University of Virginia Library

Students Schedule Kent State Protest For Tomorrow

Council Assumes Power
Governing Facility Use

By Bryan DeLaney
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Basing its actions on the apparent
need to eliminate discrimination in
student organizations, Student Council
resolved Tuesday night to take upon itself
the power of recognizing organizations
prior to use of University facilities.

Prior to 1969 the Council had both
the power to recognize student
organizations and to oversee the use of
University space by such groups. At that
time the Council sought to give up the
latter and the University undertook to
regulate the use of facilities.

The present University regulations as
stated in an official University
publication stipulate that space may only be
used "in a manner which is not physically
destructive, which is not unlawful, which does
not discriminate on the basis of race, religion,
color, natural origin, of sex, and which does not
disrupt academic activities, scheduled events,
University functions and other normal pursuits
that take place in the area."

Provision Ineffective

It was felt by some, however, that this
provision is ineffective as it allows such
organizations as the Jefferson Society, which
does not offer membership to women, to
continue using University space as long as open
meetings are held.

It was the opinion of the Council that this
policy should be changed and a motion was
passed by a significant majority stating that all
student organizations wishing to use University
facilities must be recognized by Student
Council and that this policy applies to any
student organization that exists for more than
30 days. Further, a student organization is one
of which a majority of active members are
students.

Also, provisions shall be made for temporary
recognition of organizations of national
affiliations which are making good-faith efforts
to either eliminate discrimination clauses in
national constitutions or receive permission to
supersede such national constitution clauses.

During the course of its meeting the Council
was also presented with a petition from the
Union of University Students calling for a
referendum regarding the recently promulgated
Standards of Conduct. This referendum will be
included in the upcoming election to be held on
November 4 and 5.

Empty Council Seats

The primary reason for the November
election is to fill two empty Council seats for
the College. Normally, these same seats would
again become open in January, thus
necessitation another election in December. In
order to avoid this confusing situation, it was
decided to extend the term of these offices
until January, 1972.

In order to improve the dialogue between
the student body, the Council and the
administration, dorm visits have been arranged
whereby administrators and Council members
can visit with students in the dormitory
lounges. It is hoped that through such meetings
the amount of student input into University
affairs can be greatly increased.

In another effort to improve its contact with
the student body the Council announced that
its next regular meeting on Tuesday, October
27, will be held in the Prism at 6:30 p.m.

After recommending to the Board of
Visitors several weeks ago that three students
be given non-voting membership on the Board,
the Council was finally informed by Joseph
McConnell, Rector, that although "the Visitors,
at their recent meeting, discussed with
sympathy and interest the proposal that three
representative students attend future meetings
of the Board of Visitors as non-voting members,
the Board, for a variety of reasons, cannot grant
this request." No reasons for the denial were
given.

The final business included a
recommendation to the Housing Office that a
more equitable manner of assigning upper class
dormitory space be established. The proposal
supported a system of allotment on a
first-come, first-served basis for all students
with no seniority privileges.