University of Virginia Library

Car Rules
May Change

First-year men at the University may
soon be allowed to legally operate motor
vehicles on the Grounds as a result of the
decision of the Board of Visitors
tomorrow.

After months of debate and decision,
the proposal will go to the Board with the
overwhelming approval of the Student
Council, the Traffic Control Committee,
Vice-President for Student Affairs D.
Alan Williams, and President Shannon.

Council President James Roebuck and
Vice-President Kevin Mannix will meet
with the Board's Student Affairs and
Athletics Committee tomorrow at Mary
Washington College in Fredericksburg and the
issue of cars for first-year men will be discussed.
The agenda will probably also include the
subjects of student control of funds from the
comprehensive fee, the implementation of
coeducation, and student representation on the
Board.

If first-year cars are approved by the Board,
first-year men with a 2.0 average will be granted
the same car rights as upperclassmen.

The immediate history of this issue dates
back to last semester, when the Traffic Control
Committee unanimously approved a Council-inspired
motion for first-year cars. The Council
then overwhelmingly endorsed the move, and
recommended Board approval and final implementation.

The matter was referred to the University
Committee on Students, which also granted
unanimous approval. Upon the request of
President Shannon for "written justification"
for the change. Mr. Mannix sent a letter of
explanation and rationale for the Council stand
to Vice-President rank Hereford and
President Shannon. The statement noted that
many first-year men "very rightly feel that they
are being treated as second-class citizens," and
that first-year cars would only add a "maximum
total" of about 450 motor vehicles out of
the 10,000 University-registered vehicles.

President Shannon subsequently recommended
the extension of eligibility for motor
vehicles to first-year men, and the matter now
rests with the decision of the Board.