University of Virginia Library

Shannon Seeks Funds
For New Construction

By Mark Pirrung
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Despite Ex-Governor Godwin's fall
decision to deny the University any state
funding for the projected new building
for the School of Law, President Edgar
Shannon outlined Monday the
University's plans to go ahead with
construction.

In a statement made before the
Appropriations Committee of the House
of Delegates, Mr. Shannon said that the
$1.2 million needed to supplement
existing funds to start construction "will
have to come from private sources or
from an increase in charges to out-of-state
students."

Fund Shift

Mr. Shannon also said that the
University will shift funds previously
ear-marked for the construction of the
new Graduate School of Business
Administration to enable the plans for
the Law building to proceed immediately.

Of a previous request for a total of
$23 million in capital outlay funds, which
was denied in toto under Mr. Godwin, the
President returned with a revised budget
request of $544,000 needed for the continued
planning of additional space at the University.

Mr. Shannon warned that if this request was
denied, "the University may be forced in the
very near future to limit enrollment simply
because of a lack of necessary space."

Also included in Mr. Shannon's speech
before the Appropriations Committee was a
request of $2.8 million to support the
University's Regional Scientific Computer
System. Mr. Shannon called the computer "an
integral part of scientific and engineering
education" and said the University was one of
the four state universities most poorly equipped
in computers. This request was also completely
rejected by the Godwin administration.

In the area of operating expenses for the
budget presented to the biennial meeting on the
state budget, the University requested $49
million in state funds and was planted $38.2
million.

Original Request

The original request for $49 million
included a $35.5 million funding for the next
two years of instruction at the University.
These funds were reduced by $6.5 million when
the Godwin budget outlined the government
funds for the University. Mr. Shannon
responded with new requests which would
allow the University to keep faculty pay
increases up with the rate of inflation at per
cent, and to create vital new staff positions.

Mr. Shannon requested $251,700 back from
Mr. Godwin's cut for the next two years with
which he proposed to establish two new
assistant directors, two new assistant deans, and
eight new library staff positions.

When President Shannon made his revised
requests concerning the $6.5 million cut from
the instruction budget, he asked the
Appropriations Committee for a total of
$961,000 to pay for the hiring of 2.3 new
faculty positions this year and three for the
year 1970-71.

Alderman Library

Of an originally requested $7 million, cut to
$5 million this fall. Mr. Shannon has asked the
Holton administration to allow $100,000 more
for the funding of the next two years of
expenses at the Alderman Library.

In his speech before the Appropriations
Committee President Shannon sighted the 494
per cent increase in state support for education
in neighboring North Carolina in the past
decade, compared with Virginia's 350 per cent.
He said this was an indication of the urgent
support from Richmond needed by the
University.