University of Virginia Library

Sherman Quits Council Post

Cites Dissatisfaction With 'Trend'
Against Mannix, 'Left-Wing' Funds

By Ann Brown

Voicing dissatisfaction with current
student views, Tony Sherman resigned his
post Tuesday as a College representative
to the Student Council.

Mr. Sherman, who has been a member
of the Council since the spring of his
second year, was its only black member.
He also served as treasurer of the Council
last year.

In his letter of resignation to the
Council, he stated that "it has become
increasingly more evident that the current
trend in student opinion is not aligned
with my own." When asked to elaborate
on that statement, Mr. Sherman cited last
spring's uproar over allocations to
"left-wing" organizations on the grounds.

He particularly noted the debate
surrounding the decision to grant a
portion of Student fees to SDS and the
Charlottesville Draft Resistance. He said that
some felt "Student Council should be a censor
board" in approving allocations to groups, but
that he disagreed.

He blamed the "same narrow minded
people" who "made a mockery of the whole
thing." His letter also referred to "the
anti-Mannix establishment." Later, he described
a "little clique of people on Council" who
"make meetings go on and on. They mimic him
[Mr. Mannix], mock him and laugh at him.
They're just against Kevin because he's so
industrious."

His resignation went on to say, "I cannot, in
all good conscience, represent a student body
of which I do not feel a part." He later
explained to The Cavalier Daily his feeling that
the opinions of the majority of students were
"more to the right" than his own.

Not Voice

In another portion of his letter, Mr.
Sherman wrote, "I am not, as many of you
view me, a voice for black students. I am an
individual, as are all blacks. Contrary to popular
belief, we neither look alike nor think alike."

When asked whether his loss last spring to
Hugh Antrim for the Council vice presidency
had influenced his decision to resign, he
commented that the race had made him look at
things differently.

"I had ideas about what could be done and
what should be done," he said, and added that
he was "discouraged by losing to someone who
had no Council experience."

Council President Kevin Mannix was out of
town and could not be reached, but he
expressed regret over Mr. Sherman's decision in
a printed statement on the resignation.

"I continue to hope and believe," the
statement read, "that Council can serve student
interests effectively if it is willing and in this I
disagree with Tony. Yet I hope his resignation
will make Council more aware of student
frustrations and strengthen our willingness to
work hard and our resolve to bring about
effective programs of change. Tony is right in
this respect; we aren't doing nearly enough."

Hugh Antrim, vice president of the Student
Council, said that he was also sorry that Mr.
Sherman had chosen to resign. Mr. Antrim
stated that "his perspective is something I don't
want to lose" and also cited the useful and even
necessary nature of Mr. Sherman's experience
as a long term Council member.

The vice president added that arrangements
would be made as soon as the Council's
committee on Political Societies and Elections
could set up the election plans.

Photo By Roy Alson

Former Councilman Tony Sherman

Resigned In Protest Of "Student Trends"