University of Virginia Library

Holton Meets Students,
Supports Student Rights

Speaking to representatives of the college press Monday afternoon, Governor
Linwood Holton stated support for student participation in the rule-making
process, and urged the Boards of Visitors to keep an open channel of
communication with the students.

He told the representatives of some 21 Virginia college newspapers, "If I were
the president of a university, I would want to promulgate my own rules, but I
would certainly want the students to have a voice in the making of those rules."

He added, "I would not suggest to the students that they have the full right to
make the rules." He stated there is more interest in rules today by the
administrators and the public. "Everybody has a legitimate interest in what rules
are, and being generally acceptable," he
said.

Linwood Holton

Virginia's Republican Governor

"In order to have fair rules there should be
student participation somewhere in the process
in reaching the rules, but I am not prepared to
give the rule making process entirely to the
student body and I don't think the public or
the administration is," the governor said.

The governor warned that the taxpayers
would be reluctant to continue supporting state
schools where student disorders continued. He
pointed out that a $1,000,000 endowment was
withheld from a school that experienced
disorders. A source close to the governor said
that the University was not involved in this
endowment.

No Additions

At the press conference sponsored by the
University of Richmond Mr. Holton stated that
he had no plans at present for adding student
members to any of the Boards of Visitors of
state schools, even on a non-voting basis. He
also said that he would not consider appointing
faculty members to the Board of the schools in
which they teach.

However, the governor did note that his
appointees to the Boards had been young, and
many were recent graduates of the schools of
which they were Board members. He added
that he would continue this policy.

Mr. Holton explained that although he
wasn't in favor of appointing students to the
Boards, he thought that the Boards should keep
open channels of communication with the
students. He said he was in favor of students
and Board members meeting on an informal
basis to discuss issues.

No Commitment

"I have never made a commitment to
appoint students to the Boards of Visitors," the
governor stated.

About student dissent, Mr. Holton said "I
think most students understand that this is
where the line is: you can't break up any
furniture, and you can't step on somebody
else's toes."

Mr. Holton criticized students who would
not allow others to speak. He pointed to an
incident at the University last year when
Deputy Attorney General Richard Kleindienst
was interrupted several times by members of
the University audience.

Without directly saying so, Mr. Holton
expressed his displeasure with the campaigning
techniques used by Vice President Spiro
Agnew. Mr. Holton also said, "A lot of people
criticized us for running a (senatorial) candidate
this year. They were people interested in
electing Harry Byrd. Well they elected Harry
Byrd. We ran a candidate to preserve the
integrity of the Republican Party."