September 8, 2023
Good afternoon. I’m Jim Ryan, president of UVA. Thank you all for being here. I’d like to extend a warm welcome to all of you, and especially to the families and friends of Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., and D’Sean Perry, as well as to the families of Mike Hollins and Marlee Morgan. Thanks, also, to Rector Robert Hardie and the members of the Board of Visitors, to Carla Williams and UVA Athletics, and to the Office of Major Events for their support.
The loss of Devin, Lavel, and D’Sean remains, in many ways, both raw and incomprehensible. It’s still hard to accept the idea that this violence could happen on our Grounds. That this could happen to young and vibrant people who were full of life and promise. That three lives could be cut short. That two of our students, Mike Hollins and Marlee Morgan, could be gravely injured. All while coming back from a field trip to see a play in DC.
But those of us left behind must face this loss, even if it remains hard to comprehend or fully accept. We must do what we can to honor and remember those who were lost and those who were injured. We must support, as best we can, those still suffering and grieving--including family members, friends, teammates, teachers, and classmates, as well as those in the broader community who lived through some terrifying hours on the night of November 13. We must, in other words, continue to support each other, just as we did in the hours and days after the tragedy.
Which brings us to today, and to this ceremony.
At UVA, we have a tradition of planting trees to honor the people and the moments that have shaped our history. Today, this tree, and the bronze plaque that will accompany it, will honor Devin, D’Sean, and Lavel, as well as all those who were affected by the events of November 13, 2022. This tree will be planted, in a sense, for all of you—for all of us. Its roots will grow, and its branches will climb, for all of us. It’s my hope that this tree, planted with care, with love, and with one another, will help all of us to heal. That it will help us not to move on, as these students will never be forgotten, but to move forward, as Coach Elliott has wisely and aptly put it.
The tree we are planting was selected by our landscape architects, and I’d like to thank them, because they’ve chosen very well. The tree is an Overcup Oak. The word “Overcup” refers to the tree’s acorns, which are unique because they are almost entirely covered over by the cup of the acorn, as if in a deep embrace. The tree itself, which is native to this area, can grow to more than 60 feet and live for hundreds of years.
We plant this tree today for three intertwined reasons.
We plant this tree, first and foremost, to remember. This oak, for as long as it stands, will help all of us remember Devin, Lavel, and D’Sean, and who they were as people. Devin, from Virginia Beach, whose smile and infectious sense of humor won him friends wherever he went, and whose tendency to sing and dance whenever possible was matched only by his competitive spirit, on the field and off.
Lavel, from South Carolina, who was committed to changing the world for the better, whether here in Charlottesville or in his beloved Ridgeville, and whose charisma, confidence, and dedication to progress impressed everyone he met.
And D’Sean, from Miami, a gentle and kind soul who had a great talent not only for football but also for art, and whose deep faith kept him grounded. This tree will remind us, and those who come after us, not just of their loss but of their lives.
We also plant this tree to give thanks. This oak is a symbol of our gratitude to the first responders, doctors, nurses, and law enforcement officers, whose professionalism and grace under pressure eased suffering.
It’s a symbol of our gratitude to student leaders, who, in the midst of their own shock and grief, organized a vigil, attended by thousands who stood in silence and honored their classmates with light.
Our gratitude to members of the football team who, along with Coach Elliott, paid heartfelt tribute to their fallen teammates at the Memorial Service.
Our gratitude to Dr. Carla Williams, who has never wavered in her support of the families of the fallen and injured, of our football players, and all of our student athletes and coaches. Our gratitude to faculty, staff, alumni, pastors, counselors, and therapists who opened up their homes, hearts, and talents to offer comfort and support to those suffering. Our gratitude to all who lent a hand, prayed for those affected by the shooting, and gave kindness to someone in this community who needed it.
In short, this tree, which will be beautiful, grand, and not just strong, but UVA strong—this tree is a symbol of our deep gratitude for this incomparably strong community.
Finally, we plant this tree to embrace life itself, both the seen and the unseen, both the joy and the sorrow. To encourage each other to pause, to reflect, and to connect to the miracle that is life.
To notice, as the poet Mary Oliver once wrote, that “around me the trees stir in their leaves and call out, ‘Stay awhile.’ The light flows from their branches. And they call again, “It’s simple. . . . You too have come into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled with light, and to shine.’”
Devin, Lavel, and D’Sean came into this world to be filled with light and to shine, and shine they did, sharing their light with all fortunate enough to see it. That light might be harder to see right now, but let this tree be a persistent, gentle reminder of it.
It's for all of these reasons that, in addition to planting the tree, we also selected a bronze plaque that bears the following inscription:
“In memoriam: November 13, 2022. The University of Virginia honors the lives of Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis, Jr., and D’Sean Perry, three student-athletes and members of the UVA football team who were tragically killed near this site on November 13, 2022. Dedicated in their honor, this tree reminds us of their courage and their enduring impression on the UVA community, as well as the impact of this tragedy on others who were injured or otherwise affected.
With its fortitude and resilience, this tree also exemplifies the community that found strength in the act of remembering, uplifting, and celebrating the lives that were lost. The University of Virginia family will forever remember these young men, their illustrious accomplishments, and the legacy they have left behind for the community that held them in such high esteem. 1 – 15 – 41. September 2023.”
Tomorrow, UVA will host its first football game since last November. We will come together to pay tribute to Devin, Lavel, and D’Sean, to show our support for Mike and Marlee, and to stand behind the players and the coaches of the football team. I expect the day, and perhaps the entire season, to be full of emotion. And yet I take heart in knowing this oak, offering a chance to remember and reflect, offering solace and shade, is firmly rooted here, and will remain so, for every season of our lives.
Thank you. I’d now like to invite Director of Athletics, Dr. Carla Williams, to say a few words.