University of Virginia Library

Non-Voting Basis

Students Seek Board Seats

By Bryan C. DeLaney
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Reflecting the belief that "there is a
growing necessity for continuing and
improving the present channels of
communication within the university
community," the Student Council passed
a resolution in its regular meeting this
week to request that three student
representatives be placed on the Board of
Visitors.

In a letter to be presented to the
Student Affairs and Athletic Committee
today, Council states that "More efforts
must be made, by ourselves, our fellow
students, faculty, administrators, and
yourselves, to open up further the
decision-making processes of the
University.

"Council strongly believes that
virtually every action of the Board of
Visitors affects the students of the
University, and therefore we respectfully
urge you, as our Board of Visitors, to
allow three current students to sit with
you as non-voting representatives
throughout your sessions in
Charlottesville."

If this proposal is accepted, the student
representatives would serve two primary
functions. The first purpose would be to act as
a ready source of student opinion and
information for the Board. Secondly, these
representatives would serve as a basis for
student understanding of Board activities. It is
assumed that these students will abide by the
same ethical standards of "confidentiality" as
apply to the board members themselves.

In order to implement the proposal Council
also devised three possible methods of selecting
the student representatives. First, a University
wide student election could be held for this
purpose. Another possible method would be to
allow direct appointment of the representatives
by the Council.

One other suggestion would be to allow the
Council to make six nominations, of which
three would be selected by the Board. In any
event the representatives would serve a term of
one year.

While the Council felt "that the acceptance
of non-voting representatives on the Board of
Visitors is a necessary step in promoting the
free interchange of ideas and policies among
those interested in the betterment of the
University, it would be advisable for the Board
to explore the feasibility of permitting these
student representatives to express the views of
their fellow students in a more meaningful
manner through the acquisition of
member-voting privileges."

It is hoped by Council that action will be
taken with regard to their proposal in the full
Board meeting to be held Saturday.

Once again the new Standards of Conduct
served as a key issue for Council consideration.
During its last regular meeting Council made
efforts to draw up acceptable changes to the
Standards of Conduct. Armed with their
proposals representatives of the Council entered
into discussions Friday with D. Alan Williams.
Dean of Student Affairs.

Tuesday night the Council passed a series of
revisions and additions to then proposed
changes. Included in these changes is a
rewording of the proposed changes in point 11
of the Standards.

Council's proposal now reads: "any
violation of federal, state, or local law if such
directly affects the University's pursuit of its
proper educational purposes."

In supporting the inclusion of this point.
Council member Buzzy Waitzkin stated that
this rule was designed to protect students by
getting them out of civil courts and into the
Judiciary Committee. It is not designed as a
"catch all" for anything which may not be
otherwise covered by the rest of the Standards
of Conduct.

Concerning interim suspension, the Council
lodged objections on two grounds. First,
"Council firmly holds that the concept of
interim suspension is antithetical to 'the
maintenance of academic rights and freedoms
within the University.' "

The second objection is on a procedural
basis. The revisions would include that a
hearing before the Judiciary Committee be
afforded any suspended student within 24
hours.

In addition, the Council proposes that "A
student so suspended must be given the
following warnings by the suspending official.

"You are hereby temporarily suspended and
barred from [location Grounds or portion
thereof]. You may not enter [area] without
the permission of upon the request of
University officials of a duty authorized
hearing body for purposes of a hearing.

"You are entitled to a hearing within 24
hours before the Judiciary Committee to
determine whether this suspension is with
probable cause and may continue pending a full
trial. It is your responsibility to request a
hearing and I will notify the Chairman of the
Judiciary Committee of your wishes. [Give
name and telephone number of Chairman of
Judiciary Committee to student.]"

During the meeting Council member Judy
Wellman offered a proposal that Council object
to interim suspension generally and not accept
it on any basis. This motion failed to pass on a
roll-call vote.

In other business the Council guaranteed up
to $800 for the financing of the Committee for
Contraception and Abortion Information.