University of Virginia Library

Gregory To Speak
At Coalition Rally

By Tom Jenks
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Along with all the events scheduled
at the University for April 14,
Founder's Day, there will occur an
event that has not been posted on
any Sesquicentennial calender. On
that day, Dick Gregory, noted
comedian, speaker, and political
aspirant in the last national elections
will speak at a rally of the student
coalition.

It has not definitely been
decided where Mr. Gregory will
speak, although the front steps of
the Rotunda have been reserved for
him. Tentative plans call for him to
deliver his speech between 12 and
1:30 in the afternoon. The coalition
is also considering Memorial
Gym, Cabell Hall Auditorium, and
St. Paul's Episcopal Church as
possible places for Mr. Gregory to
speak.

Charles Murdock, a member of
the coalition, contacted Mr. Gregory
in Atlanta over Spring Break
and asked him if he could speak at
the University on April 14. Mr.
Gregory said that he could. "I feel
that Mr. Gregory's speech will fit in
with Founder's Day and its purpose,"
Mr. Murdock told The
Cavalier Daily.

"Counter Sesquicentennial"

Mr. Gregory's speech will be one
that he delivers at colleges but is
expected to be amended in order to
pertain to Jeffersonian principles as
he would like to see them applied
to the University today. His speech
will be part of what the coalition
has termed a "Counter Sesquicentennial",
the purpose of which
will be to point out the faults of
the University in the past as well as
the need for improvement in the
future.

The student coalition is not
planning to charge admission to Mr.
Gregory's speech, but instead is
trying to raise the money to pay by
soliciting donations from student
organizations.

All proceeds from the donations
for Mr. Gregory will be contributed
to the Transition Program by the
student coalition, who will pass the
hat for the Transition Fund at their
rally.

Circle-K Society has contributed
$200 and is to date the only
organization to contribute to the
coalition's fund drive, which started
Monday.

After meeting Tuesday night to
decide whether or not to give
money for Mr. Gregory's fee, the
University Union announced that it
would entirely finance Mr. Gregory
on any day other than Founder's
Day. The Union also announced
that it would donate $200 to the
Transition Program.

After a short debate, it was
decided by the coalition that it was
important to the "Counter Sesquicentennial"
(which emphasizes
"150 Years of Racism") that Dick
Gregory speak on Founder's Day,
and the coalition turned down the
University Union's offer.

Following the student coalition's
rally on April 14, a coalition
sponsored boycott of the Sesquicentennial
celebration is planned
At approximately 2 p.m. after the
rally, the coalition and its supporters
are to gather on the sides of the
Lawn and, wearing black armbands
and carrying signs, are to stand in
silent boycott of the Sesquicentennial
celebration, as the honors
procession passes by.

Several members of the coalition
expressed the opinion that many
students in the procession, who
sympathize with the coalition, will
drop out of the procession and join
them around the Lawn.

"Counter Symposium"

Either during or immediately
after the sesquicentennial celebration
in Cabell Hall, the coalition
will hold a "Counter Symposium",
at which Frank Joyce, the director
of People Against Racism, will
speak and answer questions about
the specific issues at the University
today.

In addition to the "Counter
Symposium", coalition members
plan to attend the three scheduled
Sesquicentennial symposium on April
14 and plan to be prepared to take
part in the discussions.