University of Virginia Library

Letters Offer Support
For Boycott Of Exam;
21 Receive Grade 'F'

By Chuck Hite
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Twenty-one students involved
in the boycotting of a final examination
in Architecture 47 (Heating
and Ventilation) have been
informed that they will receive a
grade of "F" and that they must
take the course next year in order
to graduate.

The decision was announced
yesterday afternoon in a meeting
of the students of the class of
1969 with J. Norwood Bosserman,
Dean of the School of
Architecture. Mr. Bosserman told
The Cavalier Daily that no other
course of action was available
and that the decision was in accordance
with University regulations.

Mr. Bosserman stated that he
was sure some changes would be
made and that "action should,
can and will be taken." He added
that the class presented some very
specific recommendations at the
meeting and that he thought they
had some "very good ideas."

Samuel Galbreath, president of
the School of Architecture, described
the stand taken by Dean
Bosserman as "unyielding." He
further commented that Mr. Bosserman
"could have taken certain
action which would allow the
students to incur other than an
'F' grade but, adhering steadfastly
to the rule on absences
from final examinations to the
letter, he has chosen to disallow
conscientious objection as a valid
excuse."

The boycott has received the
support of both the University
student chapter of the American
Institute of Architects and the
class of 1968 of the School of
Architecture in letters addressed
to Mr. Bosserman and other University
officials.

The letters of the student chapter
of the AIA states that it is
alarmed at the "apparent lack of
interest and involvement in what
is a very serious situation" of
President Edgar Shannon and
Provost Frank Hereford.

"Alarm" is also expressed in
the letter over the actions of
Dean Bosserman, "for he has
been a party to numerous discussions
involving the mechanics
courses and is fully aware of the
problems encountered by each
and every class faced with these
courses.

"He might have foreseen this
action in reviewing the results
of the curriculum evaluation
sponsored by the Student Council
last year where 94 per cent of
those queried about Architecture
36, now Architecture 47, stated
it was the worst course they had
taken in the A-School, and 74 per
cent said it was the worst they
had taken in the University. Similar
results can be cited for
Architecture 35, another mechanics
course."

As a basis for its support of
the boycott, the fifth-year class of
the School of Architecture also
cites previous signs of student
protest.

In a letter written yesterday,
the class states that the administration
and faculty have "repeatedly
been made aware of
student dissatisfaction with both
the material and manner of presentation
of Architecture 35,
Architecture 36, and Architecture
47, all required courses in
architectural mechanics and all
taught by the same Associate
Professor of Architecture."

Jon Carsten, president of the
class of 1969, complained about
the lack of faculty support. "The
faculty has accused us of being
apathetic in the past," he said,
"and now that action has occurred
they refuse to take a public
stand.

"We intend to meet with the Faculty
Curriculum Evaluation Committee
and present our suggestions
for improving courses in environmental
technologies.

"If we don't receive results we
feel are adequate we will have no
qualms about taking further negative
action."