University of Virginia Library

Inquiry Examines
Bookstore Situation

By Donn Kessler
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Charges made recently against the
corner bookstores namely the
relationships with the University are
finally being answered in studies made by
the Office of Student Affairs and The
Cavalier Daily.

In regard to the charge of
questionable relationships between the
bookstore and the Athletic Department,
D. Alan Williams, Vice President for
Student Affairs, helped to clarify the
situation in a memo dated November 9.

Athletic Equipment

Vice-President Williams stated that the
Athletic Department buys some athletic
equipment from John "Billy" Williams (no
relation to the Vice-President), president and
general manager of the University and
Anderson Brothers' Bookstores.

This buying is done on the competitive
bidding arrangements required by state law.

Vice-President Williams quoted Steve Sebo,
Director of Athletics, as saying that two to five
percent of all athletic equipment business is
done with the corner bookstores.

He also explained that the physical
education department did not require students
to buy their gym suits from the corner
bookstores. Other stores carry the suits, he
stated.

Mr. Sebo, in an interview with The Cavalier
Daily, substantiated and supplemented these
figures.

'No Special Arrangement'

He said that in 1969-70, the Athletic
Department spent a total of $25,000 for
athletic equipment. $2,000 of that equipment
was bought in the corner bookstores. No
discounts were given by the bookstores.

In addition, Mr. Sebo stated that some
leeway was given in purchases below $50 but
that these expenses were not great.

Competitive bidding is not required by state
law on purchases under $50.

Mr. Sebo also explained that the department
had to buy office equipment. Much of the
office equipment was bought from the two
bookstores but the department was given a 10
percent discount.

Vice President Williams also stated that "no
special arrangement with the Alumni
Association nor with the Virginia Student Aid
Foundation" exists with the bookstores.

Student Aid Foundation

According to Ted Davenport. Director of
the Student Aid Foundation, the foundation is
part of the Alumni Association and is
completely separated from the University. He
explained that the only purpose of the activity
of the foundation was to raise funds for athletic
grants.

These grants are not given out by the
foundation, Mr. Davenport said. Rather, they
are given to the University and disbursed by the
University Committee on Scholarships,
Grants-in-Aid, Loans, and Employment.
Neither Mr. Davenport nor Gilbert Sullivan,
Executive Secretary of the Alumni Association
sits on that committee.

Mr. Davenport further explained that any
contributor to the Student Aid Foundation
cannot name his beneficiary and still have the
contribution be tax deductible.

He then said that the foundation receives
contributions approximating $65,000 from the
Charlottesville area. He would not reveal the
contributions from Mr. Williams as he stated
that was "confidential information."

Williams' Speech

In a speech given before Omega Delta
Kappa, the national service fraternity, however,
Mr. Williams gave certain figures of how much
he contributed to the Student Aid Foundation
and to the University.

In that speech, Mr. Williams stated that he
did not want to publicize his contributions to
the University as that would seem to be
commercialization.

However Mr. Williams mentioned some of