University of Virginia Library

Council Studies Idea
Of Residential Plan

By Rod MacDonald
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Following approval of a motion
endorsing a residential college
system at the University, the
Student Council Tuesday night
agreed to conduct a study of such
a plan in regard to the present
building policies of the University.

James R. Hickman, a third-year
Councilman from the School
of Architecture, has been appointed
to conduct the study. The
purpose of the study, added
Council president Martin F.
Evans, will be to find the administration's
plans, student opinion
concerning the residential college
idea, and report to the
Council at next week's meeting.

Previous Action

Two years ago the Student
Council took similar action when
Russell Bloodworth, then chairman
of the Long-Range Planning
Committee, wrote a letter to
several administrative officials at
the University, recommending
several ideas in the "directions
being set at other Universities:

"1) the avoidance of the 'corridor-cell'
arrangement so lamentably
felt in the McCormick Road
dorms;

"2) the integration of academic
facilities and perhaps faculty
housing within its walls and
utilizing its nearness to increase
participation;

"3) providing valuable study
rooms, dining areas, typing
rooms, reference libraries and
athletic facilities within or very
near each housing complex;

"4) avoidance of the archaic
block building, tending towards
patterns creating enclosed and
controlled spaces;

"5) prepare for future growth
by some well-developed pattern;

"6) awareness of the pedestrian
environment scaled for the individual;

Council Endorsed

Mr. Bloodworth's recommendation's,
which appeared in full in
the 1966 edition of Modulus
magazine, were forwarded to the
administration by a Council vote.

In addition, Mr. Bloodworth's
letter said "30 years ago William
McDougal described the student
with 'no place where he can sit
down with a book and pipe and
possess his soul in quietude, no
place where he can entertain his
chosen friends, where in a score
of ways he can express and develop
his taste and personality
his individuality.'

Students Gain Little

"As frightening as it may seem,
most of the above descriptions
compiled by the Educational
Facilities Laboratory reflect the
present living environment at the
University. Students do not want
this, and gain little from the unpleasant
exposure."

T. Braxton Woody, chairman
of the University's housing committee,
told The Cavalier Daily
yesterday that "It's a very expensive
matter. Many people
would like to see such a system,
but as far as I know there are no
immediate plans for a system
where between 200 and 500 students
live together, eat together,
etc.-the Oxford system. It's too
expensive; if we ever get the
money, it might be implemented,
being a good way to handle a
large influx of students. Present
plans, however, list no such proposals."

Could Be Adapted

In addition, Paul Saunier, director
of University relations,
said "Present plans call for the
construction of single student living
areas in the Lambeth field
area and on Copeley Hill near
University Hall. By single student
areas, we mean dormitories
and fraternity houses and such.
However, this type of building
could be adapted for a residential
college system."

Many Universities are now using
or considering the establishment
of a residential college system.
The plan is that a large
number of students are housed
in an area that functions as a
separate unit, with pleasant accommodations,
and with dining
and class facilities incorporated
within the structure.

Toilet Togetherness

In his Modulus article, Mr.
Bloodworth also noted from The
American College: "At an average
cost of $4,000 per student, the
typical student residence joins two
students, two beds, two bureaus,
two desks, two straight chairs and
200 square feet to produce enlightenment.
Rooms are arranged
in hundreds of identical cells
strung along endless corridors
which reverberate the rhythm of
footsteps, the ringing of telephones,
and the rush of water
from modern plumbing. The
focal point is the gang toilet
where the students meet for a
daily lesson in togetherness.