It's interesting to see the phrase "alliance between church and state" when all throughout my previous history classes they'd focus on the separation of church and state. I don't find this university to be particularly religiously driven. There are religious studies classes available, and any student can choose to take them. There are clubs and organizations for every religion, and there are a multitude of churches on or near grounds, the most notably being the Chapel. Although there are many religious opportunities for students and it maybe tied into the structural foundation of this university, I admire its acceptance of people of different beliefs, creeds, and religions.

It’s good that the founders of this university based the amount of payment on professor performance. A performance based model is an efficient way to fund a school because logically, the school will then have greater incentive to focus and pour money into programs and initiatives that pushes for the success of their student body. This shows that Jefferson and the board members had the students’ educational success in mind.

This sentence really shows the dichotomy of the present and the past. It is clearly demonstrated that the slaves are not seen as people, but are instead seen as property. The word "also," while being used to show the end of a list, also subtly says that slaves are afterthoughts, even when speaking of properties.

I find it very intriguing that the very first task of the commissioners was to look for a site for the school, rather than going over the ideals, values, and goals that are mentioned later on in the report. I read that Jefferson wanted the site to be so beautiful and the school to gain such notoriety that people from even out of state would "drink of the cup of knowledge". Having the physical site in mind could have given the commissioners the motivation and inspiration to set values for the future university.