Engagement course I am enrolled in now called "Doing Fieldwork" I was assigned to a research group that studied how the Slaves who helped build this University are being remembered. The President's Commission on Slavery has a presence at the University of Virginia and its motive is to educate the University community about Slavery and its impact on the University of Virginia. So far they have plans to construct a Memorial to Enslaved Laborers that will be located right outside of Brooks Hall and serve as a means of remembering the individuals who served as Slaves while the University was under construction. Seeing the mention of Slaves in this report illuminates the fact that owning and utilizing slaves during this time period was common, and referencing them in this report was reasonable and expected. However, many students at the University of Virginia today are unaware of how much slavery impacted the formation of this school. Furthermore almost all undergraduate students at the University have no knowledge of the President's Commission on Slavery. This is concerning considering that one of the main platforms of the Commission is to spread the word about the schools past affiliation with slavery, yet no one seems to know about it. Could this be because we are still trying to hide from the past?

It is a comfort to see that one of the educational objectives outlined in this document stresses how important it is to not only become educationally enhanced, but also to grow as an individual. Learning to express ideas that are not created by another individual exhibits confidence in one's knowledge and initiative. Recently, in my ENWR class we reviewed and discussed a quote that related to the importance of developing as an individual while acquiring knowledge. Only when one sets themselves apart individually can they progress academically. Once an individual is able to express their unique ideas they can save them and use them for later reference. Growing as an individual and learning how to express and preserve ideas can also show how far a person has advanced with respect to their fields of study.

In particular, this statement stood out to me the most in terms of reflecting the overall purpose behind the academics and education at the University of Virginia. The authors of this document are focusing on how important it is for learning to continue throughout a person's life, even after graduation from college. Also, the transmission of knowledge from one generation to the next is stressed in this statement. One of the most important aspects of learning in the eyes of the University's founders is that knowledge is built on and that there is never too much to learn. They encourage students to analyze discoveries made by others and too build on their ideas and formulate their own opinions about certain topics. This is how advancements and innovations are created, by individuals critiquing the knowledge of their predecessors and building on their ideas. I find it intriguing that the writers use the word "indefinitely" to explain how advancements are made. By using this word they are making it clear that there is no limit to how much knowledge can be expanded by future generations. It is not a possibility that advancements will be made, but rather a guarantee.

Mentioning the Constitution in "The Rockfish Gap Report" highlights how focused the creators of this document were on establishing an institution that reflected American ideals and the nation as a whole. They want to "conform to the principles" because they want to uphold the ideas of our founding fathers and preserve the message behind texts such as the Constitution. Thomas Jefferson's opinions clearly shine through in this statement as it discusses the necessity for religious freedom. As Thomas Jefferson was the primary author of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, his belief about freedom in relation to religion is being sustained. Establishing this principle is important because it reflects the true intentions of Thomas Jefferson and is a cornerstone for what the University of Virginia stands for and supports. Specifically recognizing the freedom of religion to be offered at the University of Virginia illuminates how focused Thomas Jefferson was about providing a learning community that unites and accepts all individuals, no matter their religion.