University of Virginia Library

Council Urges Joining
National 'Campaign GM'

By Barry Levine
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

In an attempt to have the University
become a part of a growing national
campaign, the Student Council
unanimously agreed Tuesday night to
urge the casting of the votes from the
University's 148,763 shares of General
Motors stock in favor of "corporate
responsibility."

"The Campaign to Make General
Motors Responsible," also known as
"Campaign GM," began two months ago
when a group of lawyers organized the
drive, aimed mainly at enlarging public
representation of GM's Board of Trustees,
producing safer cars, and reducing air
pollution.

The University is the third largest
shareholder of GM stock, among
educational institutions, after the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology and Harvard
University.

The Council's resolution, presented by Tom
Gardner, calls for the University to put its
weight as a shareholder behind the drive, and to
vote in favor of the proposals of "Campaign
GM." on G.M.'s past and present efforts to
produce cars with a minimum potential for air
pollution and maximum potential for safety
and low-cost maintenance and repair.

2. "To enlarge the Board of directors by
three members' who will insist that the board
take account of the many social consequences
of its decisions.

3 "To amend G.M.'s corporate character to
prohibit the company from engaging in conduct
which is illegal or which is detrimental to the
public health, safety, and welfare."

The first university to vote its shares in favor
of the campaign was the University of
Pennsylvania. Decisions at MIT, Harvard, Yale,
University of Texas, Mt. Holyoke College, the
University of Michigan, and the University of
California are expected soon.

Following recent complaints concerning
administration policies and attitudes the
Council unanimously voted to "express our
deep concern with what we believe to be the
persistent rift between the administration and
the student body."

The motion was presented by Judy
Wellman, representative of the Graduate School
of Arts and Scientists.

"We note with increasing frustration," the
motion says, "the continued evasiveness of
administration officials, their continued
unwillingness to meet with students directly and
openly, their continued naive faith that change
in rhetoric, Without a corresponding
commitment to change in action, will make
everything all right.

"We emphasize," the motion continues,
"that the essence of a university is not its
existence as a corporation but its existence as a
center of learning. It's vitality is not in
balancing the books but in preserving and
nurturing the student-teaching relationship. We
believe the administration fails to recognize this
urgent priority.

"We therefore suggest:

"1) that an administrative position as
trouble-shooter and liaison person be created:

"2) that a concerted effort be made to
orient administrators in the direction of solving
student problems, not avoiding them, perhaps
using the services of groups like the National
Leadership Institute for an initial thrust in this
direction:

"3) that students who encounter
non-cooperatives and obstructive administrative
attitudes report the matter in writing directly
to the administrator involved, with copies to
The Cavalier Daily, the Student Council, and
the Virginia Weekly."

Several Council members also expressed
their dissatisfaction over the turnout at the
Open Forum meeting of students and
administrators held on Founder's Day. One
representative said that he felt that there were
"more administrative and faculty members than
students."

"I was very angry." Miss Wellman said, "that
President Shannon got up and said he would do
'anything' for us, but he had failed to put the
University behind the Forum." She also
mentioned that there had been no
administrative directives to announce the
Forum and that there was o official cancelling
of classes past the time for the official
Founder's Day activities.

Council President James Roebuck, however,
disagreed. "I find myself in the usual position
of defending President Shannon," he-said, "In
all the official notifications there were notices
of the event. And although there was no
cancellation of classes beyond those for the
Founder's Day celebrations, President Shannon
had asked for no restrictive activities on that
day."

Councilman Jim Morris, who is one of four
students on the University's Environmental
Committee, reported to the Council that
President Shannon stated that "he wished to
see no action taken outside of the University"
by the committee.