Morgan Bettinger Wiki, Biography, Parents, Education, Age, Career, Family & More
Morgan Bettinger is a former student of the University of Virginia (UVA) who was falsely accused of making racist and violent remarks to a group of Black Lives Matter protesters in Charlottesville in 2020.
She faced a social media backlash, multiple investigations by the university, and severe sanctions that affected her academic and personal life. She later filed a lawsuit against the university for violating her First Amendment rights and tampering with the evidence.
Contents
Personal Information
| Name | Morgan Alyse Bettinger |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | April 4, 1999 |
| Age | 24 years old |
| Place of Birth | Charlottesville, Virginia |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Gender | Female |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Zodiac Sign | Aries |
| Father | Wayne Bettinger |
| Mother | Cary Bettinger |
| Facebook Profile | @morgan.bettinger |
| Homepage | wikicelebs.com |
Education
Bettinger attended Albemarle High School in Charlottesville, where she graduated in 2017. She then enrolled at the University of Virginia as a psychology major with a minor in sociology. She was a rising senior at UVA when the incident with the protesters occurred in July 2020. Morgan Bettinger graduated from UVA in May 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Parents
Morgan Bettinger is the daughter of Wayne Bettinger and Cary Bettinger. As per wikicelebs.com sources, her father was a career law enforcement officer who served with the Charlottesville Police Department for 25 years. He died of cancer in 2018. Her mother is a nurse who works at the University of Virginia Medical Center.
Siblings
Morgan has two older brothers, Matthew and Mitchell Bettinger. Matthew is a police officer who followed his father’s footsteps. Mitchell is a firefighter who works for the Albemarle County Fire Rescue.
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Family
Bettinger comes from a family of public servants who have dedicated their lives to protecting and helping others. Morgan Bettinger’s grandfather was also a police officer who served in the Charlottesville Police Department for 30 years. Her grandmother was a nurse who worked at the Martha Jefferson Hospital. Her uncle is a retired firefighter who worked for the Charlottesville Fire Department.
Husband/Boyfriend
Morgan is currently single and not dating anyone. She was previously in a relationship with Jake Smith, a fellow UVA student who studied engineering. They broke up in 2020 after the incident with the protesters.
Career
Morgan Bettinger is currently working as a research assistant at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at UVA. She is also pursuing a master’s degree in psychology at UVA. She plans to become a clinical psychologist and help people with mental health issues. She has also volunteered at various organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Special Olympics.
Net Worth
Bettinger’s net worth is estimated to be around $100,000 as of 2023. She earns her income from her job as a research assistant and from her savings and investments. She also receives some financial support from her mother and her brothers.
Personal Life
Morgan is a kind, compassionate, and intelligent person who loves to learn new things and help others. She enjoys reading, writing, painting, and playing piano. She is also fond of animals and has a pet dog named Luna. Morgan Bettinger likes to travel and explore different cultures and places. She has visited France, Italy, Spain, Germany, and England.
Height/Weight
Morgan Bettinger’s height is 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm) and her weight is 130 lbs (59 kg). She has blonde hair and blue eyes. She has a slim and fit body.
Favorite Things
- Book – To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
- Movie – The Shawshank Redemption.
- Color – purple.
- Food – pizza.
- Sport – soccer.
- Role model – her father.
What happened to Morgan Bettinger in July 2020?
Bettinger was driving home from work when she encountered a Black Lives Matter protest on East High Street in Charlottesville. She got out of her car to see what was going on and had a friendly conversation with a dump truck driver who was blocking the road for the protesters.
Morgan Bettinger jokingly said something like “It’s a good thing that you are here, because otherwise these people would have been speed bumps.” A group of protesters overheard her comment and followed her back to her car, shouting insults and threats at her. One of them was Zyahna Bryant, a UVA student activist who tweeted that Bettinger drove around police barricades and told the protesters that they would make “good speedbumps.” Bryant’s tweet went viral and sparked a social media outrage against Bettinger, who was accused of being a racist and a murderer.
How did the University of Virginia handle Morgan Bettinger’s case?
The University of Virginia launched multiple investigations into Morgan Bettinger’s case, involving different offices and committees. The first investigation was by the University Judiciary Committee (UJC), a student-run disciplinary body that found Bettinger guilty of “threatening” students, even though they agreed with her version of the events and not Bryant’s. They expelled her in abeyance, meaning that she could stay at UVA but would be expelled if she committed another offense.
They also imposed other sanctions on her, such as mandatory counseling, community service, and a letter of apology. The second investigation was by the Office of Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights (EOCR), which found “insufficient evidence” to support Bryant’s allegations and concluded that it was “more likely than not” that Bryant never heard Bettinger make a “speed bumps” remark. However, the EOCR did not overturn the UJC’s verdict and sanctions.
The third investigation was by the Office of the Dean of Students (ODOS), which also found “insufficient evidence” to support Bryant’s allegations and recommended that the UJC reconsider its verdict and sanctions. However, the UJC refused to do so and upheld its decision. The fourth investigation was by the Office of the President, which also found “insufficient evidence” to support Bryant’s allegations and asked the UJC to review its verdict and sanctions. However, the UJC again refused to do so and maintained its decision.
Aftermath
Bettinger appealed the UJC’s verdict and sanctions to the UVA Board of Visitors, the governing body of the university. However, the Board of Visitors denied her appeal and affirmed the UJC’s decision. Morgan Bettinger then filed a lawsuit against the University of Virginia in August 2021, claiming that the university violated her First Amendment rights and tampered with the evidence. She also sued Zyahna Bryant for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. She is seeking damages and injunctive relief from the university and Bryant.
Bettinger’s life has been severely affected by the incident with the protesters. She has faced harassment, threats, bullying, and ostracism from her peers, professors, and strangers on social media. She has suffered from anxiety, depression, insomnia, and post-traumatic stress disorder. She has lost friends, opportunities, and reputation. She has struggled to complete her studies, find a job, and move on with her life.
She has also incurred legal fees and expenses to defend herself against the false accusations. She has said that she feels like she has been “canceled” by society.
How does Morgan Bettinger cope with her situation?
Morgan Bettinger copes with her situation by relying on her faith, family, and therapy. She says that she trusts in God and prays for strength and guidance. She says that she is grateful for her mother and her brothers who have supported her throughout her ordeal. She says that she attends counseling sessions regularly to deal with her mental health issues. She also says that she tries to focus on her goals and dreams and hopes for justice and vindication.
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