University of Virginia Library

Wheatley Clarifies Stand
On Civil Rights Policy

There have recently been some questions raised by certain groups as
to the validity of Mr. C. Stuart Wheatley sitting on the Board of
Visitors of the University. Some students feel Mr. Wheatley should
clarify his position on the racial issue while others feel he should not be
considered in light of his actions of ten years ago but in light of more
recent events.

In an effort to clarify this situation, a group of interested students
sent the following telegram to Mr. Wheatley late Sunday night:

Mr. Wheatley responded to this telegram in a telephone conversation
I had with him on Monday. He reiterated what he told Student Council
Representative Kevin Mannix, which was reported in Sunday's Daily
Progress.

Mr. Wheatley said that his opinions had certainly changed in the ten
years since he was associated with massive resistance, a statement
concurred in by Mr. Mannix after he had talked to Mr. Wheatley. Mr.
Wheatley added that all individuals should have an equal opportunity to
attend this University, and as a member of the Board he intended to see
that this opportunity was realized. Mr. Wheatley suggested that his
competence as a Visitor be judged on the basis of his actions with that
body.

I have come to believe since my conversations with Mr. Wheatley
that he is truly concerned with the University, in all aspects. This
opinion is further strengthened by information that Mr. Wheatley was
influential in the Board taking definite action at its meeting of last week
on the question of coeducation, a question that seems of more
consequence than any affecting this University in a long time.

Personally, I feel Mr. Wheatley has made every effort, in good faith,
to clarify his position of this issue. I would hope that students would
direct their efforts, as a result, towards more productive goals, such as
helping to realize greater number of Black students at the University of
Virginia.