University of Virginia Library

Non-Segregation Rule
Deferred By Council

By Rod MacDonald
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Responding to the Student
Council's decision Tuesday night
to delay reinstatement of its rule
banning student groups' using
segregated facilities, a demonstration
has been scheduled for
the next Council meeting.

The debate began at the Council
meeting when Frank Homer
moved to reinstate the rule that
was suspended last week, saying,
"I see no justification for suspending
the rule. It can't be made
more concrete—no University
organizations are allowed to use
any segregated facilities at all.
We either favor the rule or we
don't, and we shouldn't remove it
merely to allow the nurses to
have their dance."

George McMillan, chairman of
the special committee now studying
the regulation, replied that
"I urge defeat of this motion, We
would look like fools, and to
reinstate it now would place us
in the same quagmire as last
week. Let's formulate a workable
rule."

One of the regulation's original
sponsors last year when it
was passed, Dan Morrow, then
was recognized. He said, "I am
personally appalled by your explanation
and misrepresentation
last week. You have more than
suspended a rule—you've suspended
the principle behind it because
you didn't want it enforced.
By this action you have lost the
support of most minority groups
on the Grounds, and probably of
a majority of students as well."

Asks Reassertion

"You have to do something
very soon to alleviate the mistake
that you made last week. I propose
you reassert your belief in
the initial regulation," he added.

Joe Fioravanti, who last week
had voted against suspending the
rule, said, "We faced a dilemma
last week—whether to enforce a
regulation against one-half of the
student organizations or to avoid
enforcing it until we can do so
against everyone. We chose to
study the rule to make certain all
groups come under its jurisdiction."

Pieter Schenkkan asked, "Is
what we did last week an honorable
and decent thing? I see no
precedent for suspending a rule
for the purpose of study; it can
be studied while still in force."

Not Discriminate

"We chose not to discriminate
against a group that does not discriminate
itself. The nurses have
no Negro members, so it hurts
no one for them to use Fry's
Springs for the dance," answered
Alan Bigley.

"Any student who uses a segregated
facility is representing the
University in that use, and implies
that the University is willing
to compromise its principles,"
said Mr. Homer.

"I can't compromise," he
added. "I feel it's morally wrong
for us to endorse this sort of

policy by suspending our rule."

Mr. Morrow said that "Who'll
buy your story of studying?
What you have in effect said is
that 'We will enforce this rule
sometimes if it's not inconvenient.'
"

Mr. Shenkkan noted that "The
question here seems to be over
recognition. Our rule aptly states
that all groups must comply. In
that sense it needs no rewording
—the fact that all groups are not
recognized is a different matter
altogether."

The question was then called,
and the motion lost by voice
vote.

Morrow Speaks

Mr. Morrow then rose to state
that "The students are not going
to buy this story. I ask a public
reassertion of your belief in the
principle, and a discouragement
of all students from attending
any function held at a segregated
establishment during this suspension."

Such a motion was made, and
passed unanimously.

Protest Group

At least one group has formed,
however, to protest the Council's
action Tuesday night. Several
students are reputed to be planning
petitions against the suspension
of the rule.

Ted Simon and Peter Windren
announced yesterday that they
are organizing a demonstration
to take place in the Council's
meeting room at their next meeting

Tuesday night.

"We want to show that there
are a great many students opposed
to the Council's lack of
action in this matter," Mr. Simon
told The Cavalier Daily yesterday.

More Included

"Our original plans were to
include only first-year men in our
protest, since we felt they were
the ones least represented on the
Council itself. We soon found,
however, that so many students
and faculty members believed
they were being misrepresented
that they asked to join in. We
now have a great number of students
saying they will participate,
and quite a few faculty members
also.

"We plan a very well-organized
demonstration. It will be quite
sedate, there will be no banners
or singing allowed, no posters,
and no disruption. We just want
to snow that there is student support
against this suspension
strong enough to protest our
principles at their meeting.

"We want to make sure the
Council knows it just can't drop
or suspend this rule every time it
becomes convenient to expedite
their situation."

The protest is being organized
through a committee, said Mr.
Simon. "We represent all segments
of University life—faculty
members and members of all
sorts of student groups. I would
like to emphasize that we are in
no way affiliated with any particular
group such as the SSOC
or any others, nor are we forming
any organization."

Some To Speak

Asked what the group will do
if there are too many people to
get into the meeting, he said, "We
won't try anything violent—some
people will just not be able to
get in. We are planning for myself
and Mr. Windren to speak,
along with a few Negro members
of the University. We feel
just by being there en masse our
position should be made clear.

"If after next week they still
have not reinstated the rule, we
will just have to begin petitioning,"
he added.

All Welcome

"Any student is welcome to
come to our meetings," Foster
Witt, vice-president of the Council,
said yesterday. "Our meetings
are open to anyone who wants to
express his views. The Council
has had many problems with considering
this regulation, and
through its committee it plans to
reinstate the rule next week.

"We are afraid, however, that
the operations of the Council
will be greatly hindered by this
unwieldy and possibly disruptive
crowd. Their sentiments could be
expressed equally as well by a
petition and a small delegation.
Our only hope is that the group
will recognize the Council's intentions
and work with us and
not against us."