University of Virginia Library

Mitchell First Winner
Of Seven Citation

By Rob Buford
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

An estimated 200 to 300 students
walked out silently en masse as
President Edgar F. Shannon, Jr.
opened his remarks in awarding the
Seven Society's humanitarian award
at yesterday's Founder's Day ceremonies
in Cabell Hall auditorium.

The award, given for work in
achieving racial justice, was received
by the Rev. Henry B. Mitchell,
rector at Trinity Episcopal Church
in Charlottesville.

The walkout interrupted the
ceremony for about five minutes.
As soon as the group rose and
began making its way towards the
doors, Mr. Shannon stopped speaking.
He did not resume his remarks
until the crowd had cleared the
auditorium.

Climaxing the weekend's "Counter-Sesquicentennial"
events, the
walkout was followed by a second
rally at the Rotunda, which began
before the Sesquicentennial Founder's
Day Exercises were completed.

An air of tenseness seemed to
pervade the atmosphere of solemnity
of the academic procession
down the lawn as silent, sign-bearing
demonstrators lined the
roped-off area. The strained faces
of demonstrators, as well as members
of the procession were apparent
as the procession reached Cabell
Hall.

Overflow Crowd

An over-capacity crowd filled
the auditorium as the procession
made its way to the front section of
seats. Following the invocation
President Shannon addressed the
gathering. He opened his remarks
by saying "Thomas Jefferson was a
revolutionary." There was strong
applause. Mr. Shannon was quick to

add that Mr. Jefferson's revolutionary
spirit "was not from fervid
emotionalism but from a disciplined
mind." There was at this time
even more applause.

Continuing, the President turned
to the subject of student dissidents.
He referred to "a minority which
seems dedicated to the destruction
of society - beginning with the
universities - a campaign for
chaos." Mr. Shannon asserted that
"rudeness and vulgarity may not be
allowed to supplant reason."

The main speaker, the honorable
Esmond Wright, a member of the
British Parliament, spoke on problems
of the contemporary university
in Britain, France, and Germany
as related to Thomas Jefferson's
concept of a university.

History Expert

A former lecturer in modern
history at the University of Glasgow,
Mr. Wright is an authority on
18th century American history.
Speaking of his return to the
University, he said, "I find reality
far outstripping the legend." Mr.
Wright referred to the initial importation
of professors to the
University from England at the
direction of Thomas Jefferson as
"the first but perhaps not the last
brain drain from England."

Mr. Wright spoke of the many
problems of the universities and
students. "The student increasingly
finds himself an anonymous being
in an autonomous system. He sees
his role more and more not in the
library or in the laboratory but in
the streets."

The British legislator said that
"student unrest is the result of a
tying together of a large number of
impressionable and highly educated
young people." He said that the
"cause of the turmoil is their search
for their own identities."

Advantaged Youth

"There is no country in the
world," said Mr. Wright, "that
offers as much educational advantage
to its young as yours." He
added, "There must be no suppression
of the freedom of expression
or opinion by the state, the
community or the university, but
there is no such thing as constructive
vandalism."

Honor Recipients

Following the main address,
Provost of the University Frank L.
Hereford, Jr. read the names of
some 128 recipients of Intermediate
Honors, who maintained dean's
list averages for their first four
semesters at the University.

At this time special awards were
presented, marking the celebration
of the 150 years of the University.
For the Thomas Jefferson Foundation
Medal in Architecture the
medalist was John Ely Burchard.

The secret Seven Society's
special humanitarian award was
then presented to Mr. Mitchell.

The Thomas Jefferson Award,
given annually to an outstanding
member of the University community
was given to Professor of history
Oron J. Hale.