Virginia campus faculty, staff full of questions after GW sidestepped community input on sale

The George Washington University (GW) recently sold its Virginia Science and Technology Campus (VSTC) in Loudoun County to Amazon Data Services for $427 million, with plans for data center development. This decision has sparked significant discontent among VSTC faculty, staff, and local Loudoun County officials, who claim they were not consulted before the public announcement of the sale. Ellen Scully-Russ, an associate professor at GW, expressed disappointment both about the lack of consultation and her active opposition to the increasing presence of data centers in Loudoun County, known as the "data center capital of the world." Loudoun County Supervisor Juli Briskman echoed these sentiments, stating she was "extremely disappointed" that local government officials were not consulted. Briskman highlighted community concerns regarding power constraints, aesthetic impact, and pollution resulting from the surge in data centers. GW officials, including Chief Financial Officer Bruno Fernandes and University spokesperson Julia Garbitt, cited confidentiality provisions in the sales agreement as the reason for not sharing details prior to the announcement. They have committed to a smooth transition for campus operations and programs, and a "coordinating group" is being finalized to manage the relocation. Despite the financial benefits touted by the University to address its structural deficit and fund strategic initiatives, faculty members like Scully-Russ are questioning the transparency of how these funds will be invested.