Board members at the University of Virginia exchanged candid and critical text messages about state lawmakers and faculty during a period of campus tension, according to records obtained by a public‑records request. The messages show trustees openly discussing disagreements over governance and campus decisions, underscoring fractures between the board and other campus stakeholders. The texts illuminate a governance rift at a flagship public university at a time when trustees nationwide face heightened scrutiny over presidential searches, free‑speech disputes and political pressure. University leaders, alumni and state officials will be watching whether the disclosures spur further board turnover, damages shared governance, or prompt policy changes in how boards communicate during crises.