University of Virginia Library

MWC Readmits Student
After Honor Violation

By ELLEN ANDERSON

The board of visitors of
Mary Washington College in
Fredericksburg has asked a
federal court to drop the suit
brought by a student dismissed
for an honor violation, saying
she has been offered
re-admittance.

The board's motion was
received by U.S. District Court
Judge Albert V. Bryan Jr. in
Richmond last week. Counsel
for the plaintiff, Brend Page
Bright of King William County,
said Mr. Bryan directed that an
order be submitted for his
consideration and
approval.

In the dismissal motion
heard Thursday by Mr. Bryan,
the board said it "offered to
readmit the plaintiff, to
expunge all references to her
honor conviction from her
record, and to allow her to
make up those exams she was
to take December 1971."

No Justifiable Issue

Since Mrs. Bright has been
offered what she sought in the
suit, the board's motion said,
"There remains no justifiable
issue for this court to decide,
therefore the defendant
respectfully requests the court
to dismiss the action."

Mrs. Bright brought the suit
to challenge the student honor
council's right to dismiss a
student after the time-member
council found her of
money from a
student and dismissed her from
the college December.

Mrs. Bright's alleged her
rights had been violated er
the 14th Amendment.

School attorney for Mary
Washington, Jere Willis, in
September told The Cavalier
Daily that the Honor System
was "properly authorized in
every respect." He added that
Mrs. Bright "was not denied
due process of the law," and
that "her rights were
scrupulously defended
throughout her trial."

College President Grellett C.
Simpson said Saturday that as
he understands the court's
decision, "the workings of the
honor council per se" will not
be affected.

Council: No Comment

Honor Council Vice
President Connie Bowden
agreed with Mr. Simpson, but
yesterday said the council
would refrain from further
comment until the order is
signed after a "full disclosure
of the facts."

Mr. Simpson said college
officials do not know when
Mrs. Bright will be readmitted
to classes or when she will take
the examinations she missed.

Mrs. Bright's attorney,
Ralph W. Buxton of
Richmond, said Saturday he
had objected to being given
only one day's notice of the
hearing on the dismissal
motion. Under federal rulings,
he should have been given five
days' notice, he said.

Mr. Buxton said dismissal of
the suit will leave unresolved
the question of the honor
council's power of dismissal,
and added he will be looking
further at this question.